Every Bassist Needs the Best Bass Pickup
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Seymour Duncan Precision Bass Pickups -
Fender '60s Jazz Bass Pickups -
Fender Custom Shop Custom ‘60s Jazz Bass Pickups -
Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickup -
DiMarzio DP120 Model One Bass Humbucker Pickup -
Buyer's Guide
Bass pickups may be the unsung heroes in the world of bassists. While other factors, such as the type of bass guitar, strings, and amplifiers, obviously all make a significant impact on the sound and tone of the instrument, the type of pickups used to play a much more subtle yet no less important role in the end result. By capturing and processing the vibration of the bass guitar strings and routing that signal so it can be processed, amplified, and heard by the human ear, these small devices are an undeniably crucial component of the signal flow. There are quite a few options available on the market and we've selected the best bass pickups in 2022 for bassists. We’ve also outlined some important factors to keep in mind in our buyer’s guide below.
Comparing the Best Bass Pickups of 2022
Seymour Duncan Precision Bass Pickups - Best Bass Pickups Overall
Seymour Duncan’s SPB-1 Vintage Precision Bass pickups were made to instantly take your tone back to the 1950s. These pickups were designed to faithfully reproduce the sound of Leo Fender’s 1957 dual-coil pickup configuration. To that end, these pickups feature the same hand-fabricated forbon bobbins, plain enamel wire, and hand-ground, sand-cast magnets of the original, but the proof isn’t in the look of these things it’s in the sound. These pickups will make your bass sound warm and punchy, with a distinct amount of smooth low-end to hold down the lower frequencies with ease.
Fender '60s Jazz Bass Pickups - Runner Up
Fender’s Custom Shop ’62 P Bass pickups have been designed to respectfully reproduce the classic sounds of the 1962 Precision Bass split-coil pickup arrangement. The end result is a set of electronics that offer the best of all worlds; full-sounding, rumbling lows, a punchy midrange, and a clear and articulate high end. The flush-mount pole pieces of these pickups have been designed to draw an even response from all of the bass strings. Whether your instrument is strung with flatwound or round wound strings, these pickups can truly transform your tone and are a marked improvement of the stock sounds in most P-basses.
Fender Custom Shop Custom ‘60s Jazz Bass Pickups - Honorable Mention
Fender’s Jazz Bass already has a distinct sound that earned it a spot in the hearts of bassists since the instrument was unleashed in the 1960s. But with the company’s Custom Shop Custom ‘60s Jazz Bass pickups, everything gets turned up a notch and the results are something that have to be heard to be believed. These pickups are over-wound to provide more punch, midrange, bass, and output. Special Alnico 5 magnets and Formvar magnet wire help coax out a sound that contains extra growl and thump. The flush-mount magnets for these pickups ensure that the string response is even across the board. These pickups also come with installation hardware so that you can easily put them onto your bass guitar yourself.
Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickup - Consider
The sound of the Fender American Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass is one that is still actively pursued by bassists. That low-end warmth and notable midrange definitely earned the instrument a special place in the hearts of bassists, particularly those who utilized slap-style funk and other expressive forms of playing. That sound has been rekindled and is able to be harnessed today with Fender’s Pure Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass pickup set. These electronics are powered by Enamel coated magnet wire, flush mount pole pieces, and cloth output wire and bobbin construction that is period correct; all of these factors combine to provide a vintage, precise sound. The dynamics captured by these pickups are more enhanced, and the string response is even and clear. There’s no need for a time machine when you’ve got these pickups, because your sound will instantly be taken back to a classic era of sound.
DiMarzio DP120 Model One Bass Humbucker Pickup - Best Bass Humbucker Pickups
DiMarzio’s Model One bass humbucker pickups were originally created to be replacements for the neck pickups in the Gibson EB series. Since then, these thick-sounding electronics have found a new life in a wide range of bass guitars, and have also been implemented in various configurations and not just the neck. The ceramic magnet and 4 conductor wiring help these pickups to produce a floor-shaking rumble that still manages to be clear and articulate, with highs that can really stand out in a mix. Some players like to use the Model On alongside other DiMarzio models, while others choose to just use the Model Ones on their own to define their bass sound. Bassists such as Billy Sheehan and John Conte are fans of what the Model Ones can do, so if you’re seeking pickups that can really bring the rock out of your bass sound, look no further.
Buyer's Guide
Although all bass pickups essentially perform the same task, differences in the makeup and execution of the process can alter the sound and end result of your bass guitar tone. Having a firm idea of what type of sound and style you’re aiming for will enable you to make a more informed decision about what bass pickup is best for you.
Of course, there’s no better learning experience than actually playing instruments that utilize different bass pickups and hearing the difference for yourself, so it’s always advisable to try before you buy. Nonetheless, even if you’re not able to do this, these are some concepts that will help you in selecting the right choice.
J Pickups
Also known as jazz pickups, J pickups fall under the category of a magnetic pickup. Magnetic pickups are characterized by their magnetic pole pieces placed in exact alignment underneath the strings of a bass guitar where they capture the sound through the air. Using their magnetic fields, the signal is captured and transmitted out of the instrument, through the connected cable, and then amplified.
The sound of a J pickup is bright and often-times aggressive, so it’s most often favored for rock music and other “in-your-face” styles. Of course, as the name indicates, they are also popular amongst jazz bassists.
Most J pickups are configured in a pair, with one pickup located in the bridge position and the other in the neck position. The neck position is usually wide whereas the bridge is a bit tighter and more punchy. Bass instruments utilizing the dual J pickup configuration provide a knob allowing bassists to mix the signal coming from each pickup, allowing them to dial in the right combination of sounds coming from the two separate sources.
P Pickups
P pickups (or precision pickups) have a deeper and heavier sound preferred for funk music, heavier types of rock, and anything requiring a deeper bottom-end. The configuration of a P pickup bass is also split into a pair, with one pickup covering the lower two strings and the other capturing the sound of the higher strings. These two pickups are set up in a staggered form and also can be referred to as a dual coil humbucker setup.
Piezoelectric Pickups
In contrast to magnetic pickups, piezoelectric pickups are most commonly used to amplify the signal of acoustic bass guitars; they can be occasionally found on electric bass guitars as well. Rather than reading the signal through the air as the magnetic pickup does, piezoelectric bass pickups sense the vibration of the string through contact with the string at the bridge.
Although this kind of pickup has the advantage of completely dodging some of the hum and buzz which sometimes occurs when using magnetic pickups, the downside is they sometimes sound thin and weak compared to magnetic counterparts. To work around this factor, some bass guitar setups combine both magnetic and piezoelectric pickups in an effort to deliver a sound that captures the best of both worlds.
