Features of Electric Bass Guitar Pickups
Bass Pickups Output
Electric bass guitar pickups are closely related to electric guitar pickups. Both have the same main variables, such as output.
To keep this short, basically the higher the output, the warmer the sound tends to be. And the lower the output of the pickup, the more defined and crystalline the sound will be.
Although this variable depends a lot on the position of the pickpup. A position close to the bridge will offer a sharper and more penetrating sound. And a position close to the neck will provide a deeper and warmer sound.
Single Coil vs Humbucker
Two other groups are single coil pickups and humbuckers. Single coil pickups offer a defined sound as standard, and humbuckers offer a thicker tone.
In addition, the latter guarantee low noise due to the hum cancellation system characteristic of this type of pickups. In the cover image of the page, a double coil pickup appears, and a single coil one.
Active vs Passive Pickups
Within these two groups we can find other variations such as active and passive pickups. Active pickups provide a maximum optimised signal-to-noise ratio. This type of pickup is often used in 5 and 6 string basses. As it improves the capture of very low frequencies, which are more difficult to capture with a passive pickup.
Pickups According to the Type of Electric Bass Guitar
Once we have reviewed all these concepts, we can simplify the type of pickup, depending on the style of bass guitar. Although some models usually have different pickups characteristic of different basses, to increase their versatility.
Precision Bass Pickup
So let’s get down to business with the signature pickups of the first mass-produced electric bass, the Precision Bass. A bass so successful that it leaves no doubt about the quality of its components, including its very characteristic two-part pickup to compensate for the sound between the strings of the instrument.
Although if you wish you can compensate both pairs of strings in a way that is contrary to the standard, something preferred by some bassists. In addition, the Precision style pickups eliminate the background noise generated by a standard single coil pickup.
In reality, it is a dual-coil pickup, but with the characteristic offset between the two coils. One dedicated to the lower pair of strings and the other to the upper pair of strings. A very ingenious method of cancelling hum, which Leo Fender would later recreate in some G&L guitar models, known as Z-Coil.
The classic and characteristic magnet of the Precision pickup is the alnico V. As in the case of the Fender Vintage P-Bass for a controlled price of $125.
For the same price as the previous one and with the same type of magnet, but under the Seymour Duncan brand, we have the SPB-1 with a classic character, scrupulously manufactured in the purest style of the late 1950s.
Seymour Duncan Precision Bass Pickups
Seymour Duncan offers different products that can meet all the demands of users. As in the case of the SPB-2 with extra winding and output compared to the previous model. This model maintains great versatility, but is also suitable for developing harder genres.
In the Seymour Duncan SPB-3 we can appreciate from the size of its pole pieces that this pickup goes one step further in terms of output power.
Regardless of the output of this type of pickup, generally speaking and due to its hum-cancelling humbucker-style construction, the Precision pickup’s sound is darker than that of another legendary bass pickup, the so-called Jazz-style pickups. As these are the signature single-coil pickups found on the Fender Jazz Bass.
Jazz Bass Pickups
The Fender Jazz Bass’ signature single-coil pickups feature standard alnico V magnets.
These pickups would be more likely to pick up external interference that could generate parasitic noises. Especially if we put coated strings on our bass, which prevent our body from acting as a ground, generating even more noise.
Jazz pickups, on the other hand, offer an unrivalled sound that is very clear and defined, as in the case of the Fender Original Jazz Bass. A set of Fender Jazz pickups at an interesting price of around $130.
Seymour Duncan Pickups for Jazz Bass
As for the Seymour Duncan brand, something similar happens as in the case of the Precision models. They have the classic version in the SJB-1 model, the version that we can say is more rock-oriented in the higher output model SJB-2, and the SJB-3 to be able to develop genres such as Heavy Metal.
The prices of these Seymour Duncan pickup models are around $110 per unit, detailed as N (neck) for the neck position, and as B (bridge) for the bridge position.
All of these Jazz style pickups are genuine single coil pickups. I stress this because with the hum cancellation, as in the case of Fender’s Noiseless pickups, they can pull the wool over our eyes. Some pickup models “disguise” dual coil systems, as shown in the image below.
If we are discussing variations in sound or tone, things that are most of the time of no importance, imagine what a modification of this magnitude can mean for the characteristic tone of a single coil pickup.
One of the pickup configurations preferred by bassists would be to combine a Jazz pickup in the bridge position and a split Precision Bass style pickup in the same bass. This way we will obtain great versatility and the essential sounds of two legendary electric basses.
Stingray Bass Pickup
The third legendary bass would be the Stingray Bass developed by Music Man under the direction of Mr. Leo Fender. The Stingray features a passive dual-coil pickup to eliminate interferences noises. And active circuit for greater control over the equalization of the instrument.
This type of pickup provides a warm and powerful sound, with a higher output power. As in the case of the Seymour Duncan SMB-4A. The SMB-4A has the purest classic Music Man sound from the 70s that would change the sound of genres such as Rock or Funk. And the tone of playing techniques such as Slap.
This electric bass pickup features a classic alnico V magnet that provides the traditional tone. But Seymour Duncan also developed this same pickup, with ceramic magnets in the SMB-4D model in the purest aggressive style of the Music Man basses of the 90s.
The ceramic magnet adds greater output power and greater definition, which generates the typical kick of this type of magnet. Both pickups are priced at around $160.
The Stingray Bass usually has only one pickup. But there are quite a few sounds that can be obtained through its different wiring.
Two of these options would be to use the pickup in dual coil mode, or in split mode to connect only one of the coils. Another option would be to connect its coils in parallel, to obtain the most original and characteristic sound of the Stingray Bass.
Types of Active Pickups for Electric Bass Guitar
As you can see, all of these types of pickups mentioned above are passive pickups that generally have a warmer and more dynamic sound than active pickups.
As mentioned, this is a type of pickup that is widely used for electric bass, as it provides a louder, higher-definition sound, free of interference noise.
This type of pickup can be found in all the passive versions mentioned above. Including some additional models such as the Soapbar.
In this type of pickups, the EMG brand is a leading manufacturer for its well-known quality at a reasonable price. I won’t go into more detail, since as I have already mentioned, this brand recreates the main models of bass pickups in an active version. Has so many models that I could write a whole article about them.
Piezo Pickups for Bass
This type of pickup is different from magnetic pickups because it captures sound through piezoelectric crystals, located between the string and the bridge. Like active pickups, this type of pickup requires a preamp powered by a battery.
One of the characteristics of piezoelectric pickups is that they can amplify strings of any type and construction material. This is a type of sensor that picks up the pressure changes generated by the string to generate an electrical signal.
This type of pickup is less prone to picking up external noise, and offers a more natural or acoustic-style sound. Although its use on electric bass is usually to complement the sound of magnetic pickups.
Optical Pickups for Electric Bass
Some basses use optical pickups, such as those developed by Willcox Guitars (Saber Bass). This pickup method is carried out by means of light sensors that generate the electrical signal. So they have the advantage of not picking up any type of external interference.
In addition, this optical system captures a wider range of frequencies, and as no magnetic field interferes with the strings, they have a longer sustain.
Many people think that this is the perfect system. But in reality this pickup method is not very popular among musicians, precisely because of its perfection. Most bassists prefer the naturalness of other types of pickups, rather than absolute perfection.