PJ round up: SD Quarter Pounder vs Lace Man O' War vs EMG Geezer Butler

Zak TMD

Zak TMD

Apr 22, 2016
780
1,219
4,571
47
Outside of the heart of darkness, Washington, DC
themostlydead.bandcamp.com
Disclosures
Breaking even is the new making money.
#1
What up, folks?

SD QP, Lace Man O' War, EMG Geezer Butlers: I keep seeing these bad boys thrown around. Price points are close.

I have an Aerodyne Jazz, I actually like the pups ok, but I think I might change them.

Users of these three: can you throw some pros / cons? Highs, Mids, Lows. Noise Level.

Anyone used multiple / all three?

I'm working on a sorta thick / dirt heavy tone. I play through a few pedals, Orange TB500, Ampeg SVT-610HLF.

Thank ya Kindly!
 
#2
Not familiar with the Lace, used to have a QP, and I have Geezers on all my Fenders except my P Lyte now. QP is a good hot pickup, but I find it a bit too mid scooped and not bright enough for my tastes. The Geezer is more of a vintage-style pickup, modeled after the stock pickup on Bobby Vega's 1960 Precision. I consider it the very best P pickup I have ever heard. Granted, I haven't heard everything, but I've yet to hear a pickup that has what the Geezer has unless I was playing a pre-CBS Precision. It's got this little kick in the mids to it that I really love because it enables me to dial in less mid response out of my amp but still retain my presence in the mix and sound pretty, even when I roll the tone knob down to get some darker tones. I can't say that about any other P pickup I've tried.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andy V. and Zak TMD
#5
I can't speak to the other two sets, but I just put Geezer Butlers into a fretless PJ and they sound great! I have plenty of bottom end and thump to keep in the mix with three guitarists. They have a very traditional/vintage tone. Changing the volume of the bridge pick-up gives you a lot of tonal variety.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak TMD
#6
Zak TMD said:
So, looking at a bunch of the reviews here, it looks like the QPs have something of a noisey J issue (one of the reasons I'm looking to change) where as the GB's don't have that issue. Right now I'm leaning towards the latter.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say QP J pickups have a noise issue, but they are single coil while the Geezer J is a humbucker, so it's possible the QP J can pick up and amplify noises.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RicoTheBassMan
#8
Zak TMD said:
So, the Geezers come with new pots - are they solid? Thinking about replacing them anyway, and if these are good, that would save me some time / monies.
Click to expand...
Two sets have been fine for me for over two years now, and I just got a new set for a 3rd bass and they're fine, too. The only thing I've noticed is that they don't line up 100% with Fender-drilled holes, so they might be a tad lopsided unless you center them perfectly, but I don't worry about such things :D
 
#9
JimmyM said:
Two sets have been fine for me for over two years now, and I just got a new set for a 3rd bass and they're fine, too. The only thing I've noticed is that they don't line up 100% with Fender-drilled holes, so they might be a tad lopsided unless you center them perfectly, but I don't worry about such things :D
Click to expand...

Well, not doing it myself as I know a dude who sets up instruments for a living, so I'm sure he'll do a nice job. Do you know if I have to worry about issues with my Aerodyne being a little narrow?
 
#10
Zak TMD said:
Well, not doing it myself as I know a dude who sets up instruments for a living, so I'm sure he'll do a nice job. Do you know if I have to worry about issues with my Aerodyne being a little narrow?
Click to expand...
Doubt it. They use mini-pots. However, you can solder them onto regular pots if you wish by removing the quick connect plugs on one end and soldering regular wire onto the ends.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak TMD
#11
Personally, I would take the QP's off of my list if I were you. I dislike the boomy mid scooped tone of them, but disregarding that, the QP J pickup is going to produce 60hz hum whenever it is on, because it is a single coil with no apposing coil to cancel hum.

Although I have never tried them, after listening to @JimmyM s sound clips of the GZR's, I am pretty sold on them. They sound exactly like what a good vintage P should sound but with a bit more punch.

I have no experience with Lace bass pickups, but their guitar pickups are outstanding, and I know the quality will be great.

I also wouldn't count out some of the Dimarzio models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Frenchy-Lefty, Zak TMD and JimmyM
#12
Strictly looking at those options, the GB's would be an easy choice. However, since many pickups can be had for similar cash, I'd expand the search to include other brands as well. Bartolini makes some wonderful pups, though, I don't like their name largely blasted over the front of each pickup. DiMarzio is another that puts out some fine pups.

I do greatly appreciate EMG's solder less connections at this point in the game. It's innovations like that, that help people unfamiliar with wiring attempt these projects, and helps resale value.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak TMD
#13
blubass said:
Strictly looking at those options, the GB's would be an easy choice. However, since many pickups can be had for similar cash, I'd expand the search to include other brands as well. Bartolini makes some wonderful pups, though, I don't like their name largely blasted over the front of each pickup. DiMarzio is another that puts out some fine pups.

I do greatly appreciate EMG's solder less connections at this point in the game. It's innovations like that, that help people unfamiliar with wiring attempt these projects, and helps resale value.
Click to expand...

Yea I looked at Bartolini's and have read a ton of good stuff about them, but they are a tad bit pricier. I also looked at a few others, and based on what I've heard and read, definitely going with the GBs.
 
#14
I put the QP's in one of my bass instead of the GB's BECAUSE they were single coil. Already have a bass with humbucking pup's and really like it, but wanted something a bit different. And no, they do not have a constant hum. Hear good thing's about the Lace too, but have never tried them.
 
#15
I apologize for bringing up pickups that the op is not inquiring abou it since they have been mentioned, I have Bartolini's on my '75 P and my custom Fretless PJ. I like the tone so much I'm worried about trying anything else on a new P build I'm doing.

Unfortunately It's been at least 15 years since I bought both sets of pickups so I have no idea what model the pickups are.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Zak TMD
#16
GoLeafsGo said:
I put the QP's in one of my bass instead of the GB's BECAUSE they were single coil. Already have a bass with humbucking pup's and really like it, but wanted something a bit different. And no, they do not have a constant hum. Hear good thing's about the Lace too, but have never tried them.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about a P with an SPB-3 or a P/J with a SPB-3 and SJB-3b? Because all split P pickups are hum canceling by their nature, and all single coils like the SJB-3b will produce 60hz hum without an apposing coil to cancel it. No amount of shielding will negate this fact.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zak TMD
#17
Hopkins said:
Are you talking about a P with an SPB-3 or a P/J with a SPB-3 and SJB-3b? Because all split P pickups are hum canceling by their nature, and all single coils like the SJB-3b will produce 60hz hum without an apposing coil to cancel it. No amount of shielding will negate this fact.
Click to expand...
P/J with a SPB-3 and SJB-3b. If it's humming, I can't hear it. I understand 60hz hum, and what can be done to "reduce" it, but I haven't had to do anything in this case.
 
#18
Hopkins said:
Are you talking about a P with an SPB-3 or a P/J with a SPB-3 and SJB-3b? Because all split P pickups are hum canceling by their nature, and all single coils like the SJB-3b will produce 60hz hum without an apposing coil to cancel it. No amount of shielding will negate this fact.
Click to expand...
That's not necessarily true in all circumstances. I have used single coils many times without an opposing coil and not gotten hum.
 
#19
JimmyM said:
That's not necessarily true in all circumstances. I have used single coils many times without an opposing coil and not gotten hum.
Click to expand...

That 60hz hum was being produced, there had to be something in the signal chain that was cutting it. I have never seen a true single coil that was silent, some hum more than others depending on the output of the coil, but they all hum.
 
#20
SD QP sound scoop and GZR classic P vibe with MID punch .

Yes, the spec is sound like that.

But, i found some p bass come with SD QP sound nice without scoop , and have an experience with my friend's Fender P with GZR sound nothing special.

Just like some ppl said Fender Original 62 pup sound warm and full, but i found it sound hashing hi and lack bottom in my P.

Sorry, i am out of topic.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back