SD pickup for P-Bass

[deolexrex]

I don't have much knowledge around bass guitar pickups. I've been a Strat guy for about 35 years and love SD pickups in my Strat.

My son just purchased a new MIM Fender Precision. He is interested in upgrading the pickup and electronics. Where should I begin?

I guess I should add that we play mostly English/Texas blues, southern rock and the occasional country. He's playing through a Peavey TNT 115.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

My personal favorite of the SD P-Bass pickups is currently the SPB-4, Steve Harris signature model. I wrote an article on the SD blog about them (you can read that here), but simply put it's a very versatile pickup with a great vintagey sound, that I found opened up the tone knob capabilities.

It would still be in my P-Bass if I hadn't opted to order a custom shop P-Bass pickup (because when you have that option, why not?).

 

[Kais]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I have the SPB-3 in my bass, sounds good. The SPB-1 would also be good

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

For passive, I suggest the Bartolini 8S.

For active, I suggest the SD/Basslines APB-1 Pro Active or APB-2 Lightnin' Rods via the Blackouts for Bass STC-2C-BO 2-band EQ system.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I'm gonna go with the Steve Harris as well.

 

[blueman335]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I put an SPB-1 in mine.

 

[uOpt]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Generally there is little need to look elsewhere than the SPB-1. A well-rounded split style Precision pickup with nothing wrong with it, and reasonably priced and easily available used.

I also like the Lollar, but it is more expensive.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

To be honest, the SPB-1, 2, 3 & 4 all have many pros! Listening to demos of all 4 makes me think I could use any of them. I've grown up on a slightly more modern bass sound (as compared to pretty classic guitar sounds) and the Steve Harris really piques my interest. Seems like a very versatile pickup for a wide variety of tones. (I like the extra output of the Hot, QP and SH, and the extra top end of the QP and SH. The Steve Harris seems to retain a little bit of the vintage tone mixed with the modern tone of the QP, hence my choice)

 

[uOpt]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Just do yourself a favor and don't get the QP as your only and first SD P-bass pickup.

 

[dg27]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Just do yourself a favor and don't get the QP as your only and first SD P-bass pickup.

Why would you say that? The QP is a great pickup.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Why would you say that? The QP is a great pickup.

The QP really isn't everyone's cup of tea. Personally, I can't stand it and would love to try the new Steve Harris sig if I were in the market for a passive P-bass. If that didn't work out, I'd exchange it for an SPB-2 which I've used before and like.

 

[dg27]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I don't think any pickup is everyone's cup of tea.

It's all very subjective.

I put my first QP is my '76 P in 1984 and have been a believer ever since.

 

[uOpt]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Why would you say that? The QP is a great pickup.

I see too many bassists "wanting to try Seymour Duncan", then pick the QP because it is "popular" and "not just standard issue". Then they don't like the QP and from then on think that Seymour Duncan is junk.

The QP is a very heavy-hitting thing, with larger magnets and heavier wind both. One or the other would be fine but both is a handful. And it can be really bright, at least for me I have to use the tone knob a lot to control these things. It is not that they have treble, it is more like trouble, some biting thing in the high mids where the ears are sensitive and the standard tone pots are not.

 

[dg27]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I see too many bassists "wanting to try Seymour Duncan", then pick the QP because it is "popular" and "not just standard issue". Then they don't like the QP and from then on think that Seymour Duncan is junk.

This is the polar opposite of my experience: I loved the QP so much that I put it on another bass and used other SDs on three more basses.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I see too many bassists "wanting to try Seymour Duncan", then pick the QP because it is "popular" and "not just standard issue". Then they don't like the QP and from then on think that Seymour Duncan is junk.

The QP is a very heavy-hitting thing, with larger magnets and heavier wind both. One or the other would be fine but both is a handful. And it can be really bright, at least for me I have to use the tone knob a lot to control these things. It is not that they have treble, it is more like trouble, some biting thing in the high mids where the ears are sensitive and the standard tone pots are not.

My experience with the QP was pretty much like this one. I found it piercingly bright and very scooped. It was probably just a bad choice for that bass, but it sounded awful and very easily could've turned me off of bassllines had I not known better.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

Not all retail outlets have the display space and finances to carry the full range of replacement pickups. Smaller dealerships might, perfectly reasonably, choose to stock the models most likely to sell in a reasonable time period.

If the regional distributor advises your local small dealership of the dozen most popular SD pickups, that is what you will be exposed to in the shop. This creates a vicious circle. Most punters only get to view the most popular models. In choosing from amongst these, they reinforce the apparent popularity.

 

[dg27]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

FWIW, I bought my QP @ Manny's in New York, which carried what was the full line of SDs at that time. Knew what I was getting and have always loved it in the two basses in which I have it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

I see too many bassists "wanting to try Seymour Duncan", then pick the QP because it is "popular" and "not just standard issue". Then they don't like the QP and from then on think that Seymour Duncan is junk.

Guitarists do the same thing JB's, and expect them to sound great for every genre in every wood.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

The QP is a very heavy-hitting thing, with larger magnets and heavier wind both. One or the other would be fine but both is a handful.

That's why my custom shop order was the pole pieces of the SPB-3 with the wind of the SPB-1. A little more heft than the standard issue with nice note clarity. I like it quite a bit.

Still think the SH smokes all of them though (and I've used them all).

 

[uOpt]

Re: SD pickup for P-Bass

SH?