Yet another Precision pickups topic...

CassiusRegular

CassiusRegular

Apr 10, 2013
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Málaga - Paris
open.spotify.com
#1
Hi guys,

Looking for suggestions on Precision Bass pickups, as I am a bit lost and overwhelmed over the millions of options out there! A few specifications though :

- I mainly play in Fuzzy bands (Desert-Stoner Rock, Heavy Psychedelic, Post-Metal Industrial) so essentially standard C tuning or Drop C tuning.
- Nickel roundwound all the way.
- Heavy use of OD, Distortion and Fuzz.
- Ampeg SVT VR + Ported 610 cabs

I have currently a set of DiMarzio DP 122 but I am not fully happy with them and would like to test some pickups in my QUEST FOR THE ULTIMATE TONE.

I am looking for :
- Tight yet deep Lows
- Punchy warm Mids
- sweet highs (not harsh!)
- lower output/overwound. I may be wrong on this one, but I read the pickups may work better with overdrive/fuzz with lower output. (If this is wrong, please do let me know !!)

You got the idea. Warm articulate sweet punchy sound. Is this even possible ? haha

Any advice and suggestion is welcomed!
 
#5
EMG P with BQS is what I would do. I use 40P5 on my 5 string and original EMG HBs in my Steinberger. HBs were designed with a P in mind and that's the vibe I like. The lows are pretty incredible and with a BQS I can can basically get anything I need. I would love the try GZRs as I have heard nothing but great things about them, but I don't currently have a bass with a P route. If I did, I would be obsessing between P, PX and GZRs...Would be a hard decision for me.
 
#6
Lower output may or may not help with your situation - it's the spectral content, not the absolute level that determines most of an overdrive's character - the output level can be compensated for by the drive knob on the overdrive/fuzz box.

I'll suggest one free experiment: Wire your Dimarzio model P in parallel. You may or may not like the result, but if you do, you've spent nothing and got something for the effort. If it doesn't work, you can reverse the procedure easily.

If the output level of the pickup in parallel helps things, but it's too bright, you can try some loading capacitors (wired across the pickup output) to tune the thing - it's like changing pickups, but spending $1 on each experiment rather than $100, and the direction that things will go with each change is predictable. Values in the range of 680pF to 3900pF will give you a range of sounds to pick from.
 
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#8
micguy said:
Lower output may or may not help with your situation - it's the spectral content, not the absolute level that determines most of an overdrive's character - the output level can be compensated for by the drive knob on the overdrive/fuzz box.

I'll suggest one free experiment: Wire your Dimarzio model P in parallel. You may or may not like the result, but if you do, you've spent nothing and got something for the effort. If it doesn't work, you can reverse the procedure easily.

If the output level of the pickup in parallel helps things, but it's too bright, you can try some loading capacitors (wiored across the pickup output) to tune the thing - it's like changing pickups, but spending $1 on each experiment rather than $100, and the direction that things will go with each change is predictable. Values in the range of 680pF to 3900pF will give you a range of sounds to pick from.
Click to expand...

Killer advice ! Thanks, may try this with my tech friend (I have no soldering iron myself, nor the ability to solder :D)
 
#10
I play in drop C as well. I use PJ basses, but occasionally I’ll solo the P just to try it out. A lower output pickup will help you get a more clear sound, even if you’re using effects. I had a G&L SB-2 that sounded unreal, but it was a little hard to control because it was such a strong signal.

I have tried the GZR, the Dimarzio (the one with the adjustable pole pieces, not sure if that’s what you have), and the Nordstrand NP4A. The GZR was great and I think would do what you want really well, it has a great mid presence. The NP4A has a little tighter bottom and a little more high mid grind, but it is very sweet in the highs. For me, I prefer the NP4A for what I do with that bass. But I’m actually saving my GZR for another P when I get the chance because I really liked it by itself and especially fingerstyle. It’s cheaper too, if that matters.
 
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