Fender Vintage P-Bass Pickups

DC Resistance 10.5K
Alnico 5 magnets
Enamel coated magnet wire

I put this pickup in a 1999 American Fender Precision Bass. I replaced the original pickup with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder for P Bass and now I am replacing that with the Fender Vintage.

The output is the same as the stock pickup and not as hot as the SD Quarter Pounder. I play an Ampeg SVT Classic head through an Ampeg SVT 8x10 cabinet. When I first got the bass, I wasn't quite happy with the original pickups (a little too muddy on the E string). I read alot of reviews and decided on the SD Quarter Pounders. I wanted a growly P Bass tone with clear lows. With the SD Quarter Pounders I got lots of clear growly lows. The only problem was that they were noisier than I wanted. When I say noisy, I don't mean buzzing or anything, they just sounded metallic. I use flatwound strings to try to avoid this but the metallic sound still was there. I was now on a quest. After debating between the Lindy Fralin pickups and the Fender Vintage, I decided to just try the Fender Vintage. I believe that they are manufactured very similar to the Lindy Fralins. Same materials anyway. After I put them in, I noticed alot more clarity on the E string. They didn't have that metallic sound either. I actually recorded the bass with each pickup on my computer. I actually found the SD Quarter Pounders to have a little fuller sound when recorded on my computer, but I really wanted that vintage growl in the end. The Fender Vintage P Bass pickup has the classic Fender sound without the mud and without the metallic sound. It has nice clear lows with the snap on top to cut through the mix. I'm sure that the Lindy Fralin pickups would be great too since they are made with the same materials. I am actually going to buy some Lindy Fralin Noiseless for my jazz bass. Even though I love the Fender Vintage, they don't over wind them to emphasize the lows. That will be another review though. For those of you who are trying to find that vintage p bass sound, the Fender Vintage P Bass pickups deliver. If you are looking for a more modern P Bass sound get the SD Quarter Pounders. Both pickups are very good, I just like a little less tinny sound. By the way, when I purchased these pickups, they were in the transition of changing the name of the pickup. Some places called it the Vintage '62 Precision Bass Pickup, but it is now advertised as the Fender Original Precision Bass Pickup Set. They are the same exact thing. Believe me. In the end, it's a P Bass. To the average joe (or my girlfriend) they won't be able to tell the difference between any pickup. For most P Bass pickups there is not that much difference in tone. But, for us tone geeks, that little bit of clarity here and there means alot. Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this review.

I would definately buy this pickup again. Classic sound. Also, trying to figure out people's discriptive words for bass tone has made me crazy. I would compare the Vintage P Bass sound as James Jamerson for finger style and maybe Elvis Costello's bass player for pick style. I hope this helps anyone trying to decide. Be the ball.

Pickup features: Passive single coils
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender P-Bass Deluxe Fretless
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: stock jazz pickup
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Modern Rock, Progressive Rock, Grunge, Alternative, Experimental
Reason for pickup change: Needed a more thicker sound for the fretless.

Perceived output level: lower than stock
Tone: very bassy and middy
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a boss eq and a peavey bass amp combo

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Very good sound for rock

Comments: I've been playing it for a year or so and I love it. It definetly sounds better than the stock pickups. They are very bassy and have a lot of midrange. If your looking for something to kick that bass up this is the best choice.