Your choice of pickup (or pickups) makes a big difference to the tone of your bass guitar. From subtle kick drum support to 4-string soloing reminiscent of Jaco Pastorius, there are numerous pickup configurations to consider when crafting an extraordinary soundscape.
Sweetwater offers an extensive selection of bass pickups designed to fit every playing style and budget, ranging from slim Jazz Bass single-coils to robust dual-coil humbuckers.
J Pickup
A J pickup features a more prominent bass midrange and higher high end, producing a thick tone ideal for many genres of music. Funk and jazz players are known to favor it; however, its flexibility enables it to suit other styles as well.
If you’re looking for ways to add clarity to your bass guitar without undertaking a full upgrade project, these pre-configured replacement sets could be just what you need. They provide everything needed to convert current pickups into J-style guitar models – no soldering necessary; simply plug in and enjoy!
The Bartolini 9J1 is an iconic J bass pickup with plenty of growl, tight bass response, and subdued high end that should fit comfortably in most mixes. If vintage sound is what you seek then Aguilar 4J-60 and 4J-70 models may be your perfect match; both models feature balanced output for each string as well as narrow apertures to provide enhanced treble response without harshness.
These pickups are perfect for any bass, but particularly jazz basses. Their warm, clear tone is ideal for slapping and they feature a subtle scoop in the midrange to give a forward sound – popular among players like Marcus Miller. There is also an array of available options.
The Jackson JS Series bass guitars are an outstanding example of modern manufacturers taking an older design and improving it with modern technologies. Built around precision body and neck shapes, their modern modifications include humbuckers, thinner necks, extra frets and additional controls; making for an incredibly versatile rock/metal bass suitable for any genre of music – perfect for rock ‘n’ metal but equally adept at handling traditional sounds from Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson’s signature model for instance! Check out their range today to find your own Jackson JS bass!
P Pickup
EMG’s P Bass Pickup has long been one of the industry’s go-to designs and is beloved among bassists worldwide, thanks to its deep tones and massive bottom end. Boasting ceramic magnets coupled with short, squat coils for natural presence and superior definition – earning respect from professionals across multiple genres of playing bass music. Available both as split (S) and humbucking (H) options, it provides versatile sound options suitable for classic as well as contemporary bass tones alike.
P-style pickups were initially created as single-coil designs; however, they quickly gained prominence for their distinctive sound and versatility. When split-coil designs became an option for Precision pickups, noise issues were resolved while maintaining high output, full tone, and massive bottom end. While J pickups have adopted the term humbucking pickup more commonly due to two coils being wound backwards to cancel any hum while still providing single coil-esque tonality – an upgrade known as split-coil design was essential.
When choosing a humbucking P bass pickup, there are numerous factors to take into account. Magnet type can have a major effect on its sound; winding quantity/coverage determines tonal characteristics as well as overall tone quality – some models provide focused midranges which suit rock/metal genres while others have smooth and balanced tones ideal for blues/jazz music genres.
The best p bass pickups for metal are those which provide the right blend of power and clarity to cut through a mix. Some models, like EMG Geezer Butler Signature P-Bass Pickup, provide aggressive tones with defined lows that can be heard and felt onstage; others, such as Lindy Fralin Split P-Bass Pickup are known for their vintage-inspired tones with strong midrange tones even in distortion situations.
No matter your musical genre or style preference, finding the ideal bass guitar pickups can open up a world of sonic possibilities. By spending some time exploring various brands and models until you discover ones which bring out its full potential.
Active Pickups
Pickups have the single-most significant influence over your guitar’s tone. Knowing their differences allows for informed decisions regarding which are suitable for you and your needs.
Active pickups employ similar technology as passive ones but with an additional powered circuit placed between their coils. This enables more power and wider dynamic range, along with shaping your signal via filters and preamps. Furthermore, actives typically have fewer coils which reduce weight and cost; more typically seen on modern bass guitars from metal scene manufacturers such as ESP and Schecter and can be identified by having a battery compartment on their back which holds a 9V battery.
Active pickups offer many players an appealing combination of high output and clarity. Ideal for aggressive styles like power metal and heavy blues, actives are also great for more subdued techniques like dynamic picking or clean tones. Metallica rhythm guitarist James Hetfield uses EMG 81/60 active pickups for his signature sound while Slash of Guns N’ Roses prefers Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro humbuckers to achieve powerful lead tones.
However, some players feel that active pickups lack the character and personality of passive ones – this is simply their personal opinion and no definitive decision should be made either way.
Notably, not everyone enjoys active pickups – some players may find them too high-output and overwhelming for their volume control needs; tone controls may provide necessary relief.
Players using active pickups may find the batteries necessary to power them a nuisance, due to needing to be changed when their charge drops and no indicator to show this is happening. This can be especially bothersome during rehearsals and gigs where there may not be the opportunity for battery changes between rehearsals and gigs.
Passive Pickups
Passive pickups have been around for more than 60 years. Composed of copper wire wrapped around alnico or ceramic magnets, passive pickups work when one or more strings is plucked or strumming is interrupted causing vibrations to disturb their magnetic field causing electrical current to flow through. Bassists who prioritize efficiency over noise or hum typically opt for passive pickups.
Passives are known for their dynamic and versatile sound, from their clean tone to heavily overdriven tones. You can sculpt passive pickups using preamps and EQ pedals for various tonal effects; many players prefer them due to their versatility while some feel active pickups offer more personality.
Selecting passive or active pickups should depend heavily upon your genre of music. Passive single-coil pickups – characteristic of classic Fender and Gibson guitars – have long been favoured by legendary guitarists such as David Gilmour whose emotive and atmospheric compositions feature expressive guitar tones.
Active pickups are a more recent technology that is growing increasingly popular. Their low-wind design reduces noise or hum pickup and thus presents less of an issue when playing through high gain amplifiers. Utilizing a battery to power coils increases their output, giving you more control of your tone with built-in EQ features on your amp. Active pickups require batteries and preamps for operation, making them more susceptible to power-related issues than passive ones, such as dead batteries or unstable voltage levels. Switching from passive to active pickups can be costly as a battery compartment must be added into your guitar as well as changing all the circuitry involved with signal transference.