What should I do with my Fortress?

[Kaergbo]

So I've got this Warwick Fortress. I've always had a love/hate relationship with the tone and general attitude of this bass. A while ago I decided I was going to put flats on it and make it my super smooth, thuddin' low, Pino, almost fretless without being fretless kinda bass.

The first thing I did after putting flats on was replace the P-pickup from the stock MEC to a Seymour Duncan SPB-3.
This did not lead to the desired outcome. I now realise my research for this decision was lacking some serious depth, but I already feel I'm getting lost in the jungle.

So my question to you is: which P and which J pickup would you put in this bass to get or approach the aforementioned result?
Many thanks ahead,

 

[Warpeg]

DiMarzio Model J and Model P. By the way, you are most likely going to get a bunch of seemingly random recommendations from this post.

 

[charlie monroe]

EMG Geezers

 

[Slater]

For the sound you’re looking for, I would look at Bartolini.

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[ThudThudThud]

See if anyone was foolish enough to pull the p'up from a Squier CV 60s P. Buy it, and whack that in. Add some Chromes.
Don't worry about the J p'up.

Pino smooth all day.

 

[Kaergbo]

DiMarzio Model J and Model P. By the way, you are most likely going to get a bunch of seemingly random recommendations from this post.

Thanks! I love the creme white version of that Model P/J set. And you're probably right, but I will check them all out!

 

[Kaergbo]

See if anyone was foolish enough to pull the p'up from a Squier CV 60s P. Buy it, and whack that in. Add some Chromes.
Don't worry about the J p'up.

Pino smooth all day.

Interesting.. I am slightly hindered by the fact I'm in the Netherlands, which has a considerably smaller second hand market than you guys in the US for example. I would have to get lucky on that one.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Interesting.. I am slightly hindered by the fact I'm in the Netherlands, which has a considerably smaller second hand market than you guys in the US for example. I would have to get lucky on that one.

Ah, missed that part... Sorry.
Chromes and Squier CV 60s P pickups appear to be soulmates. Not sure why.
Maybe a Fender 62-ish pickup. Seymour Duncan SPB-1?

 

[Kaergbo]

For the sound you’re looking for, I would look at Bartolini.

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Thanks for the suggestion. Somehow, I've never jived with the Bart sound. But then again, my only real experience with them were those soapbars on an ibanez SR series. If the P/J set sounds different, that might be worth checking out.

 

[Kaergbo]

Ah, missed that part... Sorry.
Chromes and Squier CV 60s P pickups appear to be soulmates. Not sure why.
Maybe a Fender 62-ish pickup. Seymour Duncan SPB-1?

No need to apologise, I never specified that in my post. I've never played a Squier CV 60's P-bass, but I have the feeling that people that have one over here, won't be taking out the pick-ups to sell as parts. Unfortunately for me.

 

[ariwax]

Geezers.

 

[InternetAlias]

Honestly, the original pickup should do fine. Fiddle with amp settings, finger position, etc. String action has more effect on sound than a pickup swap in this scenario.

 

[Kaergbo]

Geezers.

The second Geezer suggestion.. I associate him with rock/metal, not with anything smooth. Time to check some clips. Thanks!

 

[GravyGoodness]

I'll be the third for Geezers.

I like to play a lot of Mowtown, Funk and Classic rock, so I wanted a "Classic" P-Bass tone with the flexibility of a J pickup as well on my P/J and the stock pickups didn't cut it. I borrowed a set of BT's that I didn't care for, put back in the stock J pickup with an American P pickup, then the DS SBP-3. None of which satisfied me. I watched a video of Geezer talking about his pickups (which I was aware of the whole time) and when he said they were the closest to his Original P-Bass pickup sound - so much so that these were the only pickups he has ever endorsed, I figured I'd give them a shot. Without a doubt they nailed the "sound' I wanted right out of the box. What's more, I had planned on hard-wiring the whole setup using CTS pots, but the supplied kit was so good that I used what it came with and never looked back. If I had to have one complaint, the Bridge pickup is just a tiny bit "thin" sounding for me when playing over it but I can remedy that by blending in just a little more neck or changing my playing location. All in all I'm the happiest with these of any I've used short of actual vintage pickups for the sound I want.
They aren't just for Metal - as I thought they were.

 

[Jrussblues]

Check out Ulyate. Guy makes a great pickup set for pj that are smooth, cut through without being too middy and take well to a little bit of bass boost if you want that extra little bit of thump in there.
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[Kaergbo]

I'll be the third for Geezers.

...

They aren't just for Metal - as I thought they were.

Thanks for the comprehensive suggestion! I will definitely be checking these out now.

 

[Kaergbo]

Check out Ulyate. Guy makes a great pickup set for pj that are smooth, cut through without being too middy and take well to a little bit of bass boost if you want that extra little bit of thump in there.
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Thanks! On their site, I can't find if they ship to Europe, but it looks promising.

 

[LYNCHMAN]

EMG GEEZERS...ALL THE WAY!

 

[Kaergbo]

EMG GEEZERS...ALL THE WAY!

Haha damn, the old Geez getting some love here on TB! I guess I can't ignore these anymore. So far, I'm definitely checking:

- Dimarzio Model P/J
- Geezers
- Bartolini P/J

 

[basscapes]

I'm in the opposite direction right now- I have a pair of EMG35Ps, and an EXB control just waiting for a bass to install them in (trying to find the RIGHT bass is the deal now!).

I am of no use here...