Tonerider Precision Plus - TRP1

passive, split Pbass

installed in a '79 Fender Precision (replacing the original), a bartolini passive jazz bass pickup is currently installed in the bridge position. I normally play with both pickups wide open, which gives me the best of both worlds. The original p bass fat mids, and the attack and punch of the jazz bass bridge pick-ups. I was pleased when i saw that fender was releasing this combination in some of the more recent models...(Hot Rod Precision, or American hot rod, or something like that). The stock pick-up one day just dropped all low end and mid reception. I am living and working in BeiJing, China. The local Guitar shop said it would take up to a month for a replacement(or for a huge shipping fee..one and half weeks. I am currently working with five bands as well as recording gigs and bass classes. downtime was not an option. I had remembered meeting Andrew Cunningham(owner of Tonerider) at the 2007 ShangHai music show, I was working with D'addario and he was two or three booths away. I got the feeling immediatly that he ran his business like a small custom shop. Not concerned with mass output but really interested in perfecting his product. It was this reason that made me first investigate tonerider pickups.

strong output, but not overbearing....a little hotter than I expected, but my comparison pickup was 29 years old. I recently replaced my pickup so I haven't played in all scenarios, but my initial impression is very good. I don't use any effects live, so the true tone is very crucial. In the studio I'm not getting any noise. The tone is bottom heavy....If this was my only pickup, I might find myself lacking a little high end brilliance, but since I rely on my jazz pickup for that, it makes a perfect compliment.

if it were stolen or lost i would definitly buy another one. I have been playing for 20 years. I have two basses my '79 fender and a '96 Bacchus custom shop bass...long scale '67 jazz bass body. I love what it's added to my tone. If had more downtime i might be temtped to try other pickups, but only for curiosity's sake. I am completely satisfied with my purchase. I would like to add that the service won me over in the end. I was in a real jam and this company proved to be only concerned with my sound, like my own little custom shop....