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Ultra boutique P bass pickups

#961
I have not played the Klein Epic 62. Looking at the specs, it is rated 10.8k so it should not be low output. It's right in the norm for a P bass pickup.
When people say low output, the question is compared to what?
Compared with a DiMarzio Model P which is notoriously hot, sure. Even compared with your PV63 which is at 12k, the Fender should have a hair more input.

If you enjoy the pickup and it works in your 62 AVRI (I have one too btw, and love that bass), just play!
 
#962
Laurent said:
I have not played the Klein Epic 62. Looking at the specs, it is rated 10.8k so it should not be low output. It's right in the norm for a P bass pickup.
When people say low output, the question is compared to what?
Compared with a DiMarzio Model P which is notoriously hot, sure. Even compared with your PV63 which is at 12k, the Fender should have a hair more input.

If you enjoy the pickup and it works in your 62 AVRI (I have one too btw, and love that bass), just play!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input but perhaps my question wasn't clear. As I stated in my post, I love the Klein '62.

I have continually read comments that this Klein '62 has a lower output compared to many other P pickups, but that isn't my experience. In fact, it seems to be the only common "downside" to this pickup that people mention. (I don't view it as a downside.) I'm more curious than anything.
 
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#963
porterbass said:
Thanks for the input but perhaps my question wasn't clear. As I stated in my post, I love the Klein '62.

I have continually read comments that this Klein '62 has a lower output compared to many other P pickups, but that isn't my experience. In fact, it seems to be the only common "downside" to this pickup that people mention. (I don't view it as a downside.) I'm more curious than anything.
Click to expand...
In effect it has a rather substantial output, maybe just slightly (but very slightly) less than the Fender PV ‘63 (I swapped this one for a Klein Epic ‘62 in my AO ‘60s P), but quite substantial anyway for my hears.
Its “brother”, the Klein Epic ‘59, definitely has a lower output, not dramatically lower but something one can notice, albeit being a super clear sounding P-bass pickup.
Got it installed on another P of mine.
 
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#966
Okay, I’ve read the first ten pages or so and the last ten pages or so of this thread. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I’m looking for a P pu that’s fat and clear. I know those terms are subjective, so I reviewed the glossary at the top of this forum:

Fat = full, thick, solid
Clear = defined tone (opposite of muddy). (I’m not interested in a wooly or overdriven sound.)

Those of you with experience with this type of pu, what do you recommend?

(I have one in mind and have contacted the maker, but will wait to name it so I don’t prejudice your response.)

Thank you!
 
#967
waver said:
Okay, I’ve read the first ten pages or so and the last ten pages or so of this thread. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I’m looking for a P pu that’s fat and clear. I know those terms are subjective, so I reviewed the glossary at the top of this forum:

Fat = full, thick, solid
Clear = defined tone (opposite of muddy). (I’m not interested in a wooly or overdriven sound.)

Those of you with experience with this type of pu, what do you recommend?

(I have one in mind and have contacted the maker, but will wait to name it so I don’t prejudice your response.)

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Curtis Novak PB-CC... absolutely!
 
#968
waver said:
Okay, I’ve read the first ten pages or so and the last ten pages or so of this thread. Thanks for sharing your experience!

I’m looking for a P pu that’s fat and clear. I know those terms are subjective, so I reviewed the glossary at the top of this forum:

Fat = full, thick, solid
Clear = defined tone (opposite of muddy). (I’m not interested in a wooly or overdriven sound.)

Those of you with experience with this type of pu, what do you recommend?

(I have one in mind and have contacted the maker, but will wait to name it so I don’t prejudice your response.)

Thank you!
Click to expand...

It's a rather broad definition and many pickups may fill that bill. It's what I would call a balanced pickup (again without knowing more about the type of attack you're looking for or harmonic content for example - music style can also be a big one).
Here are a few pickups which are fat (lots of basses) but also crisp (lots of highs) - I am staying away from scooped pickups such as the SD Quarter Pounder, hot or modern sounding pickups.

Lollar P regular wound
Fender Custom Shop 62 (the one sold in a black box - Fender makes several with somewhat similar names)
Arcane Experience 62
Fralin P
Kloppmann PB63

Ultimately you might have to try a few to see what mates well with your bass and what pleases your ears.
Pickups are more complicated than just frequencies.
 
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#969
Thanks for your input!

Laurent, you mentioned a couple that I hadn’t thought of, such as the Fender.

Phat, you mentioned the Novak PB-CC, but what about the PB-Fat? The descriptions both say fat, but the CC also mentions growl and overdrive, which I’m not really interested in.
 
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#970
waver said:
Thanks for your input!

Laurent, you mentioned a couple that I hadn’t thought of, such as the Fender.

Phat, you mentioned the Novak PB-CC, but what about the PB-Fat? The descriptions both say fat, but the CC also mentions growl and overdrive, which I’m not realizing interested in.
Click to expand...

I never felt that with a Charlie Christian "style" pickup profile. Perhaps I didn't beat on it hard enough. The output was like 6.7 and in no way was overwound. The magnets used are not the same as the original Charlie Christian design, either.

Fat, clear, smooth top end and no mid-bump (even) is what I heard. (Charlie Christian was a Jazz guitarist playing an acoustic archtop guitar with a pickup strapped on to it.)

I listened to James McMurtry's Bass player with it in his P Bass and it got me to put it in mine at the time. Not someone bent on grind in his tone. YMMV
 
#972
I abstain from commenting as the target pickup definition’s is not so clear to me.
However, while mentioning the Arcane ‘65 and the Fender CS ‘60s, one may also consider the Klein Epic ‘62, which, substantially, is in the same ballpark.
The Kloppman PB63 costs as twice as the others in @Laurent’s list, but the tone is far from being twice as better (I know this is an old topic but I’d personally never buy a P-bass pickup at that price sounding the way it sounds).
 
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#975
Waver I suggest the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II. Does clear and fat all day. Ive owned a 66 P, a 60 P (still own), and a 72 P and the duncan is the one that has given me not only the closest tone to the above mentioned, but is also quite versatile and great using clean, under effects, or recording. Just an all round great pickup
 
#978
Evan38109 said:
It's kinda funny...when I read "P pu that’s fat and clear," my mind immediately went to the late 50's style pickups like the Arcane '57 and Klein '59. I'm curious, why did y'all think of 60's pickups like the Arcane '65 and Klein '62 instead?
Click to expand...

Curious about this as well. Interested in either the Arcane or the Klein. Do the '60s versions mentioned here have more 'fatness' and clarity, relatively speaking?
 
#979
Evan38109 said:
It's kinda funny...when I read "P pu that’s fat and clear," my mind immediately went to the late 50's style pickups like the Arcane '57 and Klein '59. I'm curious, why did y'all think of 60's pickups like the Arcane '65 and Klein '62 instead?
Click to expand...
The Klein Epic ‘59 is clear and it can be quite fat a with the tone control rolled off !
Here it is:

My Funk Machine - TalkBass docet …
 
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