Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

[toowrongfoo]

I'm old, and I'm perplexed by pickups, and hello to all

After a couple of years with a MIM p-bass and trying desperately to make the right choice, I finally decided to buy these and embark on the journey of actually finding the right set.

Pretty sure I got it wrong :lol: They are quite a bit darker than I'd hoped for. Most of listing have the "tone" listing as scooped mids and higher treble/bass. I was hoping that these having the mid bump would give me the tone I was looking for. In comparison to the originals (based on previous recordings) it's simply hotter and darker.

So currently I'm not sure what to do. What I want more than anything is clarity w/o coloring. Since there is a 21 day period I thought that I'd chat here and see if I can come up with a better solution.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Wire it directly to the jack to see if it has enough clarity without the load of the pots. If it sounds good, replace the volume with a 1 meg and the tone with a 500k no load.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Try what Clint suggested, then take advantage of that exchange. Reading about pickups is sometimes very difficult, you eventually have to dive in. The Quarter Pound is a good choice, but so is adding an active preamp to your previous pickup, which will allow you to boost or cut specific frequencies.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

It's a good suggestion but I doubt there is anything wrong with the wiring.

Probably will just go with the vintage in an exchange. Would like to know more about the antiquity, but this site has no video (error) and no sound examples, and there is almost nothing on the web about them.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

It doesn't have to do with the wiring being bad, it has to do with the stock 250k potentiometers which are designed to not let a lot of the highs through. Blaming the pickup for not being articulate when only trying 250k pots would be like putting the mids and highs on your amp at 1 and assuming the pickup is just dark.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Ok.

Well, my comparison was with a previously recorded track with all the same exact settings.

Thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

It is true, the Antiquity bass pickups are really unrepresented in videos. We should fix that.
Ever play an old, stock 60's bass? That's the sound.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Hot pickups sound darker. It's the nature of winding more wire on the coil.


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[darthphineas]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

These are a little dark for some tastes. They do well for distorted bass, but if you're into slap bass, they don't snap like vintage output pickups.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

That's what I thought. I wasn't sure, now I am.

It's tough because I've spent a couple of years and finally said f it and didn't really want the quarter pounders because I thought they were the darkest sounding of what few "shootouts" there are on the web. Seems I've simply got something roughly the same.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Apparently the Hot P Bass has almost twice the output (23k) as the other P bass pickups. I have the Steve Harris (13k) and it sounds nice and clear with 500k pots. It isn't unusual that putting in a new pickup with beastly output will sound dark with only 250k pots. The Hot P Bass could very well be a nice pickup, you just gotta wire it straight to the jack to reveal the full detail of it.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

That's what I thought. I wasn't sure, now I am.

It's tough because I've spent a couple of years and finally said f it and didn't really want the quarter pounders because I thought they were the darkest sounding of what few "shootouts" there are on the web. Seems I've simply got something roughly the same.

I've used both though honestly I prefer EMGs for bass. In terms of output they're pretty similar, but their tone is really different. The Hot is midrange-y and somewhat dark, while I'd describe the QP as bright and scooped. I've never been able to get along with the QP; I thought it sounded like pounding a pipe on a sidewalk. If you want the same output but brighter, it may be worth a try.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

I've used both though honestly I prefer EMGs for bass. In terms of output they're pretty similar, but their tone is really different. The Hot is midrange-y and somewhat dark, while I'd describe the QP as bright and scooped. I've never been able to get along with the QP; I thought it sounded like pounding a pipe on a sidewalk. If you want the same output but brighter, it may be worth a try.

I was going to put an Emerson kit* in it but maybe 500k pots are a better idea. I sure do hate the idea of having to keep swapping pups out ... expensive, time consuming and tedious.

*I put one in my strat recently and it's awesome.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Well, I appreciate the responses guys.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Ok, I'ma swap. Likely for the "vintage" since it has more presence and isn't color-y

I really appreciate the help. It's a little embarrassing because after closer listening on your site it's kinda obvious what I hear now/vs the examples.

Live and learn, thanks everyone!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

If I was a bassist and could swing two P-Basses I'd do one with Antiquity II and one with Quarter Pounds. Antiquity for vintage tones and QP for heavier rock. They are bassy but have a treble zing the big magnets give them. Where the Hot is a mid forward pickup, the QP is more scooped to me.

(My Jazz V currently has QPs and my Jazz has Duncan designed Jazz which are decently close to the vintage)

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Ok, I'ma swap. Likely for the "vintage" since it has more presence and isn't color-y

I really appreciate the help. It's a little embarrassing because after closer listening on your site it's kinda obvious what I hear now/vs the examples.

Live and learn, thanks everyone!

How long does it take them usually?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

To ship? A week or less in the US I would say.

About the pots: My bass started with all 250k which were bassy. Then I tried all 500k, nice medium detail. Now it has a 1 meg volume pot and a 500k no load tone pot. Sounds good! Has been the only application I've found for a max treble pot set up.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

The law of the internet: If you post a question about shipping time, or some obvious question, you'll get the answer right after :lol: They'll be here tomorrow (the vintage, I'd like to have considered the antiquity but there just wasn't enough information about them)

@Pots: I think I'm gonna do myself a favor and do what I did with my strat and order the Emerson prewired kit. Also, I think I'm going to flat wounds. Seems odd to me to do so but that seems to be the consensus for a boatload of a-list players. I just hate the way they feel (like a wire hanger)

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Pickup confusion (specifically over recent hot p-bass purchase)

Flatwounds are bad. Maybe if you play fretless. But for general playing they have no detail compared to a nice set of roundwounds. If you want it dark, turn down your tone. - An upright player.