Ultra boutique P bass pickups

[Laurent]

The Kloppman's sound nice. Its too bad they are so expensive. Last time I checked they were around $260.00 By the way, MIJ's are great basses.

At $260 it's way above my budget! Plus re-sell will be complicated. The component cost of a pickup is about $15 maybe $17 with a fancy box so at $260, one is paying for expansive labor and expertise. I'm not saying it's not worth it if this is the exact tone one is looking for that being said.

 

[NKBassman]

So the other day I swapped out my SPB-1 for an SPB-4 (Steve Harris). I have an American Pro P-Bass with maple board and Dunlop stainless steel flats. I run it into a Darkglass Hyper Luminal, then into a Quilter BB 800 and Quilter 1x12 cabinet. I absolutely love the SPB-1, but was intrigued by the relatively flat EQ curve of the SPB-4 as listed on Seymour Duncan’s home page. In testing the SPB-4 I found the following:

• The SPB-4 is definitely a hotter pickup (you’ll probably want to lower your pickup height a bit)
• Even though the EQ curve is relatively flat it favors the lows and low mids
• It’s definitely a darker/more dense sounding pickup that SPB-1 (to me the SPB-1 is more airy with more treble content)
  
• I liked the SPB-4 more when I was playing up the fretboard, but didn’t like it as much towards the nut
• In comparing the two I feel like I can EQ the SPB-1 to get closer to mimicking the SPB-4 than vice/versa

In conclusion, they are both excellent pickups that are extremely reasonable from a price perspective (SPB-1 is approximately $75 and the SPB-4 $85).

I definitely favor the SPB-1 as I believe it to be more versatile and provides the P-Bass tone I hear in my head. However, if you prefer less highs in a vintage style pickup, then you can’t go wrong with the SPB-4.

Thanks for this! I've had an SPB-4 sitting in the drawer for some time now, and just haven't got around to trying it yet. It would be replacing the Nordstrand NP4a I currently have in that bass. From your description I think it might pair better with the TI flats than the Nordy does, however... I currently do reeeeeeally really like the way that bass sounds.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Thanks for this! I've had an SPB-4 sitting in the drawer for some time now, and just haven't got around to trying it yet. It would be replacing the Nordstrand NP4a I currently have in that bass. From your description I think it might pair better with the TI flats than the Nordy does, however... I currently do reeeeeeally really like the way that bass sounds.

Yeah, I think it would pair well with the TI Flats. Let me know how it turns out.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

At $260 it's way above my budget! Plus re-sell will be complicated. The component cost of a pickup is about $15 maybe $17 with a fancy box so at $260, one is paying for expansive labor and expertise. I'm not saying it's not worth it if this is the exact tone one is looking for that being said.

It’s way above my budget as well.
Once you get above the $150 mark you’ve lost me.

 

[Laurent]

It’s way above my budget as well.
Once you get above the $150 mark you’ve lost me.

Indeed, that also my pain threshold and at that price point, I need to see sparks and tone fly all over. That pickup needs to make me sound like Jaco, James, Rocco and Paul all combined in one! NOT!

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Exactly!

 

[cataract]

Shout out to @Ross McLochness for the complimentary SPB-4.. prepping the body for installation hopefully this Thursday or Friday. Interested to hear how it compares to the roadworn SPB-3 I recently pulled from my Mendel Signature. Wish I’d hung on to the Ulyate P pickup I had for a few weeks but I’ve heard good things about this one. Will give a full report ASAP

 

[Laurent]

Shout out to @Ross McLochness for the complimentary SPB-4.. prepping the body for installation hopefully this Thursday or Friday. Interested to hear how it compares to the roadworn SPB-3 I recently pulled from my Mendel Signature. Wish I’d hung on to the Ulyate P pickup I had for a few weeks but I’ve heard good things about this one. Will give a full report ASAP
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Very nice. I don't have experience with the SPB-4 but I expect you will find it sounding like a bassy hot P. The SPB-3, which I owned a few time in the past is hot as well but its primary trait is to be scooped. I owned the Ulyate P in the past and liked it a lot. To my ears it sounded like a larger than life hot precision toned pickup with a touch of modern character. Have fun with the new pup!

 

[cataract]

Very nice. I don't have experience with the SPB-4 but I expect you will find it sounding like a bassy hot P. The SPB-3, which I owned a few time in the past is hot as well but its primary trait is to be scooped. I owned the Ulyate P in the past and liked it a lot. To my ears it sounded like a larger than life hot precision toned pickup with a touch of modern character. Have fun with the new pup!

Thanks! I’m very stoked. I actually snagged that Ulyate from you a long while ago but never had the chance to hear it in action. That dude is a master of his craft. Looking forward to picking another one up at some point.

 

[Funkdified]

So @Laurent and I swapped pickups for the week. I sent him the 65L and he sent me the regular wound Lollar. My review of the Lollar.

It was not played in a band setting(covid). It was in a loaded pickgaurd that has a treble bleed on the volume.

Fantastic. A fairly transparent pickup that opens up the tone of your bass. Ran it in a squier Matt Freeman(maple/maple) w/dunlop super brights. It gave it a oomph I really liked. I then put a set of gzr I had laying around and preferred the lollar again.

I moved it over to my am std (maple/rosewood) w/cobalt flats. Then labella deep talking flats. Didn't realize I had the arcane '65 exp in there, thought it was a PV'63. I preferred it to the 65 exp maybe because it was new to me. But since I didn't play it in a mix I can't say 100%. I have played the 65 exp in a 70's southern rock cover band and it nailed it. I'm not one chasing the 60's sound, but don't like sterile hi-fi either. The lollar really is a neutral pickup that amplifies the characteristics of the bass and opens it up to more tonal possibilities through eq and tone knob.

I play mostly rock type (alt, punk, indie, 90's) music and play through an ampeg v4-b, svt-vr, heritage 810e.

Side note just realized I own two PV63's so if anyone would like to trade for one, let me know.

 

[Laklandfan]

Swapped my longtime NP4a (only P I really used for years) for a Novak PB-V pickup. I guess because they are still P pickups, they weren't as worlds apart as I'd kind of expected. FWIW, In my very non-scientific A/B; I would say the most notable change I hear is in the upper registers the notes are more "singing" than "pingy". More full/round/bell-like?, sounds great by itself haven't tried in a band situation to see how this fits in band. Bass response I think is strong, there is a more "hollowness" in the tone, maybe because the notes' attack is more clearly heard so the bloom/sustain feels different?. The NP4a I think was more full (anti-hollow) with the lows less prominent. Almost like the NP4a and Novak flipped their Mid/Low balances? I do notice that the Novak seems to really like the tone knob down a little bit, I never felt the tone knob was taming the NP4a in the way I'd like. The novak is a more "stereotypical" P bass sound I'd say, immediately familiar from listening to P basses on recordings. Nothing wrong with the NP4a, but I'm enjoying this new sound for a change up. For a PJ, I'm wondering if I should stick with a Novak setup but Lollar (love their strat pickups) and Arcane (57 or 65)intrigue me. Anyone using a "boutique" PJ?

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I just ordered a Klein Epic 62 P-Bass pickup.
I love my SPB-1 which (I believe) is a very accurate representation of a late 50’s (59’ish) P-Bass pickup. I’m not sure the Klein will be able to bump it permanently from my AmPro (maple neck, Dunlop stainless steel flatwounds), but I’m looking forward to hearing what an accurate 62-64 type P-Bass pickup sounds like. By the way I have an Obsidianwire solderless harness with a treble bleed circuit in my bass which makes these types of tests a lot of fun (the soldering iron stays in its stand ).

 

[wraub]

Hi all... longtime lurker here...
I'm enjoying reading this thread, as it's filling me with ideas of what to look for when listening for differences.

I recently got my first "boutique" P Bass PU, and I am eager to see if it's any good.
Now I have a better idea of what to listen for.

 

[Funkdified]

Hi all... longtime lurker here...
I'm enjoying reading this thread, as it's filling me with ideas of what to look for when listening for differences.

I recently got my first "boutique" P Bass PU, and I am eager to see if it's any good.
Now I have a better idea of what to listen for.

What did you get?

 

[wraub]

Velvet Hammer, by Red Rhodes.

I've been posting re: making audio files, and some info in the already going thread about them, but I thought I'd mention them here, too. This thread has really helped me with understanding attributes of different PU types and their differences, and what to listen for as I make the files.
I truly appreciate all the info here, as anecdotal as it can be. In total, it's a lot of useful stuff. Thanks, all.

Now I just have to practice so I don't sound too terrible.

What did you get?

 

[Laurent]

So @Laurent and I swapped pickups for the week. I sent him the 65L and he sent me the regular wound Lollar. My review of the Lollar.

It was not played in a band setting(covid). It was in a loaded pickgaurd that has a treble bleed on the volume.

Fantastic. A fairly transparent pickup that opens up the tone of your bass. Ran it in a squier Matt Freeman(maple/maple) w/dunlop super brights. It gave it a oomph I really liked. I then put a set of gzr I had laying around and preferred the lollar again.

I moved it over to my am std (maple/rosewood) w/cobalt flats. Then labella deep talking flats. Didn't realize I had the arcane '65 exp in there, thought it was a PV'63. I preferred it to the 65 exp maybe because it was new to me. But since I didn't play it in a mix I can't say 100%. I have played the 65 exp in a 70's southern rock cover band and it nailed it. I'm not one chasing the 60's sound, but don't like sterile hi-fi either. The lollar really is a neutral pickup that amplifies the characteristics of the bass and opens it up to more tonal possibilities through eq and tone knob.

I play mostly rock type (alt, punk, indie, 90's) music and play through an ampeg v4-b, svt-vr, heritage 810e.

Side note just realized I own two PV63's so if anyone would like to trade for one, let me know.

First and foremost, thank you to Funkdified for the loan of the Arcane P65L. What a wonderful pickup. I've been in the Arcane fan club for about five years now but overwound pickup are a slippery slope. I've tried a bunch and most people go over the top with these. Pickups are all about balance so it's quite easy to exceed the boundaries of sonic balance. Aguilar went way over the top and even Lollar was a bit extreme. Seymour Duncan with their SB-2 was still over indulgent. Arcane hit it just right IMHO. I have this wonderful bass which has always been a bit bass shy. The Arcane P65L mated with that bass like a dream. I tried it in the mix with my guitar player and it stayed present in the mix, just wonderful.

Again overwound are tricky, it's hard to get a hot signal, punch, big bass and nice harmonic content. Arcane seems to shine, yet again.

Next episode in my P bass exploration is a McNelly P bass pickup which I just secured. This boutique pickup builder is Canadian, completely unknown to me but held in high regards by Renegade Guitarworks, so I thought it was worth a shot.

As Funkdified has a Bare Knuckle pickup, I could see another temporary swap with the McNelly in the near future!

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Just received my Klein Epic 62 P-Bass pickup. I'll post an update after I get installed.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I really really like the Klein Epic 62 P-Bass pickup. The first word that comes to mind in describing it is “balanced”. It’s balanced from string to string. It’s balanced from an EQ curve perspective. The pickup it replaced in my AmPro P-Bass was an SD SPB-1 (which I remain a big fan of). The SPB-1 is a more naturally aggressive sounding pickup in that it’s slightly scooped. This means large bottom with plenty of treble content. From an EQ curve perspective I’d say the SPB-1 is something like lows-7, mids-4, highs-6. With the Klein I’d say the EQ curve is something like lows-6, mids-5, highs-5. If I roll off the tone knob I’m rewarded with a very nice Motown’ish P-Bass sound. If I dime the tone knob it gets nearly as as aggressive as the SPB-1, but in a slightly more elegant fashion. I can make the Klein sound close to the SPB-1, but I’m not sure I could make the SPB-1 sound like the Klein. It’s a very versatile pickup. I’m going to stick with the Klein because I live how it sounds with the tone rolled off (not at all boomy) and because it still gets me close to the ballsyness of the SPB-1. Plus at $120 it’s still what I would consider reasonable from a price point perspective. All in all it ended up being exactly what I was hoping for.

 

[J. Brooks]

Hey I have a quick question. What is the standard measurement for a vintage style p pickup? and how about for overwound?

My olinto bass has a pickup made by Mas Hino which they said he overwinds a bit and his usual measurements are around 11.5k

It's louder than both my regular Lollar in my Fender and the Sadowsky pickup I used to have, but also has brighter high end. It'a definitely brighter and more clear than the overwound Lollar I used to have. I'm just curious cuz I thought brightness and clarity were always a compromise with loudness. In any case it's a great sounding pickup.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Hey I have a quick question. What is the standard measurement for a vintage style p pickup? and how about for overwound?

My olinto bass has a pickup made by Mas Hino which they said he overwinds a bit and his usual measurements are around 11.5k

It's louder than both my regular Lollar in my Fender and the Sadowsky pickup I used to have, but also has brighter high end. It'a definitely brighter and more clear than the overwound Lollar I used to have. I'm just curious cuz I thought brightness and clarity were always a compromise with loudness. In any case it's a great sounding pickup.

From my perspective, overwound pickups are typically in the 12k and above range. Your pickup would fall in line with what many companies consider a stock winding. This would explain why yours are still bright. I’m sure others will chime in.