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Ultra boutique P bass pickups
- Thread starter Laurent
- Start date
Cannt speak to what a P90 bass pickup would be, but a P90 guitar pickup is a big fat single coil.
Think like a Rickenbacker Hi-Gain but even hotter.
Maybe would sound in the ballpark of a SCPB?
Anyone here have much experience swapping P pickups in an active bass? I have an old Fender P Lyte Deluxe that was my only bass during my formative years, but spent the last 5 or so years in the closet. I pulled it out and set it up recently and was pleasantly surprised to find that it doesn't sound as "bad" as I remember.
It's currently sporting a Dimarzio Area P pickup, a random dual-J bridge humbucker, and an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. The tone is pretty hot, bright and sizzly with all the EQ at centre detent, definitely modern and "active" sounding. Could anyone offer a P pickup suggestion that might synergize with the preamp a little better? Looking for something on the smoother side, less aggressive and bitey. I've never tried the Area P in a passive bass, so I don't know exactly what it's bringing to the table, and how much of that is coming from the preamp, etc.
I also think that I put stainless steel strings on this bass back before I shelved it, so that's probably contributing. Maybe I'll start with a string change and go from there. Worst case I think I sill have the stock pickups around here somewhere, that I seem to recall (going back about 15-20 years now) were pretty clean sounding.
I'm really curious about the EMG pickups at the moment and how that would sound. But I doubt it's possible to mix an active P pickup with a passive bridge pickup, right?
It's currently sporting a Dimarzio Area P pickup, a random dual-J bridge humbucker, and an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. The tone is pretty hot, bright and sizzly with all the EQ at centre detent, definitely modern and "active" sounding. Could anyone offer a P pickup suggestion that might synergize with the preamp a little better? Looking for something on the smoother side, less aggressive and bitey. I've never tried the Area P in a passive bass, so I don't know exactly what it's bringing to the table, and how much of that is coming from the preamp, etc.
I also think that I put stainless steel strings on this bass back before I shelved it, so that's probably contributing. Maybe I'll start with a string change and go from there. Worst case I think I sill have the stock pickups around here somewhere, that I seem to recall (going back about 15-20 years now) were pretty clean sounding.
I'm really curious about the EMG pickups at the moment and how that would sound. But I doubt it's possible to mix an active P pickup with a passive bridge pickup, right?
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??? Active pickups need their own circuitry .. you can’t mix anything.
What your bass has got is a PJ set of passive pickups connected to an onboard preamp.
You may try the Bartolini PJ combination with the 8S P pickup and the 9J bridge pickup ..
Yeah I know that. I was curious about how EMGs sound in general, but it's the dual-J humbucker pickup that throws everything off. EMG 35 and Bart P2 size both wont fit in the dual-J route without hacking up the body.
Ah right the Lyte has got the dual single-coil slot then you shall go for something else .. I had an active PAX EMG P pickup (the one with AlNiCo V magnets) .. it was super clear sounding.
Very good pickup but not for you if you look for vintage sounds
I have one passive P bass with flats and a SD Antiquity 2 which does my vintage sound thing. I was wanting to get this active P fixed up to do a more modern sound thing, so not necessarily a vintage tone pickup, but smoother and less harsh. This basically started after listening to a bunch of Alice in Chains and thinking "how can I turn my Fender into a Spector?" lol.
The Bartolini pickup might be a good suggestion.
The Bartolini pickup might be a good suggestion.
Nope, it's the right length, but too wide. Looks like EMG35 size.
Lots to unpack here....
1. The DiMarzio area P is vintage sounding pickup that is kind of airy and detailed at the same time. Not aggressive at all. It's musical and laid back.
2. Don't know much about active and pre-amps but what I know is balancing a P and J pickup in a passive bass is touchy. Generally the P is too hot compared to the J. There are exceptions (Aguilar PJ set is balanced and so it the DiMarzio Model P/J). That last pickup would be too aggressive for your situation, the Aguilar might work well actually and play well with the preamp since it's in the same family. What I do not recommend doing is a passive J with and active P, as you are mentioning. I think it's the recipe for problems since you J is already handicapped compared to the P.
3. And yes your strings are probably not helping. Using something like a Fender 7250 (the stock roundwound) or Ernie Ball Slinky might help. These strings are kind of neutral/middle of the road and not aggressive/particularly bright. Flats would also tame things down if it's your thing.
Good luck!
1. The DiMarzio area P is vintage sounding pickup that is kind of airy and detailed at the same time. Not aggressive at all. It's musical and laid back.
2. Don't know much about active and pre-amps but what I know is balancing a P and J pickup in a passive bass is touchy. Generally the P is too hot compared to the J. There are exceptions (Aguilar PJ set is balanced and so it the DiMarzio Model P/J). That last pickup would be too aggressive for your situation, the Aguilar might work well actually and play well with the preamp since it's in the same family. What I do not recommend doing is a passive J with and active P, as you are mentioning. I think it's the recipe for problems since you J is already handicapped compared to the P.
3. And yes your strings are probably not helping. Using something like a Fender 7250 (the stock roundwound) or Ernie Ball Slinky might help. These strings are kind of neutral/middle of the road and not aggressive/particularly bright. Flats would also tame things down if it's your thing.
Good luck!
Thanks everyone. After some thought, I’m going to start with a string change and go from there.
A couple of months ago my wife surprised me with a Player Precision Plus with Pearl body and tort pickguard.
Pics in NBD thread is here... NBD unexpected Fender Player Plus
A really great bass and needs to be a keeper for obvious reasons. She didnt take it too well when I went to sell my Casady Goldtop she gave me 20 years ago, needless to say I still have it
. Player Plus P pickup, being imho too modern for me, too much low end, too much high end etc. I just put in an Arcane 65 and once again wowed with that pickup. A great clear sound across the board. Its like a new bass, and with the active circuit its super flexible and the neck on this bass is fantastic. May take another step and replace the preamp, but Ill probably be using this in passive mode most of the time. Active maybe good when i switch to a pick to cut the mids. Anyway another happy Arcane 65 story.
Pics in NBD thread is here... NBD unexpected Fender Player Plus
A really great bass and needs to be a keeper for obvious reasons. She didnt take it too well when I went to sell my Casady Goldtop she gave me 20 years ago, needless to say I still have it
. Player Plus P pickup, being imho too modern for me, too much low end, too much high end etc. I just put in an Arcane 65 and once again wowed with that pickup. A great clear sound across the board. Its like a new bass, and with the active circuit its super flexible and the neck on this bass is fantastic. May take another step and replace the preamp, but Ill probably be using this in passive mode most of the time. Active maybe good when i switch to a pick to cut the mids. Anyway another happy Arcane 65 story.
I just put an Arcane 65 in a Fender American Professional II P with a Tonestyler Bass 10......friggin' awesome with the TI Flats! I may or may not leave the Tonestyler, but the Arcane is definitely staying.
This is my first "like new" Fender bass in almost 50 years of playing....I'm loving it!
This is my first "like new" Fender bass in almost 50 years of playing....I'm loving it!
My first venture into the Arcane was replacing the renowned Tony Franklin P Pickup which worked out great imho.
After trying all those pickups on the Am Pro P, would you have stuck with the original pickups? I'm enjoying the V-mods on mine....
This thread is an everlasting epic.
I don't believe I'm all that qualified to provide pickup reviews for other people.
This one has a standard wound Lollar PU, .1uf cap and Dunlop stainless flats.
This one has Klein Epic '58 PU, .1uf cap and Dunlop nickel rounds.
I like how they both sound very much. Your YMMV.
I don't believe I'm all that qualified to provide pickup reviews for other people.
This one has a standard wound Lollar PU, .1uf cap and Dunlop stainless flats.
This one has Klein Epic '58 PU, .1uf cap and Dunlop nickel rounds.
I like how they both sound very much. Your YMMV.
