RD Standard pickups? How do they sound?

[Lightyear]

Jules and John suggested that I look at the Greatdealz guys for an RD Standard pickgaurd loaded with pickups. 

Are these just G3 single coil pickups or are they totally different?  What do they sound like?

I think $77.00 sounds like a good deal to me - provided that the pickups sound good.

I've pretty much decided that this bass will be maple capped mahogany FWIW.

[uwe]

"Totally different" is perhaps a bit strong - they're reputed to have a Bill Lawrence background too -, but they are stacked humbuckers as opposed to true single coils though they sound (and are intended to sound) single-coilish, nice natural presence and harmonics. They are fine pups - perhaps not adding the most idiosyncratic tone color, but you hear a lot of the bass' natural character. On the RD, I really prefer them to the anodyne humbuckers used in the active Artist circuit - you hear more wood, less pup. I also have one of them implanted as a bridge pup in a modified seventies EB-0 and it sounds swell there, also in combination with the mudbucker, bit like a Ric Higain would, but with a wider magnetic field.



Uwe

[Lightyear]

So, would you put them in a new RD build?  Is it worth it to go "old" or should I try something else?

[uwe]

Frankly? Not a compelling choice. Those pups didn't cry out Gibson and time has moved on. I'd rather consider two EBMM style humbuckers (passive) or - if you want to stay Gibson - the original G-3 setup which has more balls and bite than the RD stacked humbuckers.

[Lightyear]

Kind of what I was thinking - OK, but not fantastic. 

I have to admit that I like the MM Humbucker + single coil setup.  Seems like you have many options when you consider a coil tap on the rear MM humbucker? 

Active is not out of the picture but I'm kind of a passive type.