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Upgrading Sire P7 5-string P/J pickups

jacoby75

jacoby75

Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2010
5,661
10,716
Coldwater, MI
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
#1
Hey gang,

Long-time player, but I'm not terribly technologically savvy when it comes to things like electronics. I've been a passive player for most of the last decade or so, but I decided to pick up a 2nd Gen Sire P7 5-string P/J for my birthday (or at least that's the excuse I gave my wife). I love so much about it, but I'm not a huge fan of the pickups. I'm an old soul, and am currently into more of a vintage tone. The P7 Marcus Miller pickups are great, but a bit too modern and "sterile", for lack of a better word, for my tastes. I'd like to upgrade them (or at least change them) to something with a more "vintage" tone. Particularly in terms of the P pickup - something that gives that vintage Fender P-pickup grind and midrange presence.

Can anyone recommend a good 5-string P/J setup that would give me that vintage vibe, be noise canceling, and also work well with the Sire preamp at times? For those who aren't familiar, the Sire preamp is 18v, with a passive/active switch, blend knob, passive tone roll off, treble, bass, and sweepable mids.

Thanks!
 
#3
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#4
The Aguilar set might be an option, but I'm pretty sure I saw a video yesterday where he was complaining that they didn't fit right in the cavities and/or pickguard, and I'm not up for anything complicated onacounta my technical knowledge is slim to none, so I'd like to keep this as easy (and cost-effective) as possible. But I don't want to necessarily skimp out. I'd like them to be good.
 
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#5
i also want to change out the pick ups in my P7. I have a Essex parts bass P with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders in it that I really love the tone of. I’m not sure if that’s the tone you’re shooting for but they have a thick midrange growl that I want in my Sire. when i compare the two, the Sire sounds dull.

I’m seriously thinking about picking up set and hope they fit.

https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/quarter-pound-p-bass-5-string
 
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#6
ThePez said:
i also want to change out the pick ups in my P7. I have a Essex parts bass P with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders in it that I really love the tone of. I’m not sure if that’s the tone you’re shooting for but they have a thick midrange growl that I want in my Sire. when i compare the two, the Sire sounds dull.

I’m seriously thinking about picking up set and hope they fit.

https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/quarter-pound-p-bass-5-string
Click to expand...
I have thought about the quarter pounders, thanks for the tip. They don't make a 5-string p/j set, but I would assume the same could be accomplished by getting a 5-string p and j pickup separately, assuming they would sound good together. But from everything I've read they're hotter output, which is not what I want. I would prefer mellower "vintage" output. But it's still on the list. The options seem really few and far between.

At this point, I'm leaning the most towards the Nordstrand NPVJ5S 5-string set. From what I heard in at least one video of the 4-string variety, it's got the tone I'm after.

When I wrote "bestbassgear.com" for a suggestion, they suggested Delanos. The 5-string Delano is in stock, but the J is not. But from what I've read around here about those, they have a more "modern" tone, which is what the Sire already has and I do not want.

I think at this point it's down to either the Nordstrand or QP's.
 
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#9
jacoby75 said:
Hey gang,

Long-time player, but I'm not terribly technologically savvy when it comes to things like electronics. I've been a passive player for most of the last decade or so, but I decided to pick up a 2nd Gen Sire P7 5-string P/J for my birthday (or at least that's the excuse I gave my wife). I love so much about it, but I'm not a huge fan of the pickups. I'm an old soul, and am currently into more of a vintage tone. The P7 Marcus Miller pickups are great, but a bit too modern and "sterile", for lack of a better word, for my tastes. I'd like to upgrade them (or at least change them) to something with a more "vintage" tone. Particularly in terms of the P pickup - something that gives that vintage Fender P-pickup grind and midrange presence.

Can anyone recommend a good 5-string P/J setup that would give me that vintage vibe, be noise canceling, and also work well with the Sire preamp at times? For those who aren't familiar, the Sire preamp is 18v, with a passive/active switch, blend knob, passive tone roll off, treble, bass, and sweepable mids.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
What did you end up going with? has anyone found some that fit directly in without adjusting the pickguard?
 
#10
kwalrus said:
What did you end up going with? has anyone found some that fit directly in without adjusting the pickguard?
Click to expand...
I’m afraid I didn’t get that far. That project had to take a backseat for a bit. What I did do, though, was changed out the passive tone capacitor for a MojoTone 0.047. It made a significant difference, and made the bass far more usable for me in both passive and active modes. I have yet to play it outside of the house, but I currently have it strung with flats for when I need that sort of thing.

I highly recommend making the tone cap swap, if you are able. If, like me, you are unable to solder, perhaps you have a friend who can help you. It is definitely worth it. A super cheap modification that makes a huge difference in getting a more fender style tone. There is some good information on it over in the Sire fan club.

That being said, I do still intend to swap the pickups out someday for something more vintage sounding, but I’m not sure what.
 
#12
Hey guys,
Recently picked up my sire P7 5-er after not playing it for some time. Just changed out the tuning keys to some UltraLites.
I'm debating a pickup swap as well. For those that have the stock pickups, what is your pickup height adjusted to? I'm typically a 4-string player, so I'm having a bit of trouble finding a good height with the 5 string. Huge volume difference between the P and J pickup. I fiddle around with it back when I got it a few years ago and would appreciate a safe starting point. Can't seem to find anything on the Sire website
 
#13
jacoby75 said:
Hey gang,

Long-time player, but I'm not terribly technologically savvy when it comes to things like electronics. I've been a passive player for most of the last decade or so, but I decided to pick up a 2nd Gen Sire P7 5-string P/J for my birthday (or at least that's the excuse I gave my wife). I love so much about it, but I'm not a huge fan of the pickups. I'm an old soul, and am currently into more of a vintage tone. The P7 Marcus Miller pickups are great, but a bit too modern and "sterile", for lack of a better word, for my tastes. I'd like to upgrade them (or at least change them) to something with a more "vintage" tone. Particularly in terms of the P pickup - something that gives that vintage Fender P-pickup grind and midrange presence.

Can anyone recommend a good 5-string P/J setup that would give me that vintage vibe, be noise canceling, and also work well with the Sire preamp at times? For those who aren't familiar, the Sire preamp is 18v, with a passive/active switch, blend knob, passive tone roll off, treble, bass, and sweepable mids.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would suggest:
Delano PC5 AL/M2 (split coil)
Lollar single coil (60s jazz)

Together very warm sound with some added richness. Also can be used solo and J pickup is strong enough for split pickup. Good balance.
 

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