What replacement pickups have you tried?

[Kirby]

Hello everyone,

I am a self confessed tone junkie and am well known as a fanatic when it comes to my sound. Just curious as to which replacement pickups/pre-amps others have tried in the past and their opinions.

I currently have a Bartolini MMC and a Carey Nordstrand MM4.2 on order for some experimentation.

Don't get me wrong, I love the original sound, but am always curious as to what else is out there!

 

[Musicman Nut]

Pickup Replacement

Hello everyone,

I am a self confessed tone junkie and am well known as a fanatic when it comes to my sound. Just curious as to which replacement pickups/pre-amps others have tried in the past and their opinions.

I currently have a Bartolini MMC and a Carey Nordstrand MM4.2 on order for some experimentation.

Don't get me wrong, I love the original sound, but am always curious as to what else is out there!

well sad to say i have tried about 19 different ones over the years and I ended up going back Stock. None we're bad, but none sounded like a Stingray, the whole reason I bought the bass in the first Place.

 

[brooklynfall]

I bought my SR5 used with a Bartolini MMC installed. I always hated the tone - it was too clean, too flat. Made for a good studio bass but totally uninspiring to play. Since EB doesn't sell replacement pickups/electronics, I switched up to the Duncan Basslines 5-string ceramic, along with the 3 band preamp. It sounds very close to a Stingray now, but I periodically check eBay for stock EB electronics. I'll snap them up if I ever see 'em!

 

[adouglas]

Now, you know someone has to say this:

<ahem>

Why in heaven's name would I want to replace the stock pickups?!?!?!?? They're fantastic!

 

[Kirby]

I never said I did not enjoy the stock pickups.

I do not plan to get rid of the stock pickups, this is just to satisfy my need for comparison. No big deal to swap them out again if the sound is not what I am shooting for.

Thanks for the responses so far, please keep them coming.

 

[adouglas]

'taint broke, don't fix.

IMHO.

Actually, I'm a lot like you by nature, constantly searching for another tweak. (May last bass got a new preamp and pickups and I was real happy until I tried a MM.)

The Bongo is the only bass I've EVER had where this is not the case.

It's perfect, just as it is.

 

[maddog]

I enjoyed mine right out of the case. So I haven't tried anything else. So I can't be of much help on this one.

 

[angryclown5]

Replacement pickups

I have an SR5 with a Bartolini pickup and stock MM pre-amp (avatar pic). I took the opportunity to try something new when the original pickup broke. While it does sound a bit smoother to my ear in the hi-mid range I'd say overall it's no better than stock. At some point I'll probably have the original repaired and re-installed.

 

[AnthonyD]

None...

 

[Permanent Waves]

I love the sound of that humbucker. But I prefer the feel of a soapbar under my fingers. It may be just that I'm getting used to my Sterling still (only had it for a few weeks).

I'm very interested in the EMG replacements, seen here: http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Bass&categoryid=37&catalogid=188

and here: http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Bass&categoryid=37&catalogid=187

The MMTW looks especially cool. Anyone have any experience with these?

Graeme

 

[bovinehost]

Um - I try to let these threads die a natural death, but let's keep in mind that this isn't the EMG Factory Forum, nor the Bartolini Forum, not the Seymour Duncan Forum.

See what I'm gettin' at here?

Jack

 

[Kirby]

Hello,

I want to clarify that I meant no disrespect when starting this thread towards EB or BP. I just wanted to know others opinions. I love every one of my EB basses and have never sold an EB bass once purchased. I cannot say that for many other manufacturers. I think those who have responded may feel the same since they are all members of this forum and share a love for these instruments too.

I can compare this to a car enthusiast forum. There are countless threads about people modifying their cars to suit their particular tastes. This in no way implies that they were dissatisfied with the car when they purchased it, just curious as to how they could modify it.

My wife says it is built into a guy's DNA or at least mine to want to experiment with any item purchased. I like to make things unique and "my own", much like my music. Sorry if I ruffled any feathers.

 

[SentientEntity]

Hi,

I've played a few basses with active EMG pickups before. The pickups were great, maybe a bit over the top. I didn't like those basses though because unlike a Stingray their bodies didn't feel very solid thus failling to catch a good bass tone. What came out of the speakers was ok but to me a bass has to be felt as well.

I wouldn't change the pickups on my Bongo. Cause then my bongo won't be a bongo no more. But hey it's your bass and to each his own I guess.

 

[brooklynfall]

bovine,

Very true, and I know this is well-covered territory, but isn't it worthwhile to cover in this forum anything related to MM basses? What if someone wanted to replace a tuning machine and was looking for opinions from other MM players in the same boat? Would they be simply be directed to the Schaller or Gotoh forums? I've asked the pickup question myself before on this forum and the reception was a little cooler than I had expected. The pickup manufacturers' forums are great sources of information, but I had asked the question here in order to get a different perspective, from actual MM players and not pickup geeks (and here I am generalizing). I understand who pays the bills on this forum and I consider myself very loyal to this company, but I don't want to feel guilty that I had a question about modifying my instrument closer to stock the only way that was available to me (short of waiting months for a stock PU/preamp to show up on the 'bay).

Long story short: I love my SR5. I'd love it more if it was totally stock, but until EB is able or willing to sell factory replacment pickups, that's not really an option for me. Of course, if there simply aren't that many here who have any direct experience with replacement pickups, that's a completely different story, in which case I apologize.

I don't want to come off as sounding uppity or snarky or any of those made-up words. I really appreciate these forums and all the help and information I get from the people here, and I just want to make sure that's clear. It's all just my $0.02.

 

[bovinehost]

Nothing much to worry about, and I understand what happens when you buy a used bass with other-than-stock pickups on it.

I'm just saying that detailed discussions of aftermarket parts....well, there are maybe better places for it. Talkbass and the Dudepit come immediately to mind.

This is not to say that I'm against modifying your bass if you think it works better for you. As BP will tell you, it's all about choice.

My view on doing it HERE, however, is kind of like someone comes over and says, "Nice house...you ever think about doing something about your furniture, though?"

Jack

 

[brooklynfall]

Understood!

 

[bovinehost]

And I appreciate that!

Thanks for joining up and being agreeable.

Jack

 

[bluesquidd]

Honest to God's truth. I'm not posting this 'cause the previous'. I installed a Norstrand (MM5.3) in my Stingray 5. As stated earlier, I'm a tone junkie. Any way, I took the Nordstrand out after an hour of playing it. In Parallel mode, it sounded good. Louder than the stock. It did have that '70s Stingray sound. But, 60% of the time I use the Single Coil mode and 20% Series and 20% Parallel. I love that Single Coil sound with the Mid boosted. Just listen to Dave LaRue when he plays fingerstyle. Slapping though, he uses Parallel. The Single Coil and Series sounded like total MUD with the Nordstrand. IMHO, very UN-Musical sounding. Just a blob of sh%t. I couldn't accept that so I put back in the Stock PU. One bummer, I had a repair man put in the PU 'cause I was a little skeptical about soildering on a cuircut board. But I couldn't accept not having the sound for why I bought the bass, so I put back the PU in myself. So basically I lost money on the labor and I'll be putting up the Norstrand on eBay. Again, the parallel setting sounds really good, so if that's your main setting, go for it.

The reason why I wanted to replace is because I thought I could make this bass sound 110%. I was wrong, so staying Stock is were it's at. IMHO.

 

[Precarius]

I switched out my Alembic Orion pickups for Bongo HH pickups and it sounds great! BTW the bass was still attached.

 

[Kirby]

Understood as well! No harm intended.