Help selecting bass pup configuration

[dNA]

So my home-made replacement body for my ibanez BTB is almost ready for playing. In fact, I have a very talented artist friend from NYC coming to check it out and brainstorm how she might finish it.
But before she can make any final calls on how to paint it, I need to figure out what pickup routes I want to be putting in this baby. The body is ash, and the neck is 5-piece maple/walnut. I can say that when i strung her up for a day, this bass sounded much deeper and less midrangey than the original body did which I was very happy with.

The first and easiest option would be to simply route it like the original and put the stock electronics (bartolini soapbars mk1s) back in. I personally am not thrilled about using the original pickups because I know they're cheap, and I don't know how many options there would be for replacement pickups in the future - these are the biggest size i saw listed anywhere and I don't know if it's a common pickup size. I did like the neck pickup for some things. From what I've read the pre is really where this model falls short. So maybe this isn't a bad idea? and it's free

the other option, which I'm tempted to go with would be MM or MM+J. This would mean routing the body now, and then waiting a while til i have money to invest in electronics later. I'm guessing pickups + pre will run me like $200 minimum.


I want to go active with this bass, because I'm fairly certain my W P/J will cover all my vintage bases. I still want something that'll be able to sound deep and huge, but with a tighter more muscular sound. Something that'll do the sound you hear at the beginning of this song:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crvv47_MTK0[/youtube]

I know the bassist from that band plays a MM, but I don't know what model - or if that really matters. Can I get that kind of sound with soapbar pickups? Obviously I am inclined to go with the option that is both free and offers me immediate playability. Would I just end up kicking myself that i didn't go the MM route right from the get-go? I won't have the tools for a re-route once I move, so if i want to do something down the line, i have to prepare for it now.

what are your guys' thoughts?

 

[AprioriMark]

Man, I have lots of advice, but what it comes down to is how you play.  I have trouble articulating every nuance that I want to on J+J and soapbar pickups.  I like a wider range of dynamic than either of those allow; they're both very compressed.  Now, some people that I love and respect get amazing tones out of those, and I do have a 70s J bass that I pull out when I need that sound, but I feel like I'm playing with kid gloves whenever I do.  My fretless has a stacked 'bucker in a J shape in the neck for this reason.

My advice would be (in order of preference): MM 4.2 bridge, hot J middle  -or-  vintage J bridge, vintage P middle  -or-  keep your existing pickups and get a better pre.  None would be bad options, and it all comes down to what's comfortable between your hands and your ears.

-Mark

 

[tubby.twins]

It does sound vaguely like a "sweet spot" pickup more than a "neck" location.  It could very well be a Music Man bass, but it's been EQ'd so heavily in the studio that it is hard to tell.

That happens a lot.  Roll off the treble and upper mids, boost the mids (~400Hz) a bit, and most basses end up sounding the same in the final mix.  :dontknow:

With respect to your situation, I'd like to point out that different brands and models of "soapbar" shaped bass pickups can have very different tones and sounds.  You're probably going to need to experiment to find out what works best for you.

If you're going to experiment, then you probably want to choose a shape for your pickup route(s) that is easy to interchange.  Right now it is probably going to be easier to find different pickup sounds in the "EMG 40" or "Bart P2" shapes.

I wouldn't recommend routing for MM or J+MM pickups unless you're absolutely sure this is what you want in the long term.  It seems like every pickup maker has their own idea of where to put the little "ears" (mounting tabs) on these types of pickups.  Soapbar routes in a newer standard shape could make things easier for you if you end up swapping later.  And let's be honest - if you usually roll off the treble you'll notice less of a difference between different pickup brands or models.

 

[AprioriMark]

I really don't want to bash soapbars, and TubbyTwins has a myriad of experience with them but I've found the compression issue to be true for all 3 sets I've tried (returning to the Classic Barts after swapping EMG 40Ps and Bart MK1s).  If I build another 5, it will likely be with a MM pickup instead.  Maybe TubbyTwins can lead you in the right direction if these are your cup of tea.  In my limited experience, his suggestion of soapbar pickups was spot-on as far as which would be my fav.

-Mark

 

[dNA]

From the research I've done, my fear is that there's pretty much no replacement pickups on the market that are the same size as these MK1's, save the US-made bartolini's. Which at least sound like they'd be better, but it leaves me with no options.

today as we were working on the body a bit more (trying to fix one more thing that had gone wrong) my dad said he was eager to make another body out of walnut after we finish this one. So i was thinking i should just set this one up with the original electronics and see how it compares - it'd be all the same parts with a different body. A good, controlled experiment in tone-shaping. I even kept the strings from before. Then at least I can see what's different and see how the electronic configuration sounds in a different sounding instrument.

 

[AprioriMark]

Sounds like a plan, Stan!

-Mark

 

[Malta]

From the research I've done, my fear is that there's pretty much no replacement pickups on the market that are the same size as these MK1's, save the US-made bartolini's. Which at least sound like they'd be better, but it leaves me with no options.

today as we were working on the body a bit more (trying to fix one more thing that had gone wrong) my dad said he was eager to make another body out of walnut after we finish this one. So i was thinking i should just set this one up with the original electronics and see how it compares - it'd be all the same parts with a different body. A good, controlled experiment in tone-shaping. I even kept the strings from before. Then at least I can see what's different and see how the electronic configuration sounds in a different sounding instrument.

That's probably your best bet right there...plus I'm curious to see how much of a difference the body alone makes. Any pics?

 

[dNA]

From the research I've done, my fear is that there's pretty much no replacement pickups on the market that are the same size as these MK1's, save the US-made bartolini's. Which at least sound like they'd be better, but it leaves me with no options.

today as we were working on the body a bit more (trying to fix one more thing that had gone wrong) my dad said he was eager to make another body out of walnut after we finish this one. So i was thinking i should just set this one up with the original electronics and see how it compares - it'd be all the same parts with a different body. A good, controlled experiment in tone-shaping. I even kept the strings from before. Then at least I can see what's different and see how the electronic configuration sounds in a different sounding instrument.

That's probably your best bet right there...plus I'm curious to see how much of a difference the body alone makes. Any pics?

I've been camera-less for a while, and I have been lazy about asking my girlfriend to use hers. I never posted pictures of either my W bass or the one i'm building. been overwhelmed with moving preparations and it hasn't been on my priority list. Will try and get picks sooner or later!
also, before we went on to route for the electronics, i attached the neck and bridge to the new body and played it a bit. It was very quiet, but i got to being playable and was actually really happy with how much deeper it sounded. I'm really interested to see how the final product comes out