Bass Pickups: The Finer Details

Shopping for new pickups for your bass can be a daunting experience – with so many different options at your fingertips, how can you settle on one?

In this part of the guide, we are listing some of the most important features found on all pickup sets, so that you can evaluate each model and make the right choice for your bass.

Frequency Response Curve

We have already hinted at the concept of the frequency response curve while breaking down each of the different pickup types, but now we’ll address it in depth.

Every pickup has a unique response curve that determines which frequencies it highlights and which it cuts out. Each individual pickup may be slightly different thanks to variables in the design process, but different responses remain overwhelmingly similar across different versions of bass pickup designs.

At first glance, you might want a pickup that emphasizes all frequencies equally and doesn’t push any to the back. This is called a ‘flat’ response curve. While this can be helpful in some settings, it often sounds a bit dull and lifeless. In fact, the unique response curve of a pickup is the largest factor in determining its signature sound!

There are a wide variety of pickups on the market, most offering their own unique response curve. However, over the history of the electric bass, a couple of ‘settings’ have risen to the top in terms of popularity.

For example, the Fender response curve – with its signature scooped mids – is one of the most prominent examples. Fender instruments (particularly the Precision Bass) emphasize low- and high-end frequencies while restricting the midrange. This leads to a warm and smooth sound that remains clear, focused and punchy.

While many manufacturers create zany designs simply to offer different tones, most differences in the response curve between pickups involve the midrange and trebles. Boosting midrange frequencies thickens up your tone and helps your bass sound heavier. However, be aware that an overpowered midrange can also make your bass sound muddy or sludgy.

Meanwhile, treble frequencies are another key issue for bass response curves. Obviously, a vibrant upper range will help your bass solos stand out, but it also controls and tightens up your rhythm playing.

Treble-heavy bass models are less common in metal, hardcore and hard rock – but they work very well for cleaner styles like jazz, rock and pop.

Design

Along with a pickup’s frequency response curve, its design is another major factor in its tone. Single-coil, split-coil and humbucking pickups will all sound slightly different even if they’re designed to emphasize similar frequencies.

Single-coil pickups are known for their clarity and powerful trebles, which makes them an outstanding fit for bassists who want to cut through the mix on stage. They’ll often sound more precise than humbuckers, particularly towards the upper end of the range. Unfortunately, single-coils are also prone to the dreaded hum in loud environments.

Split-coil and double-coil humbuckers are far quieter than single-coils. Tonally speaking, these designs provide more punch and boom at the low end of the range – they do a great job of tying the pulse of the drums to the tone of the guitars in a live setting.

However, split- and double-coil pickups are known to sacrifice a little top-end clarity – sometimes they’re not as well-suited to prominent solos and the notes played at the top of the neck.

Size

Finally, it’s important to consider the size and weight of any pickups you consider. While you can modify your bass to fit any type of pickup, certain designs require much more work than others.

For example, if you have a P-Bass, switching to a single-coil or Music Man-style pickup would require you to cut some wood out of the body of your instrument to create extra space. A split-coil pickup, on the other hand, could drop right in.

Bass Pickups: Brands to Consider

Even after you’ve decided on a certain style of pickup, the myriad brands available can make it impossible to pick just one model. We’ve all been there!

Thankfully, many manufacturers aim their products towards a certain segment of the market and, by focusing on your favorite styles and sounds, you can narrow down the field considerably.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common manufacturers to get a better idea of their style.

Seymour Duncan is one of the biggest manufacturers in the bass pickup market. They are one of the most versatile brands around, as they offer practically every pickup type you can think of. Their Antiquity series is particularly well-known – these pickups provide great vintage warmth and depth that you can drop straight into any modern bass.

DiMarzio is another titan in the bass landscape, focusing primarily on P-Bass and Jazz Bass pickup sets. While the company offers a couple of unique options that don’t fit the standard mold, their pickups tend to sound more ‘modern’ and aggressive than Seymour Duncan models. They are therefore better suited for players interested in hard rock and other fast-paced styles.

Another brand, EMG, is perhaps even better known for their metal and hard-rock pickups. But while DiMarzio prioritizes classic designs like the P-Bass and Jazz Bass, EMG is known for their soapbar designs. Their pickups are aggressive and powerful; they’ve found particular favor with extended-range players thanks to their plethora of five-, six-, and seven-string models.

Nordstrand is one of the other major soapbar pickup makers. Nordstrand’s ‘bars are clear and well-balanced, though they offer plenty of snarl through the midrange. They are supremely versatile sets (particularly the active versions), and Nordstrand offers designs to match whatever aesthetic you’re going for – including extended-range instruments!

Bartolini was one of the first companies to begin manufacturing aftermarket bass pickups, all the way back in the mid-1970s! Their designs are known for having a round, smooth character that’s not too aggressive, and thrives with clean styles. While they might not suit metal players particularly well, Bartolinis make a great fit for plenty of other bassists in more relaxed styles.

Aguilar’s offerings concentrate mostly around P-Bass and Jazz Bass pickups, with different sets designed to capture the tone of different eras throughout the history of the instruments. The brand also offers some ‘hot’ sets, which are intentionally overwound for a fiery, in-your-face response!

There are many other pickup manufacturers that offer exceptional products as well. Smaller boutique shops often create more unique designs that target the tone of a specific era or player – looking through all the offerings of various companies is a great way to find a fascinating new pickup set!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Passive and Active Pickups?

Even though passive and active pickups are both fairly common for basses, many players don’t know the difference between the two! Thankfully, the distinction is pretty simple to grasp once you’re familiar with it.

Passive pickups were the first type of pickup invented for the electric bass, and they remain the most common pickup type today.

They’re called ‘passive’ pickups because they don’t add frequencies to your tone – all they do is transmit the signal of your bass to your amp. There are countless different types of passive pickups, so no matter which type of music you prefer to play, finding passive pickups won’t be a problem.

Active pickups, on the other hand, require power and contain a built-in battery. This allows them to actively boost some frequencies in your signal. They are most commonly found in hard rock and metal genres, where bassists need some extra punch to stand out on the low end through complex mixes.

However, you will also need to recharge or replace the battery in your pickups when they run out of juice. This can be a major drawback for busy gigging musicians.

Many players never feel the need to switch to active pickups, while other bassists feel that active pickups don’t sound as nice as passive pickups when played without heavy distortion.

How Can I Find Pickups for Extended-Range Basses?

If you play an extended-range bass and want to upgrade your pickups, you might find it a bit more difficult than usual!

Unfortunately, many aftermarket manufacturers don’t prioritize extended instruments in their lineups. However, if you search through the right brands, you’ll find plenty of options to suit any style you can think of.

With extended-range basses, big manufacturers will often give you more tonal choices. EMG and Nordstrand are particularly well-respected among extended-range players for their soapbar models.

If you’d prefer a different style, DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan make some outstanding extended-range vintage pickup designs. Check out these manufacturers and play around to find what works best for you!

How Much Should I Spend on Pickups?

This is one of the most difficult questions to consider – and it can be nearly impossible to answer if you have your heart set on some pickups that are out of your budget! However, establishing a price range before you go hunting for new pickups will prevent these situations from occurring.

No matter which pickup brands you look at, you should be able to find some outstanding pickups for less than $200. Larger manufacturers, like Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio, tend to offer lower prices – in fact, you can snag many of their pickups for well under $100!

If you’re new to aftermarket bass pickups, it might be a good idea to start out with a sub-$100 pair. Once you put them in your bass and see how they feel, you can always upgrade to a more expensive set.

On the other hand, many higher-end aftermarket pickups retail between $100 and $200. Saving up until you have $150 or a bit more to spend can yield significant dividends.

Beyond the $200 range, you’ll cross into premium territory – manufacturers like Alembic live here! These pickups may sound fantastic, but they are not the best value for most players. These tend to make the most sense for professionals.

Wrapping Things Up

Navigating the world of aftermarket bass pickups can be quite overwhelming. After all, who has time to peruse every manufacturer’s catalogue and examine every frequency response curve in detail?

Thankfully, with just a bit of research, you should be able to find a set of new pickups that mesh great with your axe.

We hope this guide has helped you in your search. However, if you have any questions about buying a new set of bass pickups, please get in touch!