Looking for some pickups and preamp suggestions!!

M

Matthew Priest

Jul 17, 2021
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#1
So I just got this lakland 55-02 deluxe and I’m considering swapping out the electronics. My go to strings are usually either the labella rx series or the dr high beams (both stainless steel). I play a lot of gospel, R&B, jazz and funk. I’m into a styles of playing like finger style, tap, slap (I’m a sucker for a sweet slap tone) At the end of the day, I know it’s really subjective to my taste but I’m just looking for some recommendations from my fellow players.. What y’all got???
 
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#2
Matthew Priest said:
So I just got this lakland 55-02 deluxe and I’m considering swapping out the electronics. My go to strings are usually either the labella rx series or the dr high beams (both stainless steel). I play a lot of gospel, R&B, jazz and funk. I’m into a styles of playing like finger style, tap, slap (I’m a sucker for a sweet slap tone) At the end of the day, I know it’s really subjective to my taste but I’m just looking for some recommendations from my fellow players.. What y’all got???
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Are they the Lakland pickups? I have a 55-02 deluxe and I love all the tones you get from it. Don't forget it also has adjustments of the preamp inside the bass. That bass with it's stock pickup (Lakland) is perfect for what you want!

Since you said you just got the bass, I think it's too soon to start changing things until you have had it for awhile and have played around with it's features.
 
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#4
Agreed with suggestions above. Also, don’t forget to try some different strings, and adjust the setup. They can play a bigger role than pickups.

if you do replace stuff, i recall threads that these basses benefit from a better preamp more than better pickups. That may go more for Barts, and maybe for 55-01 series, but it’s worth looking into. Check out the threads.
 
#5
I had recently bought a Sterling SUB Ray4, I played it for a few days but didn't like what I was hearing. It was good but not what I wanted. I tried a different amps but still not what I really liked no matter what settings or strings I used. What I was after was a little more detail to the notes that were being play and not blurring together. I know the bass is not an expensive bass but it played very well like a more expensive bass, so I saw Lobster's video on the RAY4 and Different Pickups. I liked what I heard in the Aguilar pickup. I bought it and changed it out, with the original preamp in it (which is pretty good already) it really sent the sound quality up another level or two. Very nice addition and all notes play clear with no blurring between them and all notes play more balanced and more evenly. Now I get a more true Stingray sound with good detail to all notes.

Try out the bass then, look for some video's that may help you out on what you want from your bass. Check out Lobster's video, they are very helpful in this area and can save you money and time on what you are looking for. Like I said before, I have a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe and it's a very nice clear sounding bass that you can get almost any sound or style out of. It covers alot of ground and with different amps especially with the style you play it should be a good fit. Try it on some gigs then you will now. Hope this helps.
 
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#6
Bit of a resurrection, but I also am thinking of an electronics swap on a 55-02. The build and feel of the bass is great, but the pickups and preamp are very “polite”, the tone does not punch through in a live band, and I swear the treble knob does almost NOTHING (verrrry minor boost or cut). For all its alleged versatility, my passive G&L L1000 gets more different tones than the preamp and switched modes of the 55-02.

I swear the overall tone of this bass is way too MELLOW.

If money was no object, what is the baddest upgrades possible for this thing? I wish it nailed the two sounds it’s claiming to cop- the Stingray and the Jazz.
 
#7
halcyo said:
Bit of a resurrection, but I also am thinking of an electronics swap on a 55-02. The build and feel of the bass is great, but the pickups and preamp are very “polite”, the tone does not punch through in a live band, and I swear the treble knob does almost NOTHING (verrrry minor boost or cut). For all its alleged versatility, my passive G&L L1000 gets more different tones than the preamp and switched modes of the 55-02.

I swear the overall tone of this bass is way too MELLOW.

If money was no object, what is the baddest upgrades possible for this thing? I wish it nailed the two sounds it’s claiming to cop- the Stingray and the Jazz.
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You should have just bought a RAY then since this seems to be what you are really after. I saw your other post on the other thread. I have all three bass Fender Jazz, Lakland 55-02 Deluxe, and the a Sterling RAY4. The Lakland can get very close to a RAY but will not get an Exact RAY sound but it will take some tweaking on tone controls to do this.

Did you ever try the internal switches that were suggested?

Also my Lakland is not a "Polite" sounding bass to me at all, but everyone has different likes and dislikes.

Good Luck on your search for pickup's and preamp.
 
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