EMG GZR vs SEYMOUR DUNCAN vs DiMarzio vs (your recommendation ) for p bass in versatile cover band

#82
Lowbrow said:
I don't use flats, but out of the Precision pickups i have installed and considered:
  • EMG GZR
  • DiMarzio Model P (my mainstay for years)
  • Aquilar 4P-60
  • Fender '63 Pure Vintage
  • Fender '62 Original
  • Nordstrand NP4
  • Novak PB-V
  • Whatever the heck is stock in Am Standard, Squier CV, MIM, Road Worn Precisions
EMG GZR WINS HANDS DOWN.
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Lot of love for these EMGs. I'd love to hear from you on key reasons why you feel they win hands down?
 
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#84
Al Krow said:
Lot of love for these EMGs. I'd love to hear from you on key reasons why you feel they win hands down?
Click to expand...
To my ears the GZR most faithfully reproduces what the vintage P Bass is rightfully famous for: a tone that is full and strong, and generous in all usable frequencies. It has great clarity, delivers that definitive P Bass ‘ring’ centered about 1.62k, great 'cut' in the 800hz region, and miraculously does not get mushy when playing an open low E (this was a real selling point for me). It sounds great straight into a flat amp, is easy to install, and is relatively noiseless.

The Aguilar 4P-60 was a close second – and while it did a terrific job in the clarity and articulation department it lacked in a certain depth/body that the GZR offers.

I have an American Original '60s Precision that's loaded with a stock Fender '63 Pure Vintage and it's a great sounding pickup that I would never swap out - tho it adds a good amount of lower midrange that to many ears might signal 'vintage' in its warmth. I think that the slightly thickened bass tone characteristic of '60s recordings has more to do with post-recording processing than the flat/natural sound of a P bass pickup. The actual sound of a true vintage P pickup is pretty even across the usable frequency spectrum, allowing the engineer to boost or cut frequencies as taste dictates. THIS is the real benefit of the P sound: it offers you a full but neutral sonic palette from which you can build the sound you want. The GZR captures this pretty perfectly.

Others were good variations on the theme but a little less than exciting – and my beloved DiMarzio Model P is a great ‘hyped’ P Bass tone that bumps up the low-mid mids; it’s a little hot and really a ‘rock’ tone without having to turn to EQ. Great for performance and cleans up nicely with a slight dip in the volume knob. Actually pretty sweet sounding with the right attack--I call it ‘P-Bass Plus.’ It’s kinda old and out of fashion but I highly recommend it as well if you are seeking hot but not obnoxious.
 
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#87
Al Krow said:
@Lowbrow - that's super useful thanks: turns an opinion into insight! :thumbsup:
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The Fender that I brought over to you has a GZR in it. Although its named as a Geezer Butler its based on Bobby Vega’s vintage P pup I believe, so you dont get much more authentic than that. Assuming you are looking for that vintage P tone.
My Squier CV P has a Dimarzio DP122 in it. Totally different tone. Very lively with a bit of grit to it. Better suited to rock i guess, although sounds nice and punchy with the tone rolled off.
 
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#88
I have tried the SD SPB-1, Fender Original 62, Dimarzio Model P, and GZR and the GZR wins the race for me and my tonal desires. As Jimmy and many others have said, there's a magic in the mids that make this pickup really "speak" without "yelling". Sounds great on my Tony Franklin fretless. I got the EMG PVA5 HZ for my other P bass which, I am told, is basically the GZR with color options (they can only do that one in black) and would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could distinguish between them. I have their ivory color and though its not Dimarzio cream color which I love, it still goes with my 70's theme and the sound makes up for it. I removed the Model P since it was a little too hot and the sound people at my church couldn't tame it for some reason, but it sounded as described above. NOT subtle but you could also play with the volume knob too!

The SD SPB-1 is great and will hit that classic P sound, especially with flats! A close 2nd for me. The Fender Original was, meh, for me but has a legion of fans as well. Good luck!
 
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#89
So , I went with the EMG GZR set, and some chromes .

these pickups are AMAZING ! On my CV Squier, I think they are the best sounding to my ears of all the basses I’ve owned , and that’s a lot.
Thanks for the input .

now , I have another question. I play in a doom metal band as well. I am running an active bass, but picked up a $60 pawn shop precision (Lyon by Washburn) that sounds damn near as good or better than my ESP LTD B4e.


Hypothetically, if I was running a precision bass in this band , what would you recommend ?:


- tuned to drop a#
-a#, f, a#, D#

- using stainless Kalium strings in .142-.72

fingerstyle only, no pick , no slapping

pretty extensive effects, to include a Joyo Ultimate drive (for brightness and gain ) , a DOD 250, a micropog , and a HPF to cut sub sonic lows below 60hz

- going into a Hartke LH1000 and Ampeg 810e


It seems to me, anything I would want to run pickup wise would need to drastically boost the mids, since anything boosting lows will likely just exceed the frequency response of my cab.

I would think (possibly incorrectly ) that Lace Riffblasters, the Steve Harris Seymour Duncan’s , or the quarter pounds.

I’m just curious. I might not upgrade the esp I have, but I might sell it for a precision to upgrade. I just love them now, lol.
 
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#90
FWIW , i installed Geezers in two of my Precision basses .
... i'm really digging the tone of these pickups ...
click on pic
Screenshot_2020-02-25 100_3194.jpg
:cool:
 
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