Product: Bare Knuckle Pickups P-Bass Vintage Hot
Price Paid: UK Sterling 80
Submitted
09/27/2004
at
11:26pm
by
Dan Cook (aka Absense of Meaning and Downfader)
Features
:
Pickup features: Passive P Bass style pickup
Impedence or other specs: Dont know, sorry
Instrument
:
Model of guitar or bass: Chinese Squire P Bass
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock P Bass (not very good)
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Only me as far as I know (hehe)
You musical style(s): Blues, Soul, Rock, Electronica, Metal and [breath!!] Neo Classical
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickup was ok, but I had to use various outboard to get a decent bass sound. I DI my bass with a TLA 5051 and like a nice warm, compressed bass sound. All I was getting most of the time was a muddy mess. It may be a chinese bass but it is really good to play so there was never any thought of selling it and upgrading the actual bass.
Sound
:
No Opinion
Perceived output level: Using the TLA 5051 I was able to get a much hotter signal, and hence more compression and heavy limiting going on. It nearly blew my valves, I reckon, as they began to pop and spit. Which is loud :-)
Tone: Thick, very warm, bags of sub bass (on my 4 string bass which is bloody marvellous!!) The tone pot turned all the way up produced a good tone similar to the bass sound on The Jam's Going Underground. Turned the other way I was able to get the warmer, bluesier sounds I had been craving for.
Sonic evaluation: No amp, I record my bass using a TLA 5051 mark 2 Ivory preamp, using it like a DI box. I would love a nice big amp but the DI's sound is quite big already. I have to say I really like it, I'm a fussy man to please when it comes to guitar and bass sound, but this made me well up like a little kid straight away. I'm not the worlds greatest bass player so it was nice to also have a nice clear sounding pickup.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a few bluesy, soul and funky riffs on the bass in my tunes, and this definately suits that, lots of dynamics to be had in your playing. It definately suits the rock community as its very loud.
Overall Rating
:
10
Comments: If I had a more expensive bass I'm sure i would consider another Bare Knuckle Pickup, the sub 500 quid range of fender guitars can be a bit ropey in the Squier range and some of the mexican axes. I am considering having some strat pickups put in my old squier strat, to match the tone of my Highway 1 strat, which I love dearly. Very worth the money, and hand wound. Have tried many Di Marzio and some Semour Duncun pickups in other guitars many years ago, wasnt that impressed (they all sound the same) but would like to do a proper evaulation before I do whack out any money ;D I love the retro poles on the BKP PBass Vintage Hot, very cool, I've been playing guitar and bass for about 11 or 12 years and have always liked that retro look. Definately a great product. Very happy with it.
