randythoades

Hi chaps, just wondered if anyone had any experience of changing / replacing mini humbuckers? I use, and love the versatility of, a Parkwood PWH2 hybrid guitar, which is essentially a semi hollow (335type) thinline with 2 Duncan designed mini humbuckers and a Fishman powerbridge for electro acoustic tones. Overall brilliant but the more I use it I am coming to the conclusion that I would prefer a more rounded / balanced tone from the pickups. I know the DD are reasonable for the price pickups but I am not averse to putting higher quality electronics in to get a smoother sound. I find them a bit too powerful and touch brittle on the bridge pickup and a bit woolly on the neck pickup a bit 'modern blues' like. I play jive, jump blues, 50s rock and roll, country. Not really raucous rockabilly but more like Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry,early Elvis, a mix between vamping chords, background melody lines and straight boogie solos . I can get a perfectly good sound from my telecaster but I like the semi look and the Powerbridge functions from the Parkwood. My question is this: has anyone got any experience of replacement mini humbuckers with less aggressive ones, any that would be recommended or avoided? There Seymour Duncan Vintage / Antiquity ones, some Fralin ones or I can get them made Bare Knuckle etc but no where near as much choice as regular pickups. Or maybe is it a reasonable job to change them out for P90's or TV Jones Gretsch pickups? If it were solid construction I would be getting my router and soldering iron out but I am a lot more nervous about it being semi hollow. Thanks in advance

I started out putting black electrical tape across the fingerboard in the right places to give me an idea, as you can imagine at G A and B. After about a month I removed the tape but left a small nub on the side that I can just about see, makes it easier for me to start at the right pitch even though I don't use them once I am going, as I still find it hard to judge the correct pitch straight off.

I have mine No More Nailed to end of fingerboard and trail the output jack down to the tailpiece where it is No More Nailed to the underside. No preamps, no feedback, no rattles. Plug into my pedalboard with tuner and booster and straight into amp.

That is completely ridiculous. I got both of my Aria violin basses imported from the US and including taxes and delivery, they were still under £500 each. Mine were only made between 1969 and 1971 as far as I can tell, so assume the Ibanez roughly the same. Although I agree that you don't see many of these branded as Ibanez in the UK, you do come across plenty of Greco, Antoria, Apollo, National etc very similar for around the £400-500 mark. You could buy a mid 60's Hofner for that money...

An unpopular opinion, but I use a Kent Armstrong magnetic pickup. I get complimented about my sound, no feedback (or very little anyway) and it is just plug and play. I do sometimes use a clean boost pedal to raise the output slightly if I am using a house amp, otherwise I use GK MB200 into single Ashdown 112 cab just for stage volume and then DI to PA. Simple and easy to set up.

And a Bass Collection Nanyo SB401. Meant to be good as well. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-collection-SGC-Nanyo-SB401-made-in-japan-bass-guitar-/141871310232?hash=item2108306598:g:dC0AAOSwwPhWjpkp"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-collection-SGC-Nanyo-SB401-made-in-japan-bass-guitar-/141871310232?hash=item2108306598:g:dC0AAOSwwPhWjpkp[/url]

A nice looking Westone. I believe that the Concord was medium scale too. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-WESTONE-CONCORD-BASS-1-bass-guitar-JAPAN-/371528223009?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-WESTONE-CONCORD-BASS-1-bass-guitar-JAPAN-/371528223009?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276[/url]

Yamaha BB1600 here too. Looks good. Never played a Yam but supposed to be really nice. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1600-MIJ-Made-in-Japan-Vintage-Bass-Guitar-/331750965843?hash=item4d3de60253:g:WWUAAOSwLN5WkjfD"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1600-MIJ-Made-in-Japan-Vintage-Bass-Guitar-/331750965843?hash=item4d3de60253:g:WWUAAOSwLN5WkjfD[/url]

I play pop and rock covers quite happily with a GK MB200 running into a single 8ohm 2x12 cab or sometimes I use Hartke HA350 which is 'double' the power, Idon't notice any difference in volume generated. Volume knob never needs goes over half way usually.

Great Thread. This is something I have considered for my Bassix EUB. Glad to know that I am not alone. I shall be stealing some of these ideas. I am all motivated again...

Just heard this on the radio. So sad. I was not a particular fan of the music but can appreciate the innovator in him. What a sad time, Bowie and Lemmy RIP

In comparison to some of the posts, mine relatively low key. Best setup from days of old, Aria TSB350 into Peavey Firebass into Ashdown 2x12 Superfly cab. Sounded brilliant and not TOO heavy. Took a break from playing and sold it all. Have rebought an Aria TSB30 but I have moved on. Very happy with my current sound. Violin bass into Hartke HA3500 into ashdown classic VS212 cab. Cab a bit heavy for stairs etc but sounds great.

Although I use flatwounds now, I also sweat a heck of a lot when playing. I found my strings used to go rusty very quickly. After trying several brands, I found that he D'addario Nickel round wounds to be the best for me. I now use D'addario Chromes flatound or Tapewound strings and find I can get about a year out of a set (although I don't gig that often I do rehearse twice a week)

Completely ridiculous Aria FB series: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-ARIA-PRO-II-2-series-FB-bass-guitar-pro-defretted-schwarz-japan-/301817500762?hash=item4645b9945a:g:TNkAAOSwHQ9WZAEz"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-ARIA-PRO-II-2-series-FB-bass-guitar-pro-defretted-schwarz-japan-/301817500762?hash=item4645b9945a:g:TNkAAOSwHQ9WZAEz[/url] As far as I know they were a low to mid level series and certainly not above SB1000 territory, especially with the defret. 2 hopes. Bob Hope and No Hope.

I always thought that the bass players of the bands I liked looked cooler than everyone else... Lemmy, Gene Simmons, Duff McKagen. I always found myself gravitating towards those sounds and harmonies, vocal and instrumentation. I did do the guitar thing though and played lead guitar in heavy rock bands for years but still played bass on and off in bands.Then at one jam night with a load of muso friends, was the only half decent bass player in amongst 20 or so guitarists so managed to play all night instead of taking turns. Really enjoyed it an realised there could be mileage in doing it again. Quit my band and went back to bass properly after a 15 year break and not looked back. Using my guitar knowledge too helps me pre-empt what the guitarist will play and adjust accordingly which is always appreciated by other band members.

Maya P Bass [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EARLY-70s-MAYA-PRECISION-BASS-FUJIGEN-JAPAN-LAWSUIT-EL-MAYA-JOODEE-ANTORIA-/311498544109?hash=item4886c293ed:g:zpsAAOSwv-NWYNbL"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EARLY-70s-MAYA-PRECISION-BASS-FUJIGEN-JAPAN-LAWSUIT-EL-MAYA-JOODEE-ANTORIA-/311498544109?hash=item4886c293ed:g:zpsAAOSwv-NWYNbL[/url] Very nice looking but overpriced methinks

Thanks Happy Jack, I love these old semi basses. Looks like same hardware as my Aria violins, I will check tonight, but if they are the same it worth the price just for the replacement parts if the bass itself didn't play so well. I think would have to paint it or at least re-varnish it though, looks like someone done it at the same time as painting their fence.

I use TC Electronic Spark booster, really nice clean booster with EQ so you can boost whatever you like. I use it to boost the output of my upright bass and give it an extra touch of bass with a hint of treble roll off.

Don't look at the light! Don't look at the light! I can't help it... it's so beautiful.... fffzzzz..

You rotter! Am watching this one too though... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331708835378?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331708835378?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url]

Thanks for that Jon. I am glad I didn't see it actually. My wife starting to have a problem with too many guitars in the house now...! I have given up my music room as a new playroom for the children so they are all in the shared office. She was astounded how many I had managed to squirrel away in such a small space and for some reason wasn't overly impressed. I don't take the same opinion on her collections of shoes or wrapping paper...

This is the one I want so badly, but with the import duties, just too expensive... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-ARIA-5120-Semi-Hollow-Body-Electric-Bass-Guitar-ES335-RARE-1960s-Beatles-/181929874443?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-ARIA-5120-Semi-Hollow-Body-Electric-Bass-Guitar-ES335-RARE-1960s-Beatles-/181929874443?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276[/url]

Aria CSB 300 here. Very optimistic pricing I think. I would normally expect these to go for £150-180. This was the base model, good but not perfect condition. I love these basses but even so, not really an investment at this price. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-1981-ARIA-PRO-II-CSB-300-CARDINAL-SERIES-BASS-JAPANESE-MATSUMOKU-/171998417266?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-1981-ARIA-PRO-II-CSB-300-CARDINAL-SERIES-BASS-JAPANESE-MATSUMOKU-/171998417266?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276[/url]

I tried an RG570 off ebay for £320 and it was generally good, but tremolo was pretty worn. You can get still get the bits for them as they still are very popular. Mine had the obligatory knocks and chips out of the pointy horns but otherwise a great shredder. But in the end, the frustration in coping with the floating trem reminded me why swapped to a telecaster... They also do several fixed bridge models now which I do lust after... the new models have varying degrees of love/hate but I have had a recent ART Ibby (mid range LP shape) and it was very well made indeed but I didn't really get on with it.

Is some of it just down to the fact that manufacturers need us to buy new gear and therefore change their emphasis on products?. Thus, 100-200w amps are now classed as practice amps, whereas 800w+ are classed as Pro? No one wants to turn up to an audition with a 'practice amp' so we are conditioned to buy bigger than we need. Kind of like with cars or motorbikes... no one actually needs a 2.5 litre v8 engine in the UK, a 0.6 litre Smart car or 1 litre Micra will easily go faster than the legal speed limit, and yet people believe that they need a big executive car or a 4x4 in order to lead the life they aspire to. The power of advertising is a wonderful thing!