Your Favorite PASSIVE Pickup Brand

[Jaco Taco]

If you were to make a custom bass and put some passive pickups in it, what brand immediately leaps to mind as your go-to brand for a passive pickup? Fill out the poll!

EDIT: and I guess I should clarify, I mean a pickup for a passive bass, no preamp.
EDIT 2: Since so many were miffed that I didn't have EMG or Bartolini in the poll, I added them, you may change your vote if you wish.

 

[Teacher]

Wilde

 

[Dave W]

EMG

Oh, wait. You wanted PASSIVE!!!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Depends:
- If I was then going to add active electronics to those passive pickups, Bartolini.
- If it was for a 100% passive instrument, then either Bill Lawrence, or Schecter Monstertone (both old/original from the early 1980s)

 

[iiipopes]

Whatever it is, it has to be humbucking of some sort or another. No noise. Period. My custom P/J has a Rickenbacker HB in the D-G Precision position, and a Dimarzio UltraJazz in between the '60's and '70's bridge position.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The now-defunct (?) BassTec. I have one on my Schack 5 and added an EMG BTC pre for some addt'l tonal control. Nice but not a huge improvement.

Riis

 

[dincz]

SBS Electrosonic

 

[Batmensch]

EMG

Oh, wait. You wanted PASSIVE!!!

?Don't know what yer on about, mate.
EMG makes passives, too, like the EMG Geezer Butler sig, which I recently installed in my Squier VM P. It's a very good pickup too, sounds good and it's super easy to install, and that's why I voted "other" since EMG wasn't listed. Granted, it's my only experience with after market pickups, but I like it so much I figured it'd be OK to vote for it.

 

[mmbongo]

BARTOLINI

How the heck can you have this poll without Bartolini????

 

[Doctor J]

Whoever made the "Handmade" branded pickups used by Bacchus in the last ten years or so.

 

[mpdd]

mfd split humbuckers by g&l

 

[mojomike001]

I voted Dimarzio because I installed them in three of my basses and I'm very fond of the way they sound, but I also have a P bass with a Novak Dark Star that is very special.

 

[Jaco Taco]

BARTOLINI

How the heck can you have this poll without Bartolini????

Bartonlini's for passive?!? I've only heard bad things about them in passive.

 

[Jaco Taco]

EMG

Oh, wait. You wanted PASSIVE!!!

Exactly. And I've played EMG passives..... just like Bartolini, not what they are made for.

 

[DinoRock]

Lindy Fralin. I've got them in 2 Fender Jazz and I enjoy their sound. No means of compariso, though. They came highly recommended, I had them installed in a couple of 70s J basses and like the result.

 

[alembicguy]

1st choice Bartolini ran passive
2nd Seymour Duncan Anntiquity 1's +2's

 

[JimmyM]

EMG

Oh, wait. You wanted PASSIVE!!!

My answer would be the same. EMG. Geezer Butlers are passive and they totally kill.

 

[Up the dose]

Nordy.
Very satisfied with their 5 string passive P.

 

[mikezimmerman]

Are you asking about "passive pickups" (which covers 95% of the pickups out there), or are you talking about pickups to be installed in a passive bass that will not have a preamp?

 

[EMoneySC2]

I really enjoy the Lace Man o' War PJ pups in my Aerodyne. Clear and high output with low magnetic pull.