Alright, I think I’m ready to replace the Belcat pickup and preamp in my el cheapo Leo Jaymz bass. I bought it with the expectation that I’d need to and it’d be a project bass. It has 2 soapbar humbuckers that are EMG 35 style/dimensions. I’m very tempted to just figure out an EMG combo for ease of install, but I’m open to anything. My only experience with EMG so far is the GZR pickups I put in my P-bass. I don’t know enough about the various brands to know what to consider. Looking to keep with humbucking, but maybe J style. Also seriously considering the Fishman Fluence set since it comes with everything also. Anything else I should look at?
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If you can do some simple soldering then Fluence is an excellent choice but for good sound and ease of installation you can’t beat EMG
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The Fluence set I was seeing now looks to be basically same as EMG in that regard. Easy mode with the connectors that slide onto pins.
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You may need to drill one hole for the switch with the Fluence
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I’m completely fine with that.
I guess my biggest question is if there’s something out there that I shouldn’t be sleeping on. I don’t know what I don’t know, right? I’ve been looking at the Bartolini stuff as well. Open to anything.
I am not a Bartolini fan. If you’re looking for other options I would vote Nordstrand over Bartolini.
But you have a good plan. I have an EHB1005SMS with Bartolini pickups, and I plan to upgrade them to EMG.
For a more rock sound, EMG CS on the neck and EMG DC on the bridge is a good combo. I had that on my Stream bass and it was killer.
This was going to be my choice but ended up not upgrading whatever bass it was I was looking at
If I went EMG, I was trying to decide between the DE set (which is just what you stated: a CS on neck and DC on bridge), 2 TWs (switchable between a CS humbucker and single coil J), or a P4 neck and TW bridge.
My Sterling Ray5HH is basically already 2TWs with its switchable options (but probably not as good of quality as the EMGs). I like the 2TW options of 2H or 2J or JH or HJ but a P4/TW would let me basically be a P bass, PJ, PH, just 1 J or just 1 H, which I find to be quite an interesting idea. Would probably need to get some separate controls also vs just the volume/tone that come with the pickups if I want any EQ adjustment. I suppose I could always just rely on my amp or any pedals I get down the road for that. Also undecided on regular vs X variants. I’m not sure what “more dynamic range along with increased headroom” actually translates to when it comes to the tone.
It may be easier just to go Fishman, lol.
the good thing about EMGs is you can change out the pickups easy if you decide the sound isn’t quite right. Takes like 5 minutes. I had a P4 and J4 combination which wasn’t working so I put in a DE set which was really nice and versatile.
If a choice I would get the X. @Whying_Dutchman can explain better than I
Rodney McG has a YT channel which did sounds of most of the EMG soapbars, sadly he passed from cancer recently. But he did a good evaluation of your options
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There’s a lot of videos from Rodney, here is just one
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I have the X series on all my (official) basses now. I went from the stock pickups (ok) via passive & active EMG, non-X & GZR, Dimarzio (good) to finally EMG-X (absolutely great).
What I like about the X is that they sound kind of “honest” … some call them “modern”.
They have extended headroom, both for lower and higher frequencies … making them the ideal choice for short scale basses, in my opinion. A short scale sounds almost like a long scale with the X series.
Also, it’s perfect to shape the tone, as you have more frequencies to play with.
I needed to get used to the output volume though. The X pickups are active, but don’t have a very high output. They are more like passive pickups in this respect.
It’s not an issue, but I expected more in the beginning. After gain adjustment they blew my mind, hence I have a miXture of P, J and Humbucker (switchable between dual and single coil).
Highly recommended!
I’ll definitely check those out, thanks!
Well, I finally pulled the trigger on the Fishman Fluence pickups. Those come with the preamp and all knobs. Supposed to arrive from Sweetwater on Monday.
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Love them candies it’s awfully nice of SW throwing in a set of Fluence as well.
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I know, right?!
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It’s like unboxing an iPhone or something…
I do appreciate putting in the foam cushions. EMG didn’t do that on the GZRs and I ended up just cutting some out of the foam packaging material.
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@kamikos curious how the components worked out for you.
I’m considering upgrading my Sterling Bongo with new pickups and pre-amp/EQ.
I have been researching Aguilar OBP-4 pre-amp and Seymour Duncan SMB pickups, but have no way to hear them 
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