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Post subject: Aftermarket pick up for 51 Pbass reissue!
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:45 pm
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Anyone tried the quarter pound single coil pick up from Seymour Duncan basslines ? Any other suggestions ?


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Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:45 pm
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Anyone tried an aftermarket pickup for a 51pbass reissue ?

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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:05 pm
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What don't you like about the stock pickup? Mine sounds great, nice dark growl.


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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:20 pm
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Check out Bill Lawrence www.billlawrence.com pickups.

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Post subject: Tried two
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:57 pm
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I've used two aftermarket first generation P-bass pickups in first generation P-basses.

1. Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 also known as the "Quarter-Pounder." This is a very nice looking pickup that has a very high output with oversized pole pieces. It is so pretty I almost hated to put the pickup cover back on, but I did. My SD SCPB3 pickup is just as sensitive to electronic interference and yields about as much hum as the stock pickups. But you gain all that extra output plus improved highs and better string to string balance over the stock pickups. The interference factor, especially from certain types of lighting can cause undesirable noise. A TV set gives it fits.

2. Lindy Fralin SPLIT COIL 51 P-bass pickup. This is a very valid concept for first generation P-bass players looking to gig in all sorts of conditions. I highly recommend them due to the reduced noise. What this split coil pickup does is this. Instead of the windings going in the same direction around all four poles, two poles are wrapped in one direction while the other two poles are wrapped in reverse so you get the noise canceling effect of the second generation P-bass on a first generation P-bass. This eliminates a lot of the hum and noise inherent in the stock design and most aftermarket designs except for another split coil design. The Lindy Fralin split coil pickup costs more than the Seymour Duncan SCPB3 but if you are going to gig the bass it is a good investment you'll be glad you made. I really like the sound of this pickup as it is heavier than the SCPB-3 and actually HOTTER. You can order the Lindy Fralin pickups wound to your specs. SD doesn't give you that option and you take what you get.

As for the member who wrote about liking the sound of their stock pickup on their 51 Reissue a lot, I must say my new Sunburst 51 Reissue purchased in January sounded a bit anemic when compared to the SCPB-3 but after putting in the Lindy Fralin pickup into it the Reissue was noticeably louder! I would recommend the Lindy Fralin SPLIT COIL for anyone looking to play a '51 as a gigging bass.

One thing about the 51 Reissue I don't like is the tiny control cavity. Fender is using MINI-POTS on the Reissue like on the Sting model. Standard CTS pots won't fit it.

When changing the pickup, I'd suggest replacing the green chicklet with a Sprague Orange-Drop 0.05 capacitor or (if you can find one) a 0.05 ceramic disc capacitors like used in the 67 Telecaster bass.

I wouldn't consider changing the pots over to CTS standard size pots unless absolutely necessary as that would mean routing out the wood.

Also fitting a pickup cover requires removing and doing some careful grinding on the pickguard because it is NOT exactly the same shape as a real '51. In fact it is even different from the Sting or the Mike Dirnt which look the same, but really aren't the same.

One easy mod on the '51 is replacing the 51 Reissue's 2 saddle bridge with a Fender Deluxe bass bridge which allows you to top load or body-through string the bass and individually intonate each string. This is a drop in replacement and fits under the Reissue bridge cover fine if you install one.
This would be another high recommended modification if you are going to gig or if you want to use Labella flats or similar strings which don't tolerate body through stringing well.


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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:02 am
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Seymour Duncan makes a buttload of great pups for Single Coil P basses. Split Coils aswell. As a matter of fact, Fender Japan put out the Silver Paisley SCPB model with a stock SD pup, if that tells you anything. I like my stock pup, but if you're curious about a replacement, NO ONE does P pick ups like Seymour.

Bill Lawrence is a great recommendation aswell. Personally, I've never been a fan of Fralin's but alot of cats dig them. There's definitely no shortage of quality of replacements in this day and age.


D

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Post subject: A Buttload?
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:57 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
Seymour Duncan makes a buttload of great pups for Single Coil P basses. Split Coils as well.
D


Thanks for the info! Please advise where I can get one of these "Buttload Split-Coil Seymour Duncan Pickups" to fit a first generation P-Bass that you are talking about. :lol:

Seriously, I'd really like to have a link to that product page please. I searched the Seymour-Duncan site and can't find any information on this split coil '51 style pickup. I will get one and compare it to Lindy Fralin Split Coil I am already using and then post my evaluation here.

Like I said, the SD Quarter Pounder sounds nice except for no reduction in undesirable noise which was not really expected to lessen. A very sensitive pickup with usable tones.

A company called Curtis Novak Classic Pickups also makes a split coil pickup to fit the "51 style basses called a "Tele-Bass Humbucker" but I have no experience with Curtis Novak Tele-Bass pickups at all. It would be nice to hear from someone who does. There are possibly others who make split coil pups to fit a single coil P-Bass, so post any others you know about here so I can check them out. I really like my Fralin Split Coil and once I got it to fit the cavity after some grinding on the pickup's baseplate I'm happy..

Quote:
Fender Japan put out the Silver Paisley SCPB model with a stock SD pup, if that tells you anything.


What that tells me is that one or both of the following two things may be the case. 1. Fender Japan can buy a whole "buttload" of mass produced pups from SD cheaper than Fender can mass produce a "buttload" of their own. 2. Fender recognizes the demand for a "buttload" of aftermarket pickups to replace the stock pups they've been using lately on the '51 Reissue. I also suspect these SD pickups are actually a whole buttload of "SD DESIGNED" pups instead of genuine USA made SD's but a buttload of my suspicions have been wrong before. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Tried two
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:11 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
As for the member who wrote about liking the sound of their stock pickup on their 51 Reissue a lot, I must say my new Sunburst 51 Reissue purchased in January sounded a bit anemic when compared to the SCPB-3 but after putting in the Lindy Fralin pickup into it the Reissue was noticeably louder! I would recommend the Lindy Fralin SPLIT COIL for anyone looking to play a '51 as a gigging bass.


My 51 reissue sounds so good with the stock pickup I can't imagine changing it. I'm playing it with Fender 9050ML flats through an Ampeg SVT-CL and it's got a wonderful punch and growl -- very cool!

The only thing about this bass I don't like is the double barrel bridge (can't intonate properly and the A and D strings don't stay put due to the lack of grooved saddles) but I'm keeping that too since it's Leo's original design and that's part of its appeal to me.

But I suppose if the pickup ever dies it sounds from what you're saying that the Lindy Fralin replacement is the way to go.


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Post subject: Re: Tried two
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 1:53 pm
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Mastermold wrote:
But I suppose if the pickup ever dies it sounds from what you're saying that the Lindy Fralin replacement is the way to go.


Well that is one way to go, especially if you'll be gigging it in a bunch of different places where you can't control RFI sources I'd lean toward a Split Coil like the Lindy Fralin model. It seems a tad hotter to me also than the SD SCPB3. I think the SCPB3 has more sensitivity and more upper mids.

Mastermold wrote:
The only thing about this bass I don't like is the double barrel bridge (can't intonate properly and the A and D strings don't stay put due to the lack of grooved saddles) but I'm keeping that too since it's Leo's original design and that's part of its appeal to me.


Are you using bridge and pickup covers too? They were part of the original design also. If you are, the bridge cover will shield a Fender Deluxe Bridge from view. Out of sight, out of mind perhaps? The Fender Deluxe bass bridge is a 4 saddle grooved drop in replacement that requires no mods to the '51 P-bass and fits all the original holes. With this bridge you can top load or body-through string your bass too. The intonation problem is gone and not too expensive. If you can't sleep at night after installing it, you can always put the two saddle back on with no harm done and sell the Deluxe bridge on eBay. Even if you like the Fender Deluxe bridge (which I'm pretty sure you would) I would still keep the original of course.

The Deluxe is in stock at this moment on basspartsresource.com or you can sometimes catch one on the cheap on eBay.

I think what everyone in this thread has neglected to mention is how great the necks are on the 51 Reissues. Really nice! REALLY. This is my first Fender Japan bass ever. I like it a whole lot and feel like it was a good value. I especially like the neck and the balance. It has me thinking about trying another Fender Japan bass.

I will only use flats on the '51 due the smaller "Vintage" frets. I want them to last forever.


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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:39 pm
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Yeah I bought the chrome covers aftermarket and that's a good idea (the Deluxe bridge) if the stock bridge novelty wears off.

And I agree with you about the neck, it's very comfortable.


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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:51 pm
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For single coils, SD makes the 1/4 lbs., the SCPB "hot", They also make the Anitquity , which is supposed to emulate the first generation P bass, and the Antiquity II which emulates the Tele-bass. I'd say that qualifies as a "buttload" for one specific bass. There is also a "stack coil" that they made, I'm unsure if that's still in production, or if it's just a custom order now. That fits the single coil P route, but is hum-cancelling.

Here's the companies link...the set up is a bit, odd, but you'll need to look around. Sorry I didn't hold your hand to find them, next time I won't offer any help at all.


http://www.seymourduncan.com/


D

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:14 pm
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Thanks a lot for the suggestions ! Im a big fan of SD pickups . I just wanted to know if anyone tried it .The Lindy Fralin in my opinion is a good bet since I gig every weekend and having a quiet pickup would be nice . And if it is hotter than the SD Im all for it. Ive heard about LF pickups but never thought they made a 51 p pickup .
Im going to chek their website .

Thanks again guys!

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:15 pm
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TheKingofPain wrote:
For single coils, SD makes the 1/4 lbs., the SCPB "hot", They also make the Anitquity , which is supposed to emulate the first generation P bass, and the Antiquity II which emulates the Tele-bass. I'd say that qualifies as a "buttload" for one specific bass. There is also a "stack coil" that they made, I'm unsure if that's still in production, or if it's just a custom order now. That fits the single coil P route, but is hum-cancelling.


Ohhh sorry there King O Pain. You don't get my wacko sense of humor. I thought Kings LIKED jesters?

Anyway I had already been to their site as soon as I read your post looking for the new SD Split Coil. I found the two Antiquity pups and the SCPB1, SCPB2 and SCPB3. The 1 and 2 appear similar but the 2 is overwound. The 3 is the oversized pole design which is why I put one on my 54 model about two years ago. They look like a million bucks and if you aren't going to use a pickup cover they really look nice. I could not find any sort of SD split coil to fit a first generation P-Bass, so I figured it might be a custom order. The ones on the website now are the same ones they've had for about the past three years or so. I thought you were onto something brand new that I didn't know about which is why I asked for specific information on it.

Stacked Coil does ring a bell! I recall putting a set of the SD Stacked Coil Jazz pups on a MIM Jazz. They worked well and sure did kill the hum.

Thanks for going to the trouble. I appreciate it. Stacked Winding on a SCPB pickup would be something to try if I can ever find one.

Lindy Fralin has two basic designs for the '51. Single coil and split coil. However within those two basic designs you can vary the pole material by selecting steel or standard poles which means there are really four models. You can further specify exactly the overwinding or underwinding from the "stock" wind of 6.5 K between the range of 6k to 8k. That is a lot of options.

As I understand it overwinding gives higher output more mids and less highs. Underwinding more highs and less mids and a lower output. These are inherently bright pickups at stock wind so I got mine overwound to 7 K which still has plenty of highs. If you tell Lindy Fralin how you want it to sound, they can give you an idea of what wind you need. You can even specify the exact winding resistance. Mr. Fralin's page explaining all this is here: http://www.fralinpickups.com/choose.asp

The Lindy Fralin page listing their first generation single coil design and split coil P-Bass models are here: http://www.fralinpickups.com/bass.asp#51pbass with the prices at the bottom of the page.

If you order a Fralin pickup and don't like it for any tonal reasons, you have 30 days to exchange it for another until you are happy with the tone. So if you start out with a maximum overwind and don't like it you can exchange it and specify a different winding to try so long as you do it within 30 days.

Lindy Fralin pickups come with a 10 year guarantee you can read here http://www.fralinpickups.com/order.asp

I also checked the Seymour Duncan pup warranty. You get a full 21 days. http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/warranty-inform/

Again thanks for the help, I need all I can get!


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