What type of bass guitar pickup to purchase will have an enormous effect on the tone. But how can you choose between them?
Magnetic upright bass pickups convert vibration from your strings into audible signals that your amplifier can recognize – they’re by far the most common type of electric bass pickup.
Split Coil
There are various types of bass pickups, but the three most prevalent are split coil, humbucker and single coil pickups. Each has their own distinct sound that can be altered with various settings on your instrument.
Split coil bass guitars utilize two single-coil pickups in parallel for optimal tone with plenty of overtones and clear mids without compromising low end bass performance. They’re an ideal option for bass players who favor thicker soundscapes than those produced by single coil pickups.
P bass pickups are one of the most widely-used types of bass guitar pickups. These pickups use two independent split coils in a P-shaped soapbar shape with one coil located closer to the neck and another towards the bridge – giving a full and booming low end that stands out in any band context; ideal if playing rock or blues.
Humbucker bass pickups feature two coils that are wired in opposite directions to cancel out magnetic fields that would cause hum, making them suitable for applications that demand solid and consistent tone like jazz or blues; they may also be used with heavier genres such as rock and metal.
Though humbuckers are more expensive than single-coil pickups, many basses include them for their additional sonic stability. Some basses also include a push-pull tone control to allow users to shut off either coil of the humbucker and use only its south coil as a single coil pickup pickup.
Other types of bass pickups you might come across include piezo pickups, which use a small crystal to detect vibration of strings rather than magnets, but are becoming less prevalent among guitarists over time. Also available as upgrades on electric basses is an optical pickup which detects string vibration with light instead of magnets; although these technologies have yet to become standard fare.
Humbucker
Humbucking pickups are one of the most versatile bass guitar pickup types. Used across genres to achieve great bass tones ranging from the powerful groove of AC/DC and Children of Bodom to fretless explorations by John Patitucci and Bernard Edwards’ crystal clear slapping, mini humbuckers are one of the most widely available types; each type uses two coils with reverse polarity winding that counter magnetic interference that causes hum. There are various varieties on the market such as mini, rail, covered stacked and stacked humbuckers; all utilize two coils with reverse winding so as to cancel magnetic interference caused by magnetic interference from magnetic interference that causes hum.
Humbuckers are beloved pickups that create an inviting, full sound perfect for jazz and heavy metal bassists. Additionally, their powerful output enables them to cut through any mix at any volume level. When compared with single coil pickups, humbuckers produce higher harmonic frequencies for greater sound depth but may produce some noise or hum in their signal – this may explain why many bassists opt for only having one humbucker at the bridge position on their bass guitars.
Humbucking offers another advantage over single coil pickups by being wired in parallel or split coil mode, giving you both brightness and warmth from either one. This makes humbuckers especially helpful if you need to work with amplifiers with limited low-end headroom.
Musicman HM-1 basses are among the most beloved humbucking basses. Combining elements from both Model J and P basses create an earth-shaking low end with crisp mids and crystal-clear highs; also available as neck position versions to allow slapping or finger picking bass styles to play it well.
In this article, we explored the main distinctions between single-coil and humbucker bass guitar pickups. Single-coils feature exposed polepieces which produce brighter, funkier tones preferred by musicians playing country music or punk rock, while humbuckers produce thicker sounds ideal for jazz or metal bassists. Each type of pickup offers its own distinct tones; finding one suitable for your musical style depends on a number of factors.
Single Coil
A single-coil bass guitar pickup is an electromagnetic transducer that converts string vibrations to an electrical signal that travels through your amplifier to speakers and eventually your ears. The core material and wire coils surrounding it have a big influence on its sound qualities; which in turn are determined by magnet count used and material of coils themselves.
Single-coil basses feature various coil configurations, from overwound models that offer greater power and midrange growl than standard pickups to those featuring different magnets or pole pieces for increased tone – Alnico 3 features soft yet warm tones while Alnico 8 can produce aggressive tones.
Contrasting with its counterpart, humbuckers consist of two separate coils wired either serially or parallel (often with their magnetic polarity and coil winding direction reversed) that work to cancel out mains hum generated when you vibrate your electric guitar strings, thus producing lower frequencies and giving a thicker fuller tone to the bass guitar.
Humbuckers come in several varieties, from mini-humbuckers and rail humbuckers, split coil, covered/uncovered and mini-humbucker versions to cover/uncovered versions. Whatever kind you select, many bassists turn to them as they produce rich and powerful sounds that cut through any mix.
The J bass pickup is another versatile choice that’s often found in bridge positions, where it provides what many might consider the quintessential bass sound. Popular among jazzy players like James Jamerson and Nate Mendel, as well as rockers Mike Dirnt of Green Day and Rush’s Geddy Lee; it can provide an imposing bottom-heavy tone to provide solid support to any genre or band’s aural foundation.
Passive pickups provide a clear and open sound while being quite susceptible to ambient noise over long cables. To help mitigate this, many manufacturers provide active pickups that boost output levels with adjustable output levels that enable users to dial in specific tones with just the turn of a knob.
Custom Shop
Are you searching for a rugged, aggressive tone on your bass guitar? The P pickup is an excellent solution, popularly used by metal bassists. Equipped with powerful ceramic magnets and high output for maximum sound cutting through, its balanced frequency response provides strong low end while accentuating mid frequencies without overshadowing other members of the band.
DiMarzio Model P bass pickups are an excellent way to create thick and punchy bass tones, offering everything from subtle Motown-esque thump to aggressive metal rock and metal driven bass lines. Players looking to solidify the aural foundation of their band with clear sound that cuts through other instruments on stage may also benefit from using this pickup.
Aguilar 4P-60 Precision-Style Bass Pickups are another highly coveted set of bass pickups. Utilizing period-correct Alnico 5 rod magnets and heavy Formvar 42 gauge coil wire with cloth-sleeved conductors to recreate the sound of 60s era bass pickups, these vacuum wax potted pickups help minimize feedback and microphonics for increased clarity of tone; additionally they come equipped with black pickup enclosures. Ultimately these pickups provide everything needed to convert your Precision bass into an ultra fun machine!
Seymour Duncan SPB-4 Steve Harris Signature Bass Pickups are an excellent way to add some aggression and aggression to their bass guitar playing experience. Hand-built in Santa Barbara, CA with Alnico 5 rod magnets featuring exposed pole pieces and custom wind designed for more midrange bite and vacuum wax dipped to prevent feedback and microphonics – they even come in black pickup enclosures!
These bass guitar pickups are an ideal way to add an edge and aggression to their sound. Available both neck and bridge models, these pickups can be installed onto any Standard American Jazz Bass or its clones of this body style and come in both standard and humbucking versions to work with any string configuration.