Author Topic: Pickup replacement question (Read 275 times)

hankster · « **on:** August 30, 2015, 12:17:58 PM »

I've got a fretless bass - bubinga body, bolt on neck - that needs new pups. The stock ones on it are Wilkinson and they stink. The bass itself is not a high end bass - more of a toy for me since I usually go upright when wanting no frets- but I wouldn't mind replacing the pups to make it more useful. It is a P/J configuration. Any suggestions? It doesn't warrant Alembic electronics. Thanks in advance

Rick

bigredbass · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2015, 09:25:47 AM »

It's sooooo subjective, but if it were me:

Traditional tone? Lindy Fralins, and I'd get his humbucking J, where there's two coils inside the traditional Jazz shell. My second would be Seymour Antiquities.

Modern passive? Joe Bardens or Nordstrands. A cheaper alternative is the EMG Selects.

Active (if you're going to install a battery)? The EMG P/J with a BTC or BTS circuit is hard to beat.

The trick of this is that Bubinga body, which while a hard wood like maple or Ash, it's a lot more dense. With a (presumed) maple neck, it should have LOTS of 'boing!'.

Joey

hankster · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2015, 02:33:41 PM »

Thanks Joey. It's active already so the EMG sounds like the route to go. They were on my list of candidates. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
R.

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2015, 10:13:46 PM »

I love the EMGs in my Jazz Bass. I culled them from a mid-1980s Guild Pilot bass. They've got the EXB mojo.

Somebody has these on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EMG-PJ-Bass-Guitar-PICKUP-SET-1983-Great-Shape-Classic-EMG-TONE-Loud-/201415390743?hash=item2ee54af617

http://www.emgpickups.com/accessories/bass-accessories.html

EDIT: It just occurred to me that this is the perfect opportunity to ask; why are the earliest EMGs so highly prized?

(Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on August 31, 2015)

bigredbass · « **Reply #4 on:** September 01, 2015, 12:14:52 AM »

Richard, I had a Fernandes Gravity 4-string that I did the same upgrade on, from the no-names that came installed OEM.

I prefer EMG's to Barts. I find several advantages:

The tone is right there without a lot of digging.

Since the preamp is in the shell of the pickup, you can forget about having to shield the guitar's innards, and internally grounded so you don't have to ground off to the bridge, a REAL plus if you've ever been hit by a mic. And these days they're using plug-in connectors, so it's almost a solder-free job (Input jack). Adding their BTC (3 holes/pots) or their BTS Circuit (4 holes / pots) is plug and play, and both feature a dip switch assembly on one of the pots to change the resonant peak (4 choices)

They aren't as present as a Activator PJ set, but they are very smooth, and there doesn't seem to be a big difference in output between the P and the J.

They work fine on 9v. They work even better on 18v, but don't know which battery box you have.

Joey

pauldo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2015, 04:58:53 AM »

I've got the EMG - P/J pickups in my beater bass, it is fretless also. They work very well and provide a nice tonal palette. Nasally bridge sound, beefy neck sound- blend them this way and that and it is all good!

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2015, 05:56:53 AM »

I would put Barts on any bass that did not aleady have Alembics.

Peter

hankster · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2015, 02:06:36 PM »

Thanks all. Looking forward to making a decision and getting the fretless on deck. The transverse fretless as I like to refer to it.

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #8 on:** September 02, 2015, 06:44:38 AM »

Has anybody seen Fishman's new Universal Rechargeable Battery Pack?

http://www.fishman.com/products/view/universal-rechargeable-battery-pack

Save Money & Save the Planet - Never Change Batteries Again.

A universal solution that can be fitted to most any cover, pickguard, control plate or similar metal or plastic part.

The ideal power solution for Fishman Fluence pickups, these lithium-ion packs require no modification of your guitar, and can also be used to power other on-board 9V pickups and accessories. Featuring a current capacity similar to a premium 9-Volt alkaline battery, recharging is done via a standard mini-USB cable, which, like the charger, is included in the box.

LED indicators let you know when the battery pack is ?full? and when it?s time to recharge. Complete recharge time from ?empty? is 3 hours or less, and a full charge offers weeks, not hours, of playing time between charges (depending on load).

bigredbass · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2015, 12:06:36 AM »

I love technology: It only costs 100 bucks to replace batteries I can buy 4 at a tine for 8 bucks, and they last for months, not weeks. I do regret I don't get to step on the cable and forget the charger at home, but whaddya gonna do ?

Joey