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Ultra boutique P bass pickups
- Thread starter Laurent
- Start date
Yes. Model J and Model P are the same overall construction. They have allen(hex) screws for pole pieces, with ceramic magnets on the bottom bobbin.
Yes the model J is also ceramic with steel poles and the Model P and Model J are really nicely matched as a pair which is rare for PJ arrays.
When it comes to the Lollar P90 and the Model P, I understand their construction and components are vastly different but do they sound somewhat similar?
The Model P is characterized by huge output, a slamming dynamic tone with a bump in the high mids and kind of a grindy overall sound. At least to my ears.
Same here. I've owned that pickup several times in my life. It's not always the prettiest tone when playing by oneself but in always sits in the mix like a champ.
This pickup has enough presence to impose itself with other instruments, it's perfect for dance music and heavy music. It's also relatively inexpensive. Not boutique as a pickup but it's distinctive enough to be widely use. Charvel, Nash and B.C. Rich used them.
Bought this 72/73 lightweight alder rosewood P last year and love the tone of this pickup. It sounds open, lots of definition, tight lows, sweet highs, balanced. Just like a nice Fender P should sound … I’m in love with it.
I own a couple of other 77/78 Ps but never liked their original pickups, they’re harsh, loose lows… (still have them, btw).
So, I’ve tried several brands of boutique pickups and different models over the years but no one ever sounds so good (to me) then this original 73 Fender. I’d love to find one that have a similar tone.
So I’d like to ask if you guys have any hints?
Thanks in advance.
Best.
I own a couple of other 77/78 Ps but never liked their original pickups, they’re harsh, loose lows… (still have them, btw).
So, I’ve tried several brands of boutique pickups and different models over the years but no one ever sounds so good (to me) then this original 73 Fender. I’d love to find one that have a similar tone.
So I’d like to ask if you guys have any hints?
Thanks in advance.
Best.
Attachments
Thanks for the link. Never tried this brand.
Difficult to judge by the clip but I’ll keep an eye and ears on it.
Best.
What pickups have you tried? What's come close or missed the mark for you, with each?
If you feel comfortable doing so and have a pickup maker in mind, you could send him the pickup and have him try to replicate it. (I could understand not being comfortable with that, though.)
Barring that, you could take (or have someone you trust take) some measurements (inductance and whatever else folks measure on pickups), make a couple of direct recordings, and tell the maker what other pickups you've tried and what you liked and what fell short for you with each.
You could also approach it from the other end -- the basses with pickups you don't like. You could measure and/or send (well, maybe sending a pickup you don't like isn't so useful) one of those. You could make direct recordings of it, along with the bass you like, and say, "Less of this... more of this."
If you tell us what you've tried and liked/didn't like about it, maybe someone who knows more about these things than I do will chime in with a pickup or two to try.
That's how I might go about it, anyway.
Bear in mind that the same pickup might sound different in different basses. If your one P-bass plays and sounds much differently than your others unplugged (you mention that it's a lighter bass with an alder body and rosewood board), they're unlikely to sound the same, even with identical pickups. That said, maybe you don't need that -- you know the general direction you want to go (less harsh highs, better balance, better definition in the lows).
That's all I've got -- good luck!
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Interesting quest. A few thoughts first.
- Are you sure the pickup in your 73 P are original?
- More pickup makers (and marketers you gotta sell the stuff once you've made it) try to reproduce 60's era pickups because they are perceived as the golden age.
- Also it would be a bit counter intuitive to wound by hand what was machine wound in the 70's.
- Never underestimate the tone of an instrument being the results of the combination of string, pickup, neck and body. Meaning using a similar sounding pickup is not a guarantee of achieving the same tone in other basses.
When I think of the tone you are describing, I am thinking that the Fender 62 Custom Shop Precision pickup should get close. I realize it's supposed to emulate a 62 pickup (see statement above) but they have that sweetness and the Fender typical mid punch. Alternatively Mojotone makes a 70's style p Pickup.
'70's Clone P-Bass® Pickup
The demo video listed with that pickup is for their Classic P bass pickup. It's misleading to have it on the 70's page pickup. I've not tried this pickup.
Other than that, Arcane Experience 65 and Lollar P make great sounding pickups but they are more like 60's sounding pickups than early 70's.
Good luck to you in your search.
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What pickups have you tried? What's come close or missed the mark for you, with each?
If you feel comfortable doing so and have a pickup maker in mind, you could send him the pickup and have him try to replicate it. (I could understand not being comfortable with that, though.)
Barring that, you could take (or have someone you trust take) some measurements (inductance and whatever else folks measure on pickups), make a couple of direct recordings, and tell the maker what other pickups you've tried and what you liked and what fell short for you with each.
You could also approach it from the other end -- the basses with pickups you don't like. You could measure and/or send (well, maybe sending a pickup you don't like isn't so useful) one of those. You could make direct recordings of it, along with the bass you like, and say, "Less of this... more of this."
If you tell us what you've tried and liked/didn't like about it, maybe someone who knows more about these things than I do with chime in with a pickup or two to try.
That's how I might go about it, anyway.
Bear in mind that the same pickup might sound different in different basses. If your one P-bass plays and sounds much differently than your others unplugged (you mention that it's a lighter bass with an alder body and rosewood board), they're unlikely to sound the same, even with identical pickups. That said, maybe you don't need that -- you know the general direction you want to go (less harsh highs, better balance, better definition in the lows).
That's all I've got -- good luck!
I’ve tried many, many. Since the late 70’s/early 80’s, when everybody starting to swap original pieces for aftermarket pickups, pots, necks, etc… I’ve also ruined some good instruments when I was young..
I’ve tried several boutique pickups: Lollar (have a couple wound by the man himself), Arcane (65 Experience and 65L), Fralin, Lawrence (Wilde), Nordstrand (NP4)… and so on…
They sound good, of course but This one 73 has really changed my mind concerning early 70’s Fender pickups.
I live in Brazil and while we have a couple of guys doing great work, it is very limited in terms of sources to buy from.
Yes, maybe I can take the bass for a good pickup manufacturer and ask for a clone…
Thank you.
Yes, pretty sure it’s an original pickup. Gray bobbin with serial number. The bass was very well cared.
Yes, I was also thinking about the 62 custom shop.
It seems like Fender tried some kind of 62 reissue with this 72/73 bass.
The neck profile is very similar to the James Jamerson tribute that a friend of mine has. And the tone is also very similar although mine is a little more “open”.
I think it is not a 70’s tone. I have had many 70’s Fender. Never had one that sounded like this one.
I’ll try the 62. Keep you informed.
Thank you.
Best.
Interesting suggestion, I almost forgot about this one. I seem to recall trying one of these once many years ago, and would have to agree that it was tight in the low end and airy on top from my recollection. Thinking about it now makes me want to try one again.
Dimarzio Area P might be worth a look as well for another relatively budget option. I have this one in an active bass so not a great basis for comparison, but the overall character with the EQ flat is not far off.
Can anyone here paint a picture as to how the Fender 62 compares to a SD Antiquity II (currently rocking in my main Fender P4/flats)? Or maybe I should pull the Dimarzio and try it with my P4.
Edit: I see the Dimarzio Area P is no longer in production, but there is a new model in its place called the 60s P.
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IME: The Custom Shop '62 is slightly "scooped" and maybe a bit on the polite side - in a good way.
It's a great pickup in the right bass.
The Antiquity II isn't mid-heavy, but doesn't come off as scooped. It's well balanced and has a nice smooth high end. It's the one pickup that just seems to sound good in every bass I've tried it in.
I had the CS '62 in my '64 P, which the bass itself tends to have a slightly strong mid-voice.
The CS '62 was a good match. It fit better than an SPD-1 and an Olinto - both great pickups in their own right.
For whatever reason though, I tried the Antiquity II, and it's never left that bass. The mids were well balanced for that bass, and it just seems to have more character.
The CS '62 found a home in another bass though.
The DiMarzio Area P was an Alnico II pickup if my memory serves me. It was a very airy, laid back and musical pickup. I thought of it as the perfect pup for hippie music.
TheSD Antiquity II has very limited highs, it's very warm and laid back. Very much like an aged pickup which is what SD was trying to achieve.
The Fender 62 custom shop is indeed a bit scooped but it's really balanced. It does not sound vintage or 60's to my ears, it sounds more like a high quality version of what many Fender pickups sound like.
Stay away from the Fender Pure Vintage 63 precision pickup. It's a gorgeous sounding pickup characterized by a massive amount of bass, a warm tone and a punchy delivery. It's one of the better pickup produced by Fender but I don't think it would serve the OP tonal objective.
TheSD Antiquity II has very limited highs, it's very warm and laid back. Very much like an aged pickup which is what SD was trying to achieve.
The Fender 62 custom shop is indeed a bit scooped but it's really balanced. It does not sound vintage or 60's to my ears, it sounds more like a high quality version of what many Fender pickups sound like.
Stay away from the Fender Pure Vintage 63 precision pickup. It's a gorgeous sounding pickup characterized by a massive amount of bass, a warm tone and a punchy delivery. It's one of the better pickup produced by Fender but I don't think it would serve the OP tonal objective.
I’ve read many of the posts and am more confused than ever. My favorite bass is a Fender Precision mod shop with Custom Shop ‘62 pickups (roasted maple neck). I recently bought a Fodera Monarch P and while it plays well, I’m not very fond of the Aguilar 4P-60 pickup. It has too much high-mid/bright tone than I like. I’m thinking about a CS 62, PV ‘63, or Klein Epic ‘59 or ‘60. I like a round/warm tone that still is punchy and articulate. Wondering if any of you can make a comparison. Thanks
I’ll recommend the Seymour Duncan Antiquity 2 pickup. Nice high end that is still warm and thumpy. You may want to consider flats as well.
