Pickups and Strings - find your bass' tone

[Koldunya]

I’m a little sad. My 35" Schecters have spoiled me with the 35" low Bs. I haven’t played The Beast and its 34" scale in a while, and going back to it, that B sounds so wrong, now XD I used to think it was fine, but now I just don’t think so. Maybe I’m being fickle…

I thought about trying a different string on the B. It has a Dunlop Superbright nickel on it which iirc is .128.

I don’t want to get rid of it. I’ve been thinking about it, and I guess that still might be an option, but it occurred to me I could just tune it up a few steps. I see a lot of 4-string metal players down tuning to C# and I suppose some 5-stringers in a band with guitars tuned to C# might drop their B down to G# or something. I mean if I don’t like the B, G# likely won’t sound better to me lol…

So I arrived at this on Stringjoy:
D3 - .025
A2 - .040
E2 - .055
B1 - .075
F#1-.095
C#1-.120

The tensions look good, and I bet it’ll be fine. I’ll probably just get a .120 and try it out before I invest in an entire set of strings.

[Wombat-metal]

My six string is 35", my 5 string is 34", and it’s just hard to go back. I feel the pain.

[howard]

@Koldunya

.128.

I wouldn’t go lower than .130 for a B string on a 34", and prefer .135 by a lot. Too flubby otherwise. Feels and sounds way better.

[itsratso]

this is a good thread but has mostly morphed into string choices. i have a question for you @John_E . on another thread i talked about wanting to swap the pups on my mikro bass (p/j combo) for possibly some quarter pounders. i will probably need to change the stock ibanez pups for something else at some point, because even though i don’t dislike the sound they are pretty noisy. besides, i’ve never actually modded a bass and think it would be fun. i’m not in a position to try out a million different pups and besides, let’s be honest here, i’m pretty sure any high quality replacement will sound at minimum just as good as the bottom of the barrel stock ibanez ones. so give us a few of your fave pickups for maybe general overall use?

[Koldunya]

@itsratso

swap the pups on my mikro bass (p/j combo)

I would measure the J. My Mikro 5 has J bass pickups, and they are both the same size. Some sets of JJ or PJ pickups will come with a slightly larger/wider bridge pickup (MIA Fender J basses have this. I don’t think MIM Js do but I’m not sure anymore tbh).

[John_E]

@itsratso

give us a few of your fave pickups for maybe general overall use

Without a doubt - Fralins are #1 for me.
I have multiple configurations of these, you can overwound/underwound, etc.
The pickups will cost you more than the bass, but the difference is amazing (to me).

I have a set of Fender J-J CS '60s pickups in a cheap squire that I LOVE, but have not fallen in love with any Fender P pickups (except oddly what came in my Vintera MIM).

I am not a fan of EMGs, at least the general lines, BUT…
I like the signature ones for specialized things (Geezer/Bello/Claypool) but these are very specific tones, so wouldn’t use them for overall use.

I know @Al1885 is a big fan of most all EMG, so it is a matter of preference for sure, but I also know he is now a fan of Fralins.

@Al1885 - please share your thoughts.

[Wombat-metal]

@itsratso I would check Oliver Tobyn’s YT channel. He does a lot of pup tone comparisons. Here is an example, he has many vids

PJ Set Comparison: Di Marzio DP126 vs Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound SPB-3 & SJB-3

Measuring the J pickup is sound advice. Some instruments with a PJ configuration use a neck J pickup at the bridge, which is slightly smaller than a “bridge” J.

I myself am a fan of DiMarzios. They are articulate and crisp. The Model P/Model J pickups will give a more modern sound, a Sixties P/Area J will give more warmth.

There are also humbuckers, which is something to consider. You can get pups which are noise cancelling. I know Fralin does this in some of their designs

[Gio]

@Koldunya

My 35" Schecters have spoiled me with the 35" low Bs. I haven’t played The Beast and its 34" scale in a while, and going back to it, that B sounds so wrong

I fully agree here.
Just played a gorgeous Fender USA Jazz 5 string at the store where I teach.
It’s great… but the low B on a 34" is so unsatisfying!!

[John_E]

@Wombat-metal

Measuring the J pickup is sound advice. Some instruments with a PJ configuration use a neck J pickup at the bridge, which is slightly smaller than a “bridge” J.

Good catch - Fralin gives you this option BTW.

[DaveT]

@Wombat-metal

Measuring the J pickup is sound advice. Some instruments with a PJ configuration use a neck J pickup at the bridge, which is slightly smaller than a “bridge” J.

Yep, I bought a replacement P/J set for a Squier Affinity and had to widen the J slot. That likely explains it.

[Wombat-metal]

Yeah it’s more common than you would think. A lot of manufacturers give the option which J to purchase, or simply sell the pickups individually and you make your own set.

One of the guys here (@Al1885 maybe) has a bass with a DiMarzio Relentless P (which is fantastic) and an EMG X for the J pickup. So you have a lot of options buying single pickups.

I have good luck writing the manufacturer and asking. I wrote DiMarzio and asked, “I’d like a Sixties P pickups, what J do you recommend to pair it with?”

[Al1885]

@John_E

@itsratso

give us a few of your fave pickups for maybe general overall use

Without a doubt - Fralins are #1 for me.
I have multiple configurations of these, you can overwound/underwound, etc.
The pickups will cost you more than the bass, but the difference is amazing (to me).

I have a set of Fender J-J CS '60s pickups in a cheap squire that I LOVE, but have not fallen in love with any Fender P pickups (except oddly what came in my Vintera MIM).

I am not a fan of EMGs, at least the general lines, BUT…
I like the signature ones for specialized things (Geezer/Bello/Claypool) but these are very specific tones, so wouldn’t use them for overall use.

I know @Al1885 is a big fan of most all EMG, so it is a matter of preference for sure, but I also know he is now a fan of Fralins.

@Al1885 - please share your thoughts.

@John_E @itsratso
Fralin is definitely my number one choice for passive setup. They are full of guts and punches. I love them. They are pricey but you get what you pay for.

Delano is also my top choice for similar reason plus the big pole magnets looks so cool. Sound very unique because of the big pole the attack came fast and in your face, think Musicman kind of attack.

Before we get to my bread and butter, I love the Dimarzio relentless hot, and showy excellent designs and looks great. Seymour is also a good choices, the quarter pounder is an excellent series, not jack of all trades but does a few tricks very well.

EMG, my favorite pickups built like a tank, easy to installed hum free, tons of option if/when you want to upgrade the preamp. Excellent customer supports. I use only EMG exclusively for live performance for the longest time up til recently.

4 main model variations are the standard, the X series, and the vintage(expose pole), plus on the sealed pickups some offer in TW and TWX dual coils push/pull. If all pickups looks the same I’ll be EMG on all my instruments but sometimes the theme aesthetic tip the scale to other brands.

I have tried and use pretty much all of their bass pickups model including the thunderbirds it’s definitely great sounding pickup, want more mid than they offer, then add or swap the preamp like VMC(variable mid control) want more mid control then BMS or BMC preamps has you cover with stacked mid control.

Like @John_E said their signature series are quite specific and awesome looks, Geezer is an obvious choice for passive setup, for the active Frank Bello and Riptide Robert Trujillo both in Xseries and the latest Les Claypool are just fantastic pickups. One of my personal hero Stu Hamm is pretty much an EMG guy as well as Bobby Vega, both are funk gods.

PM me or post questions here if you have EMG questions they are default 10% off with their running code but some model can be had at a bit more discount on their factory store, if you’d go with Reverb route PM me I’ll show you how to make the offer.

[itsratso]

excellent advice from both of you. found a vid of a guy putting the geezer emg’s on a mikro, so they fit. and i like the way they look, they sound good, and not a bad price either. think i will do this.

[Wombat-metal]

Geezer’s a good sound, and EMG are easy to install. Good stuff

[Wombat-metal]

Buy some knobs. EMG doesn’t ship with knobs for pickups

[Al1885]

@itsratso

excellent advice from both of you. found a vid of a guy putting the geezer emg’s on a mikro, so they fit. and i like the way they look, they sound good, and not a bad price either. think i will do this.

One quick tip on EMG passive. It will come with this nifty little convenient bridge ground connector, it’s not really reversible once compressed it’s pretty much done. So make sure that you have both ground cables push all the way before pressing the button. Don’t ask me how I know this, lol.

[John_E]

@Al1885

So make sure that you have both ground cables push all the way before pressing the button. Don’t ask me how I know this, lol.

I may know this too…hahahaha.

[Wombat-metal]

I plead the fifth on the connector

[John_E]

are PERFECT PITCH STRINGS the FUTURE ???

Interesting - more so for the Rick which needs low tension stings. Might be a good round option.

[T_dub]

Anybody that plays with standard or heavy gauge strings, that is great, I hope you enjoy them very much and it helps your playing and helps attain the tone you are looking for.

If you find yourself still searching for something, but don’t quite know what it is. 1, is is feel, do your strings feel OK, but possibly they Ould feel Better or even GREAT???
Is is the tone you get from heavy gage strings with the certain pressure you build up (or lack there of) that you are. using to keep your strings in tune. Is it possible that they bak the certain tone, AND don’t feel quite right under your fingertips.

Please understand that I am not suggesting 1 - that your strings don’t feel Good to your touch, or 2- that they don’t produce the tone you are looking for.

But if you answer yes to question 1 or 2 or both, or even if you answer IDK to #1 or #2 or both, then possibly try a different string gauge.

I only suggest this because I just re-upped on a bunch of strings so that I could give a few of my baby’s a fresh set of strings, and my new #1 pick of strings** is even cheaper then the last time I posted about them

D’Addario Nickel Wound XL (EXL220BT) Super Light Gauge .40-.55-.70-.95 are on sale on amazon for LESS THEN $12 US. $11.98 to be exact.

These are my normal strings, but at almost double price, I can make the sacrifice and switch to D’addario XL’s for now

now these are almost y perfect gauge of strings because of the .090 E string, but the .030 G string…H… no pun intended, but I snapped the G stringkkupon. set. up, so I decided tha the .030 G string was a little light for me

Bringing me to this set, lets see, hmmm… this looks perfect, I get almost everything I want. .035 G string should suffice and the .90 E seems perfect.
but at just about double the cost of the Nickel Wound XL (EXL2220BT) set at $11.89, yeah, I will stick to the XL’s for now, still

Now, for those of you that re pretty much at the opposite end of the spectrum, and really want some extra meat in a string for those sausages you ave as appendages at the end of your hands, D’sddario has done it again.
Pro Steel DAddario XL (EPS230) 55-75-90-110.
Hell, that might just be the making of a BEAD bass, although, the E string might still be too small to be a B string. anyway, those fat ass strings may be just the thing you are looking for. Maybe they feel and sound just right to you. and, at the 2nd cheapest string I have shown here today, what have you got to lose trying them out, hmmmmmm??? Well, I guess you have a little over $13 toloseif you don’t

**I pick the D’addario Nickel Wound XL’s, specifically the EXL220BT strictly based on price and price alone.
If all the strings shown above were the same price, I would go
Rotosound 66 (R66LB) Swing Bass
Ernie Ball Extra Slink’s
Rotosound 66 (FM66) Funk Masters
and then the
D’Addario Nickle Wound XL (EXL220BT) extra light gauge