P Bass content - USA pickups and custom Ki0gon Loom vs Squier pickups and stock loom

[spacecowboy]

So today I received some USA p bass pickups and a Ki0gon loom, I quickly recorded some sound files of the Squier stock pickups and loom before swapping them out and then installed the new pickups and loom and then recorded the same sound files again to A / B the results...

 

My challenge to you fine folk is, can you tell which bass has the stock pups and loom, and which has the "upgraded USA and Ki0gon" let me know in the poll.

 

The run down of the audio track is - 

 

Bass 1 then Bass 2 with tone open

Bass 1 then Bass 2 with tone half

Bass 1 then Bass 2 with tone off

 

and then the same again with open strings and harmonics. 

 

I know which I prefer, but which do you like?

 

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by spacecowboy

[howdenspur]

Think you need to reword the voting questions...? 🙂

[spacecowboy]

I do? 

 

I just want to know which bass you think has the upgrades...? So either Bass 1 is it, or Bass 2 is it, or they just sound the same?

[howdenspur]

Yes, but...they have the same description in the vote form.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

2 minutes ago, howdenspur said:

Yes, but...they have the same description in the vote form.

I think you need to read it again.

[40hz]

The first one is brighter by a gnats b*llock. Otherwise they sound identical to me.

Edited February 7, 2022 by 40hz

[howdenspur]

1 hour ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

I think you need to read it again.

This is what happens when one multi tasks...apologies @spacecowboy!

[Lw.]

Fun - I thought both sounded alright actually but I've voted for the one I thought sounded better (I won't say now). 
Hopefully I like the stock Squier stuff & I can save myself some £££! 

[Lozz196]

I find the first bass sounds slightly brighter. Given that I’d say that was the Squier, but this based upon my own basses where the Squiers have been toppier than their US cousins.

[40hz]

3 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I find the first bass sounds slightly brighter. Given that I’d say that was the Squier, but this based upon my own basses where the Squiers have been toppier than their US cousins.

I second this. Usually the cheaper Fenders have a brighter sound.

[Guest]

Using just the opening 30 seconds, Bass 2 seems to articulate the note more cleanly, has a slightly more crisp attack, than A. But maybe your fingers were just in a different mood once you had done the modding. 

[Sparky Mark]

I've no idea which is which but I prefer no 2. Pity if that's the Squier as the upgrade is a waste of money IMO.

[Velarian]

Bass 2 seemed to have a slightly more pronounced tone roll off so I would say that’s the custom loom. With the tone open there wasn’t much between them. Bass 2 maybe had slightly more clarity.

 

However, I’m thinking it’s hardly worth the effort to upgrade because of the negligible difference.  

[spacecowboy]

Thanks everyone for having a listen and a vote!

 

Bass 1 has the USA pickups and Ki0gon loom and like a few of you I might actually prefer the original Squier stuff! 

 

😆

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, spacecowboy said:

Thanks everyone for having a listen and a vote!

 

Bass 1 has the USA pickups and Ki0gon loom and like a few of you I might actually prefer the original Squier stuff! 

 

😆

I have to say I am surprised by this. Just shows too how letting our ears contribute to making decisions on instruments is something we shouldn`t ignore.

[Velarian]

That’s really interesting and it just goes to confirms what great value the higher end Squiers are. 

[EssentialTension]

Whatever small difference one might possibly detect, it would be unnoticeable in a band situation.

[Lw.]

Interesting. Seems I have expensive ears, ironic given the battering they've taken at gigs over the years! 
I'm sure headphones vs speakers makes a big difference with things like this too. 

 

[Guest]

If the theory is that tone is in the fingers, then your fingers, guided by your ears, tried to the produce the same noise with both set ups.

 

What we need is an in depth interview with your fingers asking them which set up made it easier for them to make the tone your ears were calling for 😬

[neepheid]

Or we could stop trying to describe bass tones like we're wine tasters and just drink the bloody stuff.

 

My metaphor may have got lost somewhere on the way to the wine bottle.

[Bolo]

To my ears 2 has oversaturated lows. 1 sounds tighter and will give less trouble in live and recording situations.

2 would come in to their own in music with dominant overdrive/distortion guitars I think.

1 for funk/soul/jazz/pop. 2 for metal/reggae/grunge.

[acidbass]

I thought number 2 sounded a little thinner, especially on the open notes that were allowed to ring a bit longer.  That said, both tones are cool and I would be happy with either!  I suspect that the Kiogon loom will last longer and be slightly more robust than the Squier stock loom tho - which is definitely a consideration for a gigging bass.

[tauzero]

I thought bass 1 was clearer, bass 2 was a bit more ill-defined and woolly. Based on that, I've guessed that bass 1 is the USA/Ki0gon, as it would be terrible to spend money to make your bass sound worse 😁