Rio Grande Bass pickups

[jackthehack]

I've got a bass playing buddy that's been salivating over the Warmoth guitars I've been building and wants me to build him an over-the-top bass. We'll see when he'll be able to settle between a flame or quilt top and a finish - saw CB's BFG Tele and some other custom bass he found on the web and wanted a blue/black flame job, but then decided it wouldn't match his house decor - I'm pretty sure ALL bass players are terminally weird in some way....

At any rate, looking at doing a Jazz bass PU setup, have been so happy with all the Rio Grande guitar PUs I've used so far was thinking about recommending either a Vintage Jbass neck and Muy Grande bridge or a Muy Grande set; any of you bass players on the boards used these?

He plays a wide variety of music and thought the vintage neck/Muy Grande bridge might make for a lot of versatility sound-wise... Peanut gallery?

 

[Shmoopie]

you should ask him, i don't like alnico mags my self, but there good for that vintage sound,
does he prefer jazz pups.
at least ask him what type: j, p. mm soapbar, and what magnets he prefers.
if your thinking about RG, get a pitbull in the neck, and a power bucker in the bridge, and split the power bucker.

thats just one idea.

 

[tfcreative]

For vintage J tones, I personally don't think you can beat Fralins. The vintage thing isn't my cup of tea, but they do seem to have it sewn up.

 

[instagator]

I have three jazz basses with Fralins in them.Love those,however I just finished another Jazz.This one has handwound pickups made by a guy named Curtis Novak.I think they are better than the Fralins...A little cheaper too.Check out his website.Just my humble opinion

 

[willyk]

I've been fitting SDs in all my guitars and most of my basses until the last strat when I used Rio Grandes. Like you Jack I'm very happy with their guitar pickups, especially the tallboy. If that translates across to their bass pickups, and I don't see why not, I reckon they would be excellent. But whichever way you end up going consider a P bass pickup for the neck..........versatility? :headbang1:

 

[Wyliee]

I've got a Muy Grande in my P bass and it has a bit more top and a bit more grunt than a Fralin P we tried in a test bass.  Fralin certainly seems to have the vintage vibe going.  You might want to look at the Rio's if you want a bit more bark.

As another alternative, Warmoth can move the bridge pickup back closer to the bridge in more of a '70s position.  This is done by hand so there is a bit of a charge.  Changing the pickup location can get you a bit different tonality too.

-Eric.

 

[jackthehack]

He's only ever owned two basses, both Fender Jazz Bass; doesn't play a lot but does a wide range of stuff from jazz to R'n'R which is why my first thought was the vintage neck/Muy Grande bridge for versatility....