What is the highest output single coil P bass pickup?

[TheOriginalName]

Hey Talkbass,

I wanted to ask you guys which single coil P bass pickup has the highest output? Fralin? Lollar? Seymour Duncan? Any other?

Thanks.

 

[Gavin220168]

DiMarzio Model P. Crazy loud.

 

[TheOriginalName]

DiMarzio Model P. Crazy loud.

Those are single coils?

 

[Gavin220168]

Yes. Ceramic pole piece split single coil p bass pickup.

 

[TheOriginalName]

Yes. Ceramic pole piece split single coil p bass pickup.

Ah, I mean the telecaster style p pickup. Like the original ones found on the first and second gen p basses. Not the split coil. Sorry.

 

[Gavin220168]

Yes. Ok. Then I don't know about them. Sorry.

 

[okabass]

You mean '51 type single coil PU? Duncan Quarter Pounder maybe. I personally don't like it: it is too thick and kind of dull sounding PU.
If you're interested single coil size humbucking PUs, the Duncan stack is very good for '51-type P-bass. There are other humbuckers like Fralin, Nordstrand...

 

[okabass]

Yes. Ceramic pole piece split single coil p bass pickup.

No. Iron pole pieces, ceramic magnets, two coils, humbucking (s.c. split coil or post '57)

 

[Gavin220168]

No. Iron pole pieces, ceramic magnets, two coils, humbucking (s.c. split coil or post '57)

Really? I thought they used the magnet as a pole piece and then place another bar magnet at the base of it? I don't like them anyway. Too loud for me.

 

[ctmullins]

If output is your primary goal then I'd use something like the Super Distortion® S | DiMarzio

 

[okabass]

Really?

Yes.

 

[okabass]

If output is your primary goal then I'd use something like the Super Distortion® S | DiMarzio

Yes. I tried that PU on my '51. Quite powerful, but loses the original single coil character. You can buy a China clone of that type PU about 10 USD, if you want to try. Those clones I tried were not so bad.

 

[TheOriginalName]

Yes. Ok. Then I don't know about them. Sorry.

Don't be sorry. I failed to be clear enough initially.

 

[TheOriginalName]

You mean '51 type single coil PU? Duncan Quarter Pounder maybe. I personally don't like it: it is too thick and kind of dull sounding PU.
If you're interested single coil size humbucking PUs, the Duncan stack is very good for '51-type P-bass. There are other humbuckers like Fralin, Nordstrand...

Higher output is the primary goal, though not too high. Something well rounded, I suppose. Do you know how the output is one the Seymour stack or fralin humbucker?

 

[I-play-bass]

DiMarzio Model P. Crazy loud.

Hey, that's what I got in my old P bass!

Tons and tons of mids in this sucker.

 

[shadven]

Lindy Fralin split-coil '51 p-bass

 

[TheOriginalName]

Lindy Fralin split-coil '51 p-bass

How is the output compared to, say, a standard split coil quarter pounder?

 

[walterw]

How is the output compared to, say, a standard split coil quarter pounder?

i don't think there's any such thing. (unless you mean a "regular P pickup" in a modern P bass, in which case those are all much louder)

+1 on the QP being probably the hottest single coil P pickup. i thought those sounded pretty good, keeping that raw single coil character but with more balls behind it. you just need to set them kind of low so they're not too peaky and uneven, and a compressor in the signal chain would not be out of line.

 

[sikamikanico]

I don't have much personal experience with these pickups, but from what I picked up (pun unintended) around here over the years, I'd look into: Seymour Duncan SCPB-2 (hot) or SCPB-3 (quarter pounder), or Rio Grande Muy Grande.

Between the two Duncans, SCPB-2 supposedly has more output, though their website seems to indicate that Antiquity II also has similar output??

Also, Rio Grande has a version called "Dirty Harry 51 P-Zazz" and I kinda want to try it just for the name It seems to have steel slugs and bar magnets, which may make it sound bigger?

Other than that, my impression was that most SCPB pickups aim for the "vintage" tone, and I'd not be surprised if Fralin, Lollar, Nordstrand and others fall more into that camp.

Edit: Another contender might be Aero Type 4A: Aero Pickups

 

[AndyPanda]

The Joe Barden pickups I've heard are hot-hot-hot, great sounding and hum free ... I've only tried the split P and the J pickups but they do make the tele style P pickup too: