Replacement PBass pickup??

[Ethan]

I think I'd like to change the pickup out in my Highway One Precision bass to get a little more "hi fi" of a sound. Does anybody have any recommendations? I think I might start with a Basslines Quarter Pounder just because I can get one on the cheap, but I'm open to suggestions. My amps are an Ampeg SVT3 and 6x10 cab, and an Ampeg B100R 1x15 combo.

By the way, those new Music Man Stingray Classic basses are incredible!

[hamertek98]

The Sterling Classic is cool, too. Check out the Stingray SLO. Stingray with a Sterling neck.

You can't go wrong with Nordstrand, Fralin, Bill Lawrence, Rio......

Look on Talk Bass. You may be able to find cheap (new) used ones. People are swapping out all the time.

[Jimbilly]

Maybe trying to make your P bass sound hi-fi is the wrong path? I don't think Ps are really meant to be full-range, their strength is their fit in the mix. I think it's kind of like trying to make your LP sound like a strat.

There's loads of cool PJ or J basses out there that might really do it for you. I'll suggest a setneck Hamer Cruise, but pretty much any Hamer bass is going to be more hifi/full range than your P. My other favorite available 4s are the older Japanese Ibanez Roadstar II basses, I've got an '84 Deluxe (RB924), it just kills. It's got a soapbar sized P at the neck and a splittable hum/soapbar at the bridge. I'll dig around for a pic. I have a few 4s right now, this is in the top 3...

Robin Rangers are awesome (the cowpoke on the right).

no words are necessary

Some BC Rich's are super cool too

[Ethan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I just want a more full sound out of the bass at this point-plus, since I've had it, the low E string is louder than all the others. Tried adjusting the height to no avail. I'll do some more research.

[GusS]

did you try adjusting the pole pieces?

(individually)

[Ethan]

I can't.

[JohnnyB]

did you try adjusting the pole pieces?

(individually)

Not many bass pickups have individually adjustable pole pieces. G&L MFD pickups are a notable exception, including the G&L MFD split coil used on their SB-1 and SB-2. This pickup, BTW, would definitely give you more output at the frequency extremes. Their website doesn't offer it as an aftermarket pickup, but you might try some G&L dealers and see if they could get one for you.

A couple other tricks to increase output at the frequency extremes are high output strings and a better instrument cable, especially one with lower capacitance. One cable that has both the measurement numbers and widespread subjective recommendations is Klotz Cables from Germany. It was co-developed with bassist T.M. Stevens. I use a premium line from Hosea, Zaolla Silverline, which also has a stronger bass, airier overtones, and better dynamics than garden variety (or even Mogami Gold) cables.

For a stronger signal from the strings, try a string with Alloy 52 wrap, which is a highly magnetic alloy of 52% nickel/48% iron. Its string tone has a stronger fundamental and generally higher output that you get from NPS or stainless. GHS offers several strings in this alloy including Boomer 52's, PressureWound, and Progressives, which has a taper core on the low E as well.

[Ethan]

I might try that...I've been wanting to try those Pressurewound strings for a while...hmm...

On a different note I think that Jimbilly is right. Even playing this bass along with a cd reminds me of when I fell in love with it *after* I bought it...at the store I thought it sounded ok, a little blah, but taking it to band practice, it completely changed the sound of the band I was in. They sit in a mix perfectly.

[JohnnyB]

On a different note I think that Jimbilly is right. Even playing this bass along with a cd reminds me of when I fell in love with it *after* I bought it...at the store I thought it sounded ok, a little blah, but taking it to band practice, it completely changed the sound of the band I was in. They sit in a mix perfectly.

Like somebody on TalkBass wrote: If you want to be heard, get a Jazz bass. If you want to be felt, get a Precision.

[Jimbilly]

I don't know if this relates, but have you heard of or tried the Tech21 VTbass pedal? Everybody at talkbass seems to be nuts about them. Maybe the added 'clarity' roughly translates to what you're after? Plus, a new pedal is always fun. http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/...cterseries.html

[Navigator]

I think that you can probably get a better sound with a replacement pickup. I'd agree with the poster who suggested reading up on them over at talkbass.com. I did that a while ago and many p-bass players mentioned the Fender Original Precision Pickup (sometimes referred to as the '62 model) as having the classic p-bass tone but overall fuller and "better."

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/pro...ckup?sku=301602

At some point I'll probably grab one for my Japanese precision. Good luck with your search.

[Thundernotes]

I had the quarter pounder in a P-bass and didn't care for it. It was just loud, and really had no dynamics to it - it was in your face all the time. I changed to a Fralin, and it sounded a lot better, at least for my playing style and genre of music at the time.