• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Stock vs. "upgrade" PU...

Stock Fender Am. Stan. P PUPS vs. Fender Vintage Design

  • Modern Stock

    Votes: 50 41.3%

  • Vintage Design

    Votes: 71 58.7%
  • Total voters
    121
N

nitsuj

Jan 9, 2009
143
10
Sonoma County, CA
#1
Buying a brand new Fender American Standard P bass.

Keep stock PUP, or get the Vintage Design Fender PUPs?

Is there a significant tonal difference? Output difference?

BTW, please don't feed me that "whatever sounds best to you" BS... If I wanted to hear some hippie, yoda, nonsense, I'd go talk with the 60 year old, white, Rastaman standing out front of Whole Foods.
 
#3
Ray Salamon said:
But it really is whatever sounds best to you. I know what *I* like, I don't know what *YOU* like. It also depends on band situation (will you even hear the difference), amp played through (does it make a difference?) etc.
Click to expand...

+1.

Sorry dude, but the "What sounds best to you" answer stands.

Now, what sort of sound are you looking for? That's would help TBer's get a feel for what you're looking for.
 
#5
That's like asking someone "What kind of cheese should I eat?" Well what the hell do you like?! Do you want a modern sound or a vintage sound? There's your answer. Don't post a question then use the work "nonsense" to describe the most logical answer.
 
#6
nitsuj said:
Buying a brand new Fender American Standard P bass.

Keep stock PUP, or get the Vintage Design Fender PUPs?

Is there a significant tonal difference? Output difference?

BTW, please don't feed me that "whatever sounds best to you"BS...
If I wanted to hear some hippie, yoda, nonsense, I'd go talk with the 60 year old, white, Rastaman standing out front of Whole Foods.
Click to expand...

You demand better than BS, yet YOU provide nothing but BS by saying you'll dismiss the best advice you can get. If you're not a teenager, that kind of attitude sure makes you sound like one? ;)

For what it's worth, you're buying an American Standard Precision. That's a damn fine bass that lots of very talented players rock the hell out of. There's NO reason at at that anyone HAS to upgrade the pickup in it.

So, what specifically don't you like about the stock pickup? If you can't answer that question, I'd suggest following the lead of all those other players and rocking the hell out of your new bass as-is for a while. See if it works for you. If not, then figure out EXACTLY why it doesn't and then either try a new bass that meets your tonal needs OR find a pickup that meets them.

But replacing a pickup for no reason accomplishes nothing but wasting your money. Find a reason, then - and ONLY then - do you address that need.
 
#7
I see some confusion setting in here. I can help!

If you are looking for more of a vintage type P tone, go with the Vintage tone.

If you are more of modern P sound kinda guy, go with the modern stock.

That should clear things up.
 
#9
No one can elaborate on the differences between these 2 pups ?
More mids in the modern? Less output in the vintage? Highs more clear in modern? Lows more present in vintage?
Are there any differences that anyone can elaborate on other than modern sounds modern and vintage sounds vintage?

I'm not going to buy the vintage pups, and A/B them and the stocks... it just isn't going to happen. I'd rather get some input like... "there really ISN'T much difference", or "The vintage pups definitely provide a more warm, fat presence compared to the crisp--more mid-emphasized modern pups"...

THAT would useful. Voting for one pup over another, and providing feedback that ends at "whatever YOU like dude", is NOT useful.

And... only OLD folks express contempt for teenagers...
 
#11
Enjoy the heck out of the new bass! If you don't dig the sound, only then should you try a new set of pickups. Take the money you would have spent on the vintage pup and experiment with strings - they'll have just as much, if not more of, an effect on your sound. Why fix what's not broken?
 
#12
nitsuj said:
No one can elaborate on the differences between these 2 pups ?
More mids in the modern? Less output in the vintage? Highs more clear in modern? Lows more present in vintage?
Are there any differences that anyone can elaborate on other than modern sounds modern and vintage sounds vintage?

I'm not going to buy the vintage pups, and A/B them and the stocks... it just isn't going to happen. I'd rather get some input like... "there really ISN'T much difference", or "The vintage pups definitely provide a more warm, fat presence compared to the crisp--more mid-emphasized modern pups"...

THAT would useful. Voting for one pup over another, and providing feedback that ends at "whatever YOU like dude", is NOT useful.

And... only OLD folks express contempt for teenagers...
Click to expand...

Have fun, dude. When you can pose a question, and not insult most of the audience in the same breath, you might actually get help. For now, I'm going to stick with what I originally stated and add this: do a search.
 
#17
Here is the best advice you can provide (strings--- I'm happy with my Roto 77s; might slap on some 88s):

1. Buy the bass and buy the other pick-ups...
2. Play bass as is; record it in several different situations to provide a good "listen".
3. Remove stock; install Vpups.
4. Repeat step 2.
5. Critical assess the pups
6. a. keep the vpups in; play. Or...
b. uninstall vpups; install stock; play.

By saying "choose what you like", this is the extant you would have to go to to make a determination, following this advice.
This would be a very solid method, but one that is extremely time consuming.

It is very easy to A/B amps, guitars, etc. You just go into your nearest retailer and play what you want. You cant A/B pups, strings, etc in stores, making the "whatever sounds best to you" argument (yes, it IS the bottom line) really not practical.

If you can't compare the 2 pups, fine. If you can't say which, in your view, someone else should go with- fine. It really DOESN'T matter. BUT... searching threads, trying to gather useful information/opinions regarding gear, would be a MUCH smoother ride without the 4 posts per page asking posters to try it themselves (and, yes, this does underline the importance of *MY* opinion---but in some circumstances it just isn't logical).

The Golden Years

I cannot see, I cannot pee, I cannot chew, I cannot screw

Oh My God What can I do

My memory shrinks, My hearing stinks, No sense of smell, I look like hell!, My mood is bad - can you tell?

My body's drooping, Have trouble pooping, The Golden Years has come at last

The Golden Years can kiss my ass.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back