The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Lightyear on January 16, 2008, 07:07:20 PM
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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.
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"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.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/DCP_0019.jpg)
Uwe
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So, would you put them in a new RD build? Is it worth it to go "old" or should I try something else?
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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.
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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.