Dean bass pickup replacement

[Scooby622]

I have a dean bass that has what I believe to be a dead pickup and I'm just gutting the electronics to replace them. I normally work with guitars so bass guitar pickups are a little new to me. The issue I'm having is that it's a 4 string bass with a 4 inch soapbar pickup but all of the soapbox pickups that I see that match this description are for 5 or 6 string bass. Does anyone have any budget recommendations?

 

[Eddie Jones]

I have a dean bass that has what I believe to be a dead pickup and I'm just gutting the electronics to replace them. I normally work with guitars so bass guitar pickups are a little new to me. The issue I'm having is that it's a 4 string bass with a 4 inch soapbar pickup but all of the soapbox pickups that I see that match this description are for 5 or 6 string bass. Does anyone have any budget recommendations?

Check Reverb for "True Custom Shop" pickups...they should have one to fit what you are looking for and they are very good and cheaper.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Find a soapbar with the same measurements. If it has a bar magnet instead of individual pole pieces you’ll be fine. I believe many of the Bartolinis are like that. Jerry Sentell has or can make a bar magnet pickup that’s essentially custom shop at a decent price. The Lace Alumatones have their own sound but would work if there’s one that has the same dimensions.

Even if the pickup has individual polepieces and the strings don’t line up with the poles you’re probably still fine other then aesthetics. I’ve used guitar pickups on bass and vice versa and been good.

 

[Scooby622]

Find a soapbar with the same measurements. If it has a bar magnet instead of individual pole pieces you’ll be fine. I believe many of the Bartolinis are like that. Jerry Sentell has or can make a bar magnet pickup that’s essentially custom shop at a decent price. The Lace Alumatones have their own sound but would work if there’s one that has the same dimensions.

Even if the pickup has individual polepieces and the strings don’t line up with the poles you’re probably still fine other then aesthetics. I’ve used guitar pickups on bass and vice versa and been good.

Thank you

 

[poochiecheeks]

I had your exact problem years ago. Is it a soapbar shape pickup with exposed pole pieces on a black metalman bass? The EMG 40 size should fit if I remember right. Might need to sand one of the cavity edges a bit but that should work. The 40 doesn't mean jack in terms of the number of strings, just the pickup width. They probably use a "5 string" pickup in a 4 for cost savings. The stock pickups are made by Artec by the way, and the one I'm thinking of is discontinued or not available. I even asked Dean to send me one and they said they come with the basses overseas and aren't available individually. I was adding one to my bass and ended up getting 2 EMGs.

Anyway just use a 1.5"x4" pickup lol