PickUpGrade ???

[Rayan]

Question(s) for anyone -

In their Used Bass section, a retail dealer lists two MM basses
one with an 'upgrade' Seymour Duncan p/up, and
one with an 'upgrade' Bartolini p/up

www.bassnwDOTcom/Used%20Basses/musicmanstingray4blackmaplebppg.htm
www.bassnwDOTcom/Used%20Basses/musicmanstingraynaturalmaplebartolini.htm

What are the facts ?
Are these p/ups actually 'upgrades' ?
If so, why doesn't EB put better p/ups in MM basses at the factory - or at least offer PickUpGrade Options ?

If not, then what can I believe from online ads for MM basses - and what effect should / do these 'upgrades' have on resale value - ie should an 'all original' MM bass in the 'same' condition as a modified unit sell for a higher price ?

/R

 

[Aussie Mark]

My view is that a Stingray for sale with a "pickup upgrade" should be more correctly described as an experiment for the sake of experimenting, knocking considerable value off the worth of the instrument. I'm a firm believer in the old adage "if it ain't broke, dipwad, don't try and fix it". I just don't understand why someone would pay $1200 (say) for a bass and then replace the pickup.

 

[bovinehost]

What Mark said.

 

[SteveB]

Rayan,

It's a complete matter of opinion as to whether those pickups are any better than the ones that were in there originally.

And what that does to the value of the bass can only be determined by the market. Someone may think it's worth more with the swapped pickups, but some others may not want to pay as much for non-original stuff.

I think most of the enthusiasts on this board would be more interested in the original pickups. Maybe the owners kept the originals and you could get them included with the deal? It can't hurt to ask.

I know that I always keep pickups that I've replaced, in case I want to swap them back.

 

[AnthonyD]

That's no upgrade... AussieMark nailed it.

Speaking from my experience with a Sterling, and unlike other basses out there, I don't see anything deficient in an EB bass that could be significantly improved with an after-market mod.

 

[bdgotoh]

They call them upgrades because they want to sell them!! Stock MM pickups are some of the very best sounding pickups out there, changing out the stock pickup usually drops the value a bit in my opinion.

 

[SterlingFan]

Part of the sound of a Musicman is the original pickups. If you don't like the sound, why did you buy it in the first place. Sometimes OEM pickups do sound the best. They do on Musicmans and, if may I say, Ricks.

 

[CW Zing]

My stock SR5 pup has some nasty rust on the pole pieces, so I'm giving the Basslines Alnico version a whirl (it's "bassy's" 10th birthday this month), but I wouldn't consider it an upgrade per se. Just a different vibe.

The purist 'don't change your pup' attitude is cliched. I say change it out if you want a tone change other than what you'd get from changing your strings. Keep the stock pup in a safe place in case you sell your baby...

 

[JB1]

I guess if you're doing for a preferred tone, why not?

But to me it's not an EBMM anymore, really.

BTW - that rust can be removed & prevented, rather than resorting to alcino's.

 

[element]

I guess if you're doing for a preferred tone, why not?

But to me it's not an EBMM anymore, really.

+1

 

[AnthonyD]

But to me it's not an EBMM anymore, really.

BTW - that rust can be removed & prevented, rather than resorting to alcino's.

+2

 

[Tajue17]

JB1---> what is the best way to remove and then prevent the rust on the pole pieces?

 

[element]

Not sure about removal, but i've heard to prevent it, coat some clear nail varnish on the poles.

 

[word]

it's your bass. if you want to hack off the lower horn with a chainsaw, please do so. on an EB bass it is important to keep the original parts with the bass, however, in case one wishes to sell it at a later date. so keep that lower horn and some wood glue handy.

 

[JB1]

I recall for light rust one of those erasers for biro ink does a good job. V fine sandpaper could do it too, but I'd try the earser.

Prevention, spot on - clear nail polish it is!

 

[jongitarz]

DO NOT USE SANDPAPER!!!! Scotchbrite pads work alright.

 

[cgworkman]

What Mark said.

+1

 

[Hein]

I've got a bartolini pup on the way, for a few reasons:

I like the pickup high, which causes problems because my fingers grate on the pole peices,the output becomes very high and the strings clank on the pole peices. Solution? A pup with no pole peices! Yes, i know some smart person will tell me to just lower the pickup but that would mean re-learning how to play the thing!

As for it not soundling like a musicman anymore, perhaps not but it will sound like MY bass,with MY tone how *i* like it. I'd be happier just having my own sort of unique tone.

If anyone's interested i'll post some 'before and after' mp3s? (out of curiousity,has anyone here actually done this? Alot of you seem pretty adamant that getting an aftermarket pup will wreck your tone,so one would assume that you've all heard the difference?)

However,If it turns out to sound like crap or whatever, then no problem as i'm keeping the original pup (if for some reason i sell the bass) and i can put it back on

 

[JB1]

I don't think it'll ruin your tone at all. Go for the tone you want and like you say, you've got the original pup to swap back in.....

 

[JB1]

I don't think it'll ruin your tone at all, but naturally it'll change it.

Go for the tone you want and like you say, you've got the original pup to swap back in.....