Cieran Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 (edited) Not sure if this is the right place for this topic but here goes... I am looking for a direct replacement (with as little modding as possible) for my TV Jones Thunder'Tron which I currently have in my Gretsch G2202. As far as I can tell the only likely candidates that are passive and are the same dimensions as a standard guitar humbucker are: - Rio Grande Pitbull (14k) $100+ - EMG-SEHB Select Bass (8.2k) $25+ Does anyone have any experience with either of these pickups? I am ideally after as close to a p-bass sound as possible. Or does anyone know of any other candidates other than these two? Many thanks Edited June 25, 2010 by Cieran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Bill Lawrence does humbucker-sized bass pups - twin rails. They are very good, but I can't remember the designation. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 The EMG-HB is a split rail humbucker in a P-like configuration. Can't speak specifically about the HZ/Select passive versions, but I have the active HBs in my Epiphone Les Paul bass, just slotted right in. I think the Schaller Bassbucker is guitar humbucker sized, check the excellent techy info on the Schaller site: [url="http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humbucker.htm"]http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humbucker.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cieran Posted June 26, 2010 Author Share Posted June 26, 2010 (edited) [quote name='neepheid' post='878106' date='Jun 26 2010, 12:59 PM']The EMG-HB is a split rail humbucker in a P-like configuration. Can't speak specifically about the HZ/Select passive versions, but I have the active HBs in my Epiphone Les Paul bass, just slotted right in. I think the Schaller Bassbucker is guitar humbucker sized, check the excellent techy info on the Schaller site: [url="http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humbucker.htm"]http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humbucker.htm[/url][/quote] Thanks for the info guys. Wasn't even aware of the Schaller humbucker - have also come across the DiMarzio Model One & model G, as well as the Seymour Duncan Hawkbucker, which are all guitar sized humbuckers. The Schaller seems the best as far as I am concerned - have used Schaller gear before and from my experience it is quality made. Am I right in thinking the Schaller will be very p-bass sounding? Also do you think it will make much of a difference over the TV Jones Thunder'Tron which is also a guitar sized humbucker? I am fairly new to the world of pickups and would rather not spend unnecessary money on getting a new one if it is not going to make that much difference. The Thunder'Tron specs are: DC resistance - 4.8k, Inductance - 2.05 H, Pole to Pole .676", Alnico magnets (these figures mean nothing to me but thought someone else might understand them!) I have only been playing bass for just under a year and the players that originally inspired me were JJ Burnel/ Stranglers, Bruce Foxton/ Jam, Paul Simonon/ Clash - I really dig that p-bass/ rick sound with Rotosound strings. However I know this information now but didn't when I orignally purchased my short-scale Gretsch G2202. It has been a really steep learning curve with all of this and so far I have swapped pickups, replaced/ soldered the electronics and given it a whole new paint job all by myself. I have also since gone on to buy a cheap squier p-bass. So basically I don't know whether I should leave my Gretsch/Thunder'Tron bass as it is for a nice deep, boomy sound and then use my squier p-bass when i need a typical p-bass sound or whether I should try to make my Gretsch sound more p-bass like which will essentially give me 2 guitars with a similar sound and thus limit the range of sounds/ styles I can get with the 2 of them. Thanks once again for the info.... Edited June 26, 2010 by Cieran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 The EMG HB is basically the EMG P pickup squashed into a guitar humbucker sized case - yeah, they sound pretty good although it is an active pickup so may sound a little too harsh or bright in comparison to your TV Jones. The DiMarzio Model 1 has the narrow spacing you need but is not a guitar humbucker size or shape so won't fit your Gretsch. It's designed to drop into a Gibson Mudbucker neck position so won't tick any of your boxes. The Squier P will give you all the P growl you'd need and if you've got a nice TV pickup in your Gretsch already why not spend your hard earned on a DiMarzio/Wizard/Seymour Duncan/Lollar pickup for your Squier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cieran Posted June 28, 2010 Author Share Posted June 28, 2010 [quote name='henry norton' post='879634' date='Jun 28 2010, 10:20 AM']The EMG HB is basically the EMG P pickup squashed into a guitar humbucker sized case - yeah, they sound pretty good although it is an active pickup so may sound a little too harsh or bright in comparison to your TV Jones. The DiMarzio Model 1 has the narrow spacing you need but is not a guitar humbucker size or shape so won't fit your Gretsch. It's designed to drop into a Gibson Mudbucker neck position so won't tick any of your boxes. The Squier P will give you all the P growl you'd need and if you've got a nice TV pickup in your Gretsch already why not spend your hard earned on a DiMarzio/Wizard/Seymour Duncan/Lollar pickup for your Squier?[/quote] Thanks for the info Henry. After weighing it up I think I will do as you suggested and stick with the Thunder'Tron - that way I have a larger range of sounds available from both basses. Next on the agenda is saving enough money to get myself a Jaguar Bass VI............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Cieran' post='880403' date='Jun 28 2010, 10:55 PM']Thanks for the info Henry. After weighing it up I think I will do as you suggested and stick with the Thunder'Tron - that way I have a larger range of sounds available from both basses. Next on the agenda is saving enough money to get myself a Jaguar Bass VI............... [/quote] No probs - save hard mate, Bass VIs ain't cheap Edited June 29, 2010 by henry norton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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