Deedee

I opt for for a mixture of the two. A lightweight Barefaced Super 12 gives me all the power and thump I need in a relatively small package. I pair it with either a Trace 250SMX head (12/13 ish kgs) or my heavyweight Trace Hexavalve (lots of kgs). Either way, the sound is awesome 😉

Well I had the opportunity to crank up the volume and try the bass out at rehearsal last night and very nice it sounded too. It gave that classic P tone perfectly, but did admittedly become a little lost in the mix. After a bit of amp tweaking things improved a lot and then finally by adding a bit of bite with my VT Bass pedal it sounded immense. So, decisions, decisions. Do I stick with the current pickup combined with the pedal etc, or do I try an alternative pickup which may still need a bit of external assistance to cut through 🤔 Sod it - Custom Shop '62 pick up in its way 😀

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1463430151' post='3051340'] Slightly off topic but Steve changes his flats after every gig to keep sounding brightish. Which is a bit missing the point if you ask me with flats but hey ho, if you are getting them gratis then why not. [/quote] That's a very good point 😂

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1463327047' post='3050494'] They weren't dead, that's what flats are like... Seriously, flats are a big part of the Steve Harris sound - if you're still not happy with it try a new set of flats & it might make all the difference. [/quote] Haha, seriously they were dead. If Mr Harris himself had tried ringing off the intro to Hallowed Be Thy Name, it would've sounded like some kind of morse code! 😂 Just to clarify regarding the pickups, I'm not looking to try to 100% mimic the Steve Harris sound, in my opinion there are far too many variables (I.e. style, amps, etc) for anybody to do that and I gave up any aspirations of being in a Maiden tribute band a very long time ago. However, I've always liked the aesthetics and the feel of these basses - the necks in my opinion are awesome. I'm basically enquiring what others opinions are on making a very solid Fender P sound as good as it can - to my ears at least.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1463309939' post='3050314'] I found the SPB1 to be a little scooped. Nice sounding pickup but really had to push mids on it to get what I wanted, so sold it. My current fave is the 62 Custom Shop. Much better balance across the whole tone spectrum - imo of course. [/quote] Cheers Lozz. I did love the pick up in the black 2010 that you had, so if these latest Custom Shop models are an improvement on those they should sound awesome.

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1463303125' post='3050232'] I recently sold my SH sig (same as yours, a 2009 model) and I had retro fitted the SPB-4 (it had the SPB-1 as standard), I thought the SPB-4 was a MUCH better pickup, better balanced in the mids / highs (the SPB-1 sounds more scooped to my ears), but still very strong and articulate. My bass went to a lovely chap called Peter (username SH73 on here), perhaps drop him a line and see what he thinks, he's had it a while now and was also having the pickup dilemma...... [/quote] I'll do that, thanks

Well the bass has arrived and very nice it is too. Lovely chunky, fat neck, great balance and of course the blue sparkle and chrome scratch plate that I love. I've swapped the strings over to rounds as the flats that were on we're dead (the E was particularly lifeless). The jury's still out on the SPB1 that's currently fitted as I've only played it through my practice amp. I think I'm possibly leaning towards a Fender '62 Custom Shop as I've heard such good things about them. I'll keep you posted ;-)

Just bought a Steve Harris Precision from Eamon. Bass is as described, was well packaged and arrived within 4 days of payment being made. Trade with confidence. Many thanks

[quote name='goonieman' timestamp='1462803172' post='3045741'] Came home from work looking forward to playing my lovely Sterling SB14, delivered by a certain courier company. ...turned out to be a chrome heated towel rack / radiator. New Radiator Day. Can't figure out where or how to plug it in, but it sure doesn't look like the SB14 I ordered. Courier co. have no idea what's going on. Good times. TBC... [/quote] Haha 😂 That's brilliant (nervous laughter) But on a serious note, I hope it turns up soon. I've got a bass in transit to me as we speak 😳

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1462830596' post='3046159'] The chrome scratch plate model is a more recent one. have a look at post #9 on this thread: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/60332-original-steve-harris-fender-p-bass-now-sold/ That's the original Steve Harris signature model. [/quote] Ah! Every day's a school day. Oh well, they all look gorgeous to me and I do like a bit of weight to my basses. What I'm really interested in are the differences in sound/tone between the QP, SPB-1and the SPB4

It's certainly the blue one, but I thought they all had the chrome scratch plate, badass II bridge etc. I think you're right though, fitted with a SD Quarter Pounder

Hi all I finally have a 2009 Steve Harris Precision winging its way to me. It had to be the blue one for me as that was the one I remember watching Steve play (and I couldn't bring myself to buy a bass with a club badge on it let alone a West Ham badge). My question is, what are the main pros/cons between the pick up types used on the two models? I've read that the later pick up (SPB-4 ?) is a worthy upgrade for the mk1 models.

I used mine the other night at a gig for the first time in a few weeks. It really does cut through amazingly well. I'm usually a Stingray man through and through, but these have such a good, consistent tone across all 4 strings that I'm struggling for a reason not to use this as my main gigging bass. Although I have also got a Steve Harris P on its way 🙄