I'm looking to build a 4-stringer soon, and my past experiences building basses with the Duncan Alnico Musicman pickup has cemented that as what I want for the bridge pickup. But I'm trying to think of a good neck pickup. I want it to be noiseless, first off. The body will likely be walnut (rw top) with a wenge/rw neck.
My going assumption is to do a noiseless J pickup, but I'm not sure which one, and whether that is the best fit for me. My main bass is a Rickenbacker and I go for bright, middy tones...while this bass will sound significantly more modern, I want it to still have some "character". I vetoed another MM in the neck since I never much loved the sound of that in my previous builds that used two Duncan MMs.
So, I could do a Bill Lawrence J45, a Dimarzio (Model J, Ultra Jazz, "Area J"), a Duncan Stack, or if I went completely crazy, a split P pickup. I know there are a lot of great pickups out there in addition, but I'd like to keep the cost down if possible...$80 or less for the neck pickup.
Anyone have any good selections for a humcancelling pickup with character and good highs that might remind me a bit of a Rickenbacker sound?
My going assumption is to do a noiseless J pickup, but I'm not sure which one, and whether that is the best fit for me. My main bass is a Rickenbacker and I go for bright, middy tones...while this bass will sound significantly more modern, I want it to still have some "character". I vetoed another MM in the neck since I never much loved the sound of that in my previous builds that used two Duncan MMs.
So, I could do a Bill Lawrence J45, a Dimarzio (Model J, Ultra Jazz, "Area J"), a Duncan Stack, or if I went completely crazy, a split P pickup. I know there are a lot of great pickups out there in addition, but I'd like to keep the cost down if possible...$80 or less for the neck pickup.
Anyone have any good selections for a humcancelling pickup with character and good highs that might remind me a bit of a Rickenbacker sound?