Replacing Pickups in Nate Mendel P (EMG GZRs?)

[Mr. Wu]

Hey everyone ... I have a Fender Nate Mendel P that I really enjoy playing, however; I'm not a big fan of the SPB3 pickups. Been thinking about the EMG GZRs as I've heard a ton of good things about them. I feel like the SPB3s are too harsh sounding ...

How do the GZRs compare to the SPB3, as I know that pickup swaps often lead to the long and endless road of tone tweaks

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Wu

 

[Marihino]

I was thinking about the exact same mode, but I *think* I decided to sell the Nate instead. I need a PJ, and a proper chunky big P neck. But yeah, the Geezer is a good direction IMHO.

 

[JimmyM]

GZR's are more like a really excellent early 60's P pickup with less output, more midrange, and more highs than the SPB-3. The SPB-3 are fine pickups and very popular, just aren't my thang.

 

[Mr. Wu]

Yeah, not digging them either. I think I’ll give the GZRs a try. Thanks

 

[mmbongo]

Subbed. I'm curious as well.

I got my Nate used and it came with a few different pickups plus I already had some. So far I've had in it:

SPB-3
Fralin Stock Wind
Aero Type 4
Kiesel PB
Wilde P-46

The Aero Type 4 is the polar opposite of the SPB-3, maybe too much so.
Kiesel is darker and more compressed.
Fralin may be what you're looking for...or...
Wilde P-46. Sounds great but belongs in my 5 string Kiesel where the Kiesel pickup came from

In the end, the SPB-3 is my favorite. It just sounds huge like I feel a P-Bass should sound. But I can see wanting a change if you want something more vintage and less output.

I think you'd like the Fralin, but I'm curious about the GZR as well.

 

[cataract]

Subbed. I'm curious as well.

I got my Nate used and it came with a few different pickups plus I already had some. So far I've had in it:

SPB-3
Fralin Stock Wind
Aero Type 4
Kiesel PB
Wilde P-46

The Aero Type 4 is the polar opposite of the SPB-3, maybe too much so.
Kiesel is darker and more compressed.
Fralin may be what you're looking for...or...
Wilde P-46. Sounds great but belongs in my 5 string Kiesel where the Kiesel pickup came from

In the end, the SPB-3 is my favorite. It just sounds huge like I feel a P-Bass should sound. But I can see wanting a change if you want something more vintage and less output.

I think you'd like the Fralin, but I'm curious about the GZR as well.

Came here to chime in, glad to see you here!
Out of all the pickups I tried out in the Nate (including vintage Dimarzio Model P’s, 10% overwound Fralins & a G&L MFD) the stock wound Fralins were my fave.
But the G&L’s sounded amaZing!
Actually the GZR was going to be next in line til I stopped with the stock wound Fralins. Would probably sound pretty nice!

 

[mmbongo]

Well I ordered a GZR as well. If nothing else, I'm curious to see if it's less prone to electrical buzz than the others I've tried. That's the only thing I didn't like about the Fralin, it was very buzzy. The Aero and Kiesel were the quietest, with the SPB-3 just a hair buzzier than those two.

 

[simongpaez]

I have 2 P basses with GZR’s and a PJ, hands down the best P bass pickup I have ever played, the tone knob works amazing and can take you from old school to modern.
Go for it

 

[BBassBassington]

Personally I don't think you can go wrong with Aguilar, Delano, EMG, Fender's 60's pickups, or Nordstrand. Also major props to EMG for their solderless system. I would love to see a solderless system standardized and used across the board for guitar and bass pickups and electronics but I digress.

I'd be tempted to try an active EMG with a 2-band (or even going for the stacked mid control and drilling a new cavity for the input jack) if I could make it fit. The world needs more active P basses!

As for the GZR I am a big fan. It's very much a 60's style pickup. Plenty of smooth mids, the highs are there but they're the softer, less-textured highs than you'd get from a modern pickup, and the low end is solid but not huge. I've got this weird relationship with mine where the stock pickups were so good I was never wowed by installing the EMGs. On the flip side I can't actually pinpoint anything I'd change about them, besides being able to use standard knobs. I never pickup my PJ (which 99% of the time is using the P pickup alone) and think gee I wish it sounded more/less like... Or I wish it had... It is the beating heart of a P bass that I've customized to the point where the only thing stock is the body and screws for the neck plate and I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[andare]

Well I ordered a GZR as well. If nothing else, I'm curious to see if it's less prone to electrical buzz than the others I've tried. That's the only thing I didn't like about the Fralin, it was very buzzy. The Aero and Kiesel were the quietest, with the SPB-3 just a hair buzzier than those two.

P bass pickups don't buzz. If the bass does it's because the cavity is not shielded. A P bass should be totally quiet like it's broken

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I've played the GZRs. They're more on the aggressive side. Work great with overdriven tones.

 

[keith1r]

if you watch any videos on YouTube that demonstrate the GZR’s they are pretty accurate

 

[Kukulkan61]

I couldn’t tolerate the neo punch pickups that came with my Lakland, the Geezers are just right, nice vintage rounded tone for any kind of music!

 

[kbakerde]

I love the GZR. Best P Bass pickup IMO. Now I find they have to be a bit lower than the usual P pickup otherwise it’s too hot. But I had a NM P for a bit and did not care for the SPB-3. Too boomy.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I have GZRs in my 50s lacquered P bass. They are good pickups.

I have APVRI 63 pickups in my RW P bass. They are much better, I would suggest giving them a shot.

FWIW I play in a Foo tribute band, don’t have a Mendel but have the tone.

 

[eldorado2001]

I don’t have any experience with any of the other pickups mentioned but I put a GZR in my Highway One Precision and it absolutely brought it to life, made it sound like I always thought a Pbass should sound (yes, like Geezer’s). They’re very good imo.

 

[tubatodd]

I installed EMG GZR pickups in both of my G&L LB100's. Great pickups!

 

[Clark W]

Hey everyone ... I have a Fender Nate Mendel P that I really enjoy playing, however; I'm not a big fan of the SPB3 pickups. Been thinking about the EMG GZRs as I've heard a ton of good things about them. I feel like the SPB3s are too harsh sounding ...

How do the GZRs compare to the SPB3, as I know that pickup swaps often lead to the long and endless road of tone tweaks

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Wu

I have an EMG GZR split P I put in a 1986 Epiphone Accu Bass(bought the bass for $65). Considering that whatever was in it prior to the pup change was crap, the EMG was an excellent choice with a lot of bang for your buck. The fact that it comes with it's own wiring harness(solderless), pots, and output jack, it is by far the best choice for a bass that needs a complete electronics swap with minimal fuss of an installation process.

How does it compare to the SPB3? I really can't answer that. From time to time I do sit in at a gig for a local band for a couple of songs and use the bass their bass guitarist brings, a '78 P with a SPB3, running through an older Mese amp and 112 cab. It's a great sounding pup, but not enough to impress me that it's better than the EMG GZR in my '86 Epiphone. As a matter of fact my Epiphone, with it's EMG, through a Keeley compressor and into a GK MB210-II combo, sounds just as good if not better than the 78 Fender with the SPB3 running through an older Mesa rig. I've gotten a lot of compliments from local pros on the sound I get from my Epiphone, EMG, Keeley, GK setup.

I have a 2019 Player Precision I took in on trade that came with a Fender Custom Shop '62 P pup in it. I definitely prefer that pickup over the EMG GZR as far as tone and aggressiveness. But I didn't do the install so I can't speak for anything on a comparison basis other than the sound. That bass, running into a HA3500C head and cab with a Sansamp BDDI running through the FX loop sounds way better to me, than my Epiphone, EMG, Keeley, GK, setup. But I'm moving twice as much air with the Hartke rig than I'am the GK. And for some reason I still haven't plugged the Epiphone / EMG setup into my Hartke rig. I need to try it out.

Anyway there's a lot more going on with the sound in the examples I mentioned than just pickups so it's kind of hard to make a true comparison.

If you don't mind having to solder, the FCS '62 is the way to go IMO. From tame to aggressive and everywhere in between, this pup covers it. If ease of installation is way up on the list of priorities, then the EMG GZR wins hands down everytime.

You're not going to get a bad sounding bass by putting an EMG GZR split P in it. I've gotten too many compliments on what a lot would consider to be a sub par bass with an EMG pup in it. If it wasn't for getting the 2019 Precision with the FCS '62, I'd tell ya get the the EMG all day long. It's a great pup, ease of installation, no having to order new pots etc... It comes with it all. It really is hard to beat in a lot of ways.

 

[mmbongo]

Interesting thing I learned about the GZR pickup from another thread is that the EMG GZR and PHZ are the same pickup.

 

[epoxo57]

Interesting thing I learned about the GZR pickup from another thread is that the EMG GZR and PHZ are the same pickup.

You could be right but your friendly EMG rep will tell you otherwise if asked. From what I heard the PVA5 and the GZR are the ones pretty much the same (PVA5 gives you color options). I work for a chemical manufacturer and its amazing the marketing mumbo jumbo that goes into products that are inherently the same, chemistry-wise, but labeled differently ("new and improved") or different name altogether. Of course price goes up, too. Rant over.....anyway I have both the GZR and PVA5 in ivory (they don't offer cream color) and love them both. I haven't A/B'd them in the same bass to discern a same/different conclusion but I like what I hear compared to others I have tried. EMG's are solid: great packaging, easy installation and/or swap (I have the active P and PA and can easily switch them out pretty fast), decent hardware, and resellable.