replacement pickups

[canadianriot55]

i'm saving all the $s i can to get a decent bass, but i'd like to replace the pickups in my ibanez gsr200 to tide me over, any suggestions about what would give me more punch and clarity on a budget of about $100 (i cant put the $100 towards the new bass, because it's a gift certificate, which i can't redeem on ebay)

 

also, my band had our second gig yesterday, a collective birthday party for half the band, i'll post sounds as soon as i get my recorder back and chop the files apart.

[james on bass]

I've always liked Bart's. I had a Yamaha once with an EMG in it, and while I didn't much like the bass, the sound was very nice.

 

I'm not a fan of the P/J configuration. If I was going to upgrade my backup (which is a P/J) I would unhook the stock j pickup, and put in a Bart P pickup.

[illidian]

Dimarzio Model P/J's are supposed to be great, but I think the bridge pickup will be too long (IIRC it's a neck size Jazz p/up, so you'll most likely have to order the P and J's seperately).

 

The classic option is a Dimarzio Model J with a Dimarzio Model P.

 

Nordstrands would be great, but expensive.

 

Barts will work if you like the sound of Barts (I don't).

 

A Fender Custom Shop Precision pick-up with a Custom Shop Jazz pick-up may work as a nice pair (although it would hum).

 

If you like the more mid-scooped thing, Dimarzio Ultra Jazz and Dimarzio Split P would be a good pair.

 

A set of Sadowsky pick-ups would work great, but again, you'd need a P pick-up with a neck-sized bridge pick-up I believe.

[canadianriot55]

 

Originally posted by james on bass I've always liked Bart's. I had a Yamaha once with an EMG in it, and while I didn't much like the bass, the sound was very nice. I'm not a fan of the P/J configuration. If I was going to upgrade my backup (which is a P/J) I would unhook the stock j pickup, and put in a Bart P pickup.

 

 

i know the store carries emg's so i'll consider those heavily, do they punch through well, cause thats my main problem w/ the stock pickups

 

is it hard to replace a j neck pickup with a p pickup, i'm completely ignorant about electronics?

[illidian]

 

Originally posted by canadianriot55 i know the store carries emg's so i'll consider those heavily, do they punch through well, cause thats my main problem w/ the stock pickups is it hard to replace a j neck pickup with a p pickup, i'm completely ignorant about electronics?

 

 

Passive EMG's are often called, "sterile," and, "mid-shy," (aka scooped). This gives them a very clean tone that may have trouble with the mids needed to work in a band situation.

 

Replacing a J pickup with a P pickup requires major routing, and then you'd need a way to cover it up. Besides, who uses a P pickup in the bridge position anyway (I know some BC Rich basses do)?

 

 

What kind of sound do you want? Read as many pickup reviews as you can before making your decision.

[james on bass]

 

Originally posted by canadianriot55 i know the store carries emg's so i'll consider those heavily, do they punch through well, cause thats my main problem w/ the stock pickups is it hard to replace a j neck pickup with a p pickup, i'm completely ignorant about electronics?

 

 

I thought it carried well, but I can't remember too well. A lot of people use EMG's and like them, so they can't be that bad. JAF uses them on their stuff, and they make some fine basses! (do I qualify for a discount now MIKGAG?)

 

Your bass doesn't have a jazz pickup in the neck position - that's a p pickup.

That was my point in my original reply. Since you have limited funds, and are saving for a better bass, why not just get a single p pickup, install it where the stock one was, and disconnect the wiring for the stock j pickup, but leave it in the bass for aesthetic reasons. You'll punch through better, and not have spent a lot of money.

 

my $.02.