RickenbackerBassPlayer

I was just wondering. If I were to want to switch out my pickups on my Fender Precision Bass, can I only get them from Fender? How do I know they will work/fit in my bass.

I know nothing about pickups, so thanks if you can help.

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"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

 

Jody LeCompte

No, you don't have to buy them from Fender. It would make finding a pair that you know for a fact will fit easier, but it would vastly limit your options. If the pickups don't fit into the pickup cavity then your only option to use them is routing the body. Which is a lot harder and more time consuming than soldering a few wires and screwing in some screws.

Pickup size depends on the number of strings on the bass, string spacing, etc, etc. But they all conform to a set of shapes. For instance, the one pickup you see in the back of a stingray is a Musicman or MM pickup. Your bass has P-style pickups whereas a Fender jazz would have J-style pickups. My warwick has J-styles, but my Peavey has humbucking soapbars. You would want to find another P style pickup for a 4 string bass. And most pickup manufactures will tell you which bass make/models can use which pickups.

So right from the get go, a few you can check out would be:
Basslines SPB-3 quarter-pound P Bass Pickups - $64.99
EMG EMG-P Active P-Bass Pickup - $105.00
DiMarzio Model P DP122 Replacement Pickup for Fender P Bass - $59.99
Basslines APB-2 Lightnin' Rods Active Replacement Pickup for Fender P Bass - $108.95

What made you start thinking about a pickup swap, not satisified with the basses natural tone, or just looking to switch it up a bit?

RickenbackerBassPlayer

Well, I really just wanted to know. So thank you very much.

I may switch them out in the future. I just heard that pickups are usually better when you get a brand that really specializes in them instead of the ones that come with the bass.

Thank you.

__________________
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven

sgtwatts

Most precision split style pickups will fit almost any bass with the cut for it. Very few five strings are a p-bass. I would get a set of Bartolini's to put on since the cost of a precision from them isn't very expensive and high in quality.

Are you having any problems with the split that's in it now?

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Ibanez soundgear LTD Bass Cherry Blossom Pickguard
Gerry Willis five string fretless

RickenbackerBassPlayer

No problems now, just wanted to know for future reference. Thanks.

__________________
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." - Ludwig Van Beethoven