Tired of dimarzio Will Power/ Relentless P

[kringle77]

For about 20 years I've either used a dimarzio model P, then a Will Power and now a Relentless P pickup. Great tone always, never a complaint. I am starting to tire of the overly low mid heavy sound and lack of treble. The high output has cause many great pedals to not work with my basses. I'm looking for something with less of the 300hz mud, more open treble with less hard "clack"when I play aggressively, and a lower output. I'm thinking about a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II. I tried the dimarzio 60's pup that is radiused like the relentless but, found it too soft sounding, it was lacking in the 800hz to 2khz range. Will the Antiquity II do what I'm looking for?

 

[NKBassman]

I have an Antiquity II in my "vintagey" P bass, and it's is a really nice pickup. I find it a little on the lower output side, but it sounds great and works for the bass I put it in. I also think I need to raise mine a little closer to the strings than where I have it now, which would help with giving it a little more guts. I also have a Yamaha Attitude LTD-II, so I know the Will Power set.

If you are concerned about going too far in the other direction, the Nordstrand NP4a or Power Blade might be a nice middle ground for you between the true vintage SD Antiquity and the "modern" Will Power/Relentless vibe.

the Curtis Novak PB-CC also comes to mind, which is a hotter P pickup but retains more clarity and avoids the typical "overwound pickup midrange bump" thing by using different wire gauge IIRC.

 

[kringle77]

Thank you for the suggestions! I put a dimarzio ultra jazz back in my bass to compliment the will power. I forget how well they pair up.