Van Zandt remains somehow a mystery but at that price (75$) one may as well go for a blind test trial …
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Ultra boutique P bass pickups
- Thread starter Laurent
- Start date
I had one in 2015 and remember it as middle of the road. Nothing wrong with it but nothing remarkable.
Bill Lawrence P pickups are cheaper than boutique and sound as good as anything in my amateur opinion
If you're looking for that big overwound tone, the Bill Lawrence P46 does sound really good but so does the DiMarzio Model P. Both pickups are around $80, so they are cheaper but not dramatically cheaper than an Arcane for example. At that point, the important aspect is hitting your tonal objective more than the price per se.
I’m actually quite content about my Klein Epic ‘62 pickup - it’s definitely what one may expect when thinking about a decent vintage soul P-bass tone.
This simple definition should be sufficient for those who embarked in a Motown sound bass quest ..
However I still would like to try the Arcane sooner or later.
This simple definition should be sufficient for those who embarked in a Motown sound bass quest ..
However I still would like to try the Arcane sooner or later.
Sound samples or it didn’t happen …Just went in today...
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Delano PMVC FE/M2...Super warm, tight, full, edge..
Not for mid-60's chasers...but a hammer P Pickup!
Sorry, I didn't have that equipment...
But it sounds smashing through this...!
I wonder whether somebody has some informed opinions to share about the Fender Pure Vintage ‘60 P-bass pickup, which, as far as I know, Fender doesn’t sell as a separate item …
PS
They are those coming stock on the American Vintage II series instruments ..
PS
They are those coming stock on the American Vintage II series instruments ..
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Speaking of Arcane... picked up a 65 experience to try out. What a fantastic pickup! Balanced, with that fantastic airiness you only get from a hand wound pickup. Sounds just like a great vintage pickup to me. Sits in the mix GREAT!
How does the Arcane compares with the SD Steve Harris, I know you've been a fan of that pickup for a long time.
They are very different beasts, the Steve Harris is overwound and machine wound. The Arcane is hand wound and wound to a slightly hot vintage pickup.
You're one of the few pros who post here, so you're opinion carries extra weight.
They are very different... The Arcane sounds like what you'd expect a great early to mid 60's P bass pickup to sound. Clear, but slightly aggressive mids with an airy top end that sits great in a mix. I find it interesting that many look for a pickup that is warm and thick on its own when the truth is, that sound turns to mud in a mix. Slightly more aggressive mids and a little bit of brightness sounds warm and thick in a mix 
Anyway, I am a huge fan of the Arcane and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great vintage voiced pickup.
The Harris(SPB-4) sounds more like a late 60's Fender pickup to me... stronger bass, but with a bright top end. Its difficult to describe in words, but this pickup hits hard down low, and sounds GREAT in a busy mix. Its got a clear supportive sound that fills out low end without getting in the way of guitars/keys/vox etc. I'd say one of the really great sounding pickups for a busy mix when you need to cut through a bit more.
Anyway, I am a huge fan of the Arcane and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great vintage voiced pickup. The Harris(SPB-4) sounds more like a late 60's Fender pickup to me... stronger bass, but with a bright top end. Its difficult to describe in words, but this pickup hits hard down low, and sounds GREAT in a busy mix. Its got a clear supportive sound that fills out low end without getting in the way of guitars/keys/vox etc. I'd say one of the really great sounding pickups for a busy mix when you need to cut through a bit more.
Ugh .. now I have to buy an Arcane.They are very different... The Arcane sounds like what you'd expect a great early to mid 60's P bass pickup to sound. Clear, but slightly aggressive mids with an airy top end that sits great in a mix. I find it interesting that many look for a pickup that is warm and thick on its own when the truth is, that sound turns to mud in a mix. Slightly more aggressive mids and a little bit of brightness sounds warm and thick in a mix
The Harris(SPB-4) sounds more like a late 60's Fender pickup to me... stronger bass, but with a bright top end. Its difficult to describe in words, but this pickup hits hard down low, and sounds GREAT in a busy mix. Its got a clear supportive sound that fills out low end without getting in the way of guitars/keys/vox etc. I'd say one of the really great sounding pickups for a busy mix when you need to cut through a bit more.
Have you ever had a chance to play a bass equipped with a Klein Epic ‘62?
If this is the case, would you say that the two pickups sound noticeably different ?
I just noticed these pop up on reverb and the usual retail sites for $150. Price is definitely in line with "boutique" options. I'm curious to try it but am in no rush.
I see that they are taking preorders now for this pickup in Italy which seems now to be sold separately with Fender part number 0992387000.
Price is 129.20€ plus shipping.
Delivery expected by November 2023 (???) … Klein is faster ahah … probably the decision to sell them separately is quite recent then.
The Kline Epic '59 has always been one of my fav's for P Bass pickups...
My buddy in Austin and I ended up with a new AVRI '63 P Bass (Alder 3TB) with M/RW and AVRI '58 P Bass (Ash-Trans Blonde) with M/M.
I put the M/M on the '63 Alder-3TB and he took that one. I put the M/R on the '58 Ash-Trans Blonde and put a Kline Epic '59 in it with an Emerson Custom harness, Black Anodized Pickguard and a Hipshot KA4 Bridge. (The '63 got a nice Schecter LA Custom Shop top loading brass/chrome bridge with some weight to it!)
This Bass sounded awesome! I sold it just before the lockdown to a store near DC. I was there 14 months later when it sold. The guy had been playing it for like 90 minutes. He brought it up to the counter and said; "this could be the best sounding P Bass I have ever played!" He had just accepted a house blues gig somewhere in Baltimore.
The Bass ended up being sold back to the music store a couple years later. I was standing in line to talk to my guy about buying it back. I was next in line when another employee brought the Bass to my guy who had just taken a phone call. The guy on the call bought the Bass...where it is now, God only knows!
It did sound amazing!
My buddy in Austin and I ended up with a new AVRI '63 P Bass (Alder 3TB) with M/RW and AVRI '58 P Bass (Ash-Trans Blonde) with M/M.
I put the M/M on the '63 Alder-3TB and he took that one. I put the M/R on the '58 Ash-Trans Blonde and put a Kline Epic '59 in it with an Emerson Custom harness, Black Anodized Pickguard and a Hipshot KA4 Bridge. (The '63 got a nice Schecter LA Custom Shop top loading brass/chrome bridge with some weight to it!)
This Bass sounded awesome! I sold it just before the lockdown to a store near DC. I was there 14 months later when it sold. The guy had been playing it for like 90 minutes. He brought it up to the counter and said; "this could be the best sounding P Bass I have ever played!" He had just accepted a house blues gig somewhere in Baltimore.
The Bass ended up being sold back to the music store a couple years later. I was standing in line to talk to my guy about buying it back. I was next in line when another employee brought the Bass to my guy who had just taken a phone call. The guy on the call bought the Bass...where it is now, God only knows!
It did sound amazing!
Tom Brantley has a small operation and builds pickups for Geddy Lee.
I knew W L Van Zandt before he died. His nephew has been running the company for years
I knew W L Van Zandt before he died. His nephew has been running the company for years
Tom Bradley learned his craft with Lindy Fralin; he seems to mostly do repairs more than winding new pickups, looking at his internet site.
The Geddy Lee Jazz pickups he crafts seems to be the exception.
Question for those that have tried Klein split P pickups, specifically the Epic '62. I installed the Klein '62 in one of my '62 AVRI Precisions. (Bought from our very own @Coughdrops) I love the pickup, and like having both the Klein '62 and Fender PV63 in different basses.
Many have said the Klein '62 has a lower output, but that hasn't been my experience. The output is fine, and actually is higher than some of my other passive P basses. I'm just curious as to others' experience with these as far as output level.
Many have said the Klein '62 has a lower output, but that hasn't been my experience. The output is fine, and actually is higher than some of my other passive P basses. I'm just curious as to others' experience with these as far as output level.
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