Just installed a Fender Pure Vintage '63 Precision Bass pickup...

Vinnie Boombatz

Vinnie Boombatz

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May 26, 2010
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#1
...and this is my favorite pickup to date. It replaced the stock pickup in a '17 Classic 50's Precision bass. Dont get me wrong, I thought the stock pickup in the Classic 50's was ok, but it wasn't blowing my mind, and over time just seemed to be a little generic sounding, a little muddy/wooly in the low mids and just had an overall character that was just "meh". I've also had a few of the Fender "Original '62" pickups in a few other P basses, and although that was a decent pickup, they still can't hold a candler to the Pure Vintage '63. I also prefer the Pure Vintage '63 to the EMG GXR (gasp!) which I thought was muddy and just didn't like the way the tone pot sounded/affected the sound of the pickup, and it was a PITA getting the pick guard off and on with the ever so slightly larger EMG GZR housing.

So what is it I like about the Pure Vintage '63? Well, it just growls, but still has clarity, a FAT bottom end without the mud or wool, but still sounds warm, and has punch. For as many years that I have had the Original '62's in other basses, I feel like the Pure Vintage '63 just walks all over that pickup. My Classic 50's Precision is an amazing bass, plays like butter, normal/low action, amazing neck and fret work, very lightweight, etc., but just thought it was lacking something. I messed with pickup heights and EQ'ing my amp but still couldn't put my finger on it. Can't tell you how happy I was after I installed the Pure Vintage '63 and plugged in the bass for the first time. Growl, punch, tight but fat bottom end, and authority! Almost like a blanket was (albeit a thin blanket) was pulled from in front of the speakers. Of course this is all personal opinion, but I think most people would have a hard time not liking this pickup for most old school styles from Motown to Classic Country, Classic Rock and even more modern rock and slightly harder stuff.

I play mostly old school country, alt-country, rock stuff, and through my Rumble 500 this bass with this pickup is a killer combination. Added bonus, I shielded the cavity with shielding paint before installing the pickup and it's DEAD QUIET now.

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#5
CBE8EE8A-DA0E-4836-91C4-FB31DF9B9365.jpeg Recently installed this pickup in a build....I’m very happy with it....I don’t have to roll off tone, in fact I’m running tone full on, a first for me...clear , defined and fat. John. Beg pardon if that's considered a thread jack....
 
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#9
I recently installed a set of Pure Vintage 63's in one of my p-basses, and the OP is pretty spot on in the 63's description and the original 62 pick-up description, my bass is strung with TI flatwounds and they sure sound good with the 63's, to answer the question about the pole pieces, they are flush in the 63's
 
#11
I was A/B’ing a PB-70 stock pick up with the AVRI ‘63 and the ‘63 does sound louder, have more output and I’d say it’s in my top four for p bass pick up, right up there with the Fender CS ‘59 (as found in the Mike Dirnt model), DiMarzio Model P and the the Bartolini 8CBP
 
#18
krispn said:
I was A/B’ing a PB-70 stock pick up with the AVRI ‘63 and the ‘63 does sound louder, have more output and I’d say it’s in my top four for p bass pick up, right up there with the Fender CS ‘59 (as found in the Mike Dirnt model), DiMarzio Model P and the the Bartolini 8CBP
Click to expand...
What would you say are the main differences between the '63 and the Model P?
 
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