I just bought a bass guitar that has EMG active pickups on it which i am going to remove as i do not like active pickups...I was thinking of replacing them with Seymour Duncan passive pickups but a bass player friend of mine said EMGs are better...open for discussion and if anyone can recommend a brand that works for them, thats great too...the bass is a 2016 remake of the Hamer B4M...tx
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Who makes the best pickups for bass?
- Thread starter talita mathews
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- pickups
Zoobiedood
Commercial User
- Sep 1, 2015
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- Writer/Ambassador/Artist/Resident Bass Expert for Seymour Duncan
That's sort of like coming here and asking what the best bass is, really. I am pretty biased here, so I won't answer this, but you might want to explain what you don't like about the active pickups and what you are hoping to gain with a pickup swap- and you can never be too specific.
G&L makes the best bass pickups in the *known universe:
Pickup - L-series - four string
*yes, that's a Dune reference!
Pickup - L-series - four string
*yes, that's a Dune reference!
There is no “best” pickup. It’s all in what you’re looking for. My current favorites are Aguilar’s and Fender Custom Shops. But, they aren’t “the best.”
I didn’t think I would like EMG with active preamps but after getting my 1st so equipped with every intention of switching to something passive, I now have one jazz and 3 pjs with EMG active systems and love them. FWIW.
Ah, yes. Dune. Where the world first learned of Sting’s reverse left butt cheek...
Nah, they flipped the negative, it's his RIGHT cheek. He turned the OTHER one, after Stewart Copeland once and for all told him he was going to open up the can of wh*****s right now.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Depends what you are going for. I love EMG’s in a Fender Jazz. If you want a more vintage tone...I highly recommend single could Nordstrand or Lindy Fralin Pickups. For an outside of the box option...I have been pretty blown away by the 4th generation Fender Noiseless Pickups that I have sampled in a couple of the new Fender Elite Jazz Basses, and the PJ combo in my new Fender Elite PJ.
The old Gibson mudbucker is pretty good for bass.
I'd recommend it if you want to stay out of treble.
I'd recommend it if you want to stay out of treble.
You have a somewhat limited choice given that the bass has humbuckers. I've really only seen the EMGs, some dual blade Lawrence and the Carvin M22B for that form factor. I'm sure there are more out there now.
The EMG bass HB is just their P pickup in the humbucker casing. What don't you like about it? You can do a lot with EMGs, especially if you use their preamps.
You can always modify the bass and install whatever you want. Musicman style pickups or G&L MFDs would require some routing, but would cover the original hole.
The EMG bass HB is just their P pickup in the humbucker casing. What don't you like about it? You can do a lot with EMGs, especially if you use their preamps.
You can always modify the bass and install whatever you want. Musicman style pickups or G&L MFDs would require some routing, but would cover the original hole.
Best pickups made?
Alembic.
Ask a silly question, get a silly answer.
Alembic.
Ask a silly question, get a silly answer.
