Learn the tonal differences between a few of our most popular Passive P-Bass Pickups from Seymour Duncan.

The P-Bass has defined recorded and live music since its inception, and the Vintage P-Bass pickup nails all the things we love about that distinctive tone. You will get just the right balance of authoritative thump and clear articulation for an authentic P-Bass feel. Our Vintage P-Bass pickup uses hand ground Alnico 5 rod magnets, and a vintage coil wind to deliver all of the bold, smooth tone of the late 50s Precision Bass. This pickup is a drop-in replacement for any American Standard Precision bass.

The SPB-2 is a hot-rodded split-coil P-Bass pickup with added warmth and punch to give you a bigger, meaner tone than the Vintage model. If you are a fan of P-bass tone but need a little more push, the Hot P-Bass pickup gives you all the tonal and output burst you need. Built similarly to our Vintage model, the Hot for P-Bass uses a custom high-output coil winding for increased low-end response and a fuller sound. What exactly does that mean? Basically your P-Bass just got a whole lot bigger. Its aggressive attack makes it a great pickup for heavier musical styles. This pickup is a drop-in replacement for any American Standard Precision Bass.

The SPB-3’s large ¼” diameter Alnico 5 rod magnets and a high-output coil wind deliver the most tone and attitude you could ever want in a high-output P-Bass pickup. There’s a reason this is our most popular Bass pickup: massive tone. The QP has a fat, punchy tone that pushes P-bass pickups past previous models with design and frequency improvements. The quarter-inch diameter pole pieces expand the magnetic field and extend the frequency ranges for a fat, full, punchy sound with tremendous mid-range presence and maximum output.

Though often used for heavy rock tones, this pickup gives amazing tonal versatility, making it a favorite across the board in live and studio settings. This pickup is a drop-in replacement for any American Standard Precision Bass and is available in 4 and 5-string configurations.

When metal’s most legendary P-Bass player reaches out for a medium output P-Bass pickup that is both detailed and powerful, you accept the challenge. Originally developed in our Custom Shop for Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, this medium-output P-Bass pickup is special for a few critical reasons. Working closely with Steve, we crafted a P-bass pickup with a low-mid boost that adds punch and body while maintaining a crisp and clear high-end attack. This design uses hand-ground Alnico 5 rod magnets and a special vintage-hot custom wind of 13k Ohms to achieve its uniquely aggressive bite.

“I was having some problems with the original pickups in my bass and Seymour Duncan said they could make pickups that did what I needed – and they did!” Steve said.

We are honored to be working with such a legend.

The Antiquity P-Bass pickup is a vintage-accurate reproduction of a ’57 P-Bass pickup, complete with an aged cover and brass bottom plate. A faithful reproduction of Leo Fender’s 1957 dual-coil pickup design, the Antiquity for P-Bass delivers that warm and woody tone, with a slightly softer treble response. You will hear all of the familiar body and depth of a P-Bass, but with the smooth mellowing of our custom aging process.

Hand made in our Custom Shop, the Antiquity for P-Bass uses hand-fabricated forbon bobbins, plain enamel mag wire, hand-ground sand-cast Alnico II magnets, brass bottom plate, and waxed cloth pushback wire. Each is lacquered and potted in lamp black paraffin wax like the originals.

The Antiquity II P-Bass pickup provides that quintessential early ‘60s P-Bass tone that laid down the soundtrack of a generation from Motown to the coasts. Whether you’re upgrading your new instrument or you’re restoring a vintage axe, make your Precision Bass sound the way it was intended to with our Antiquity II P-Bass pickup. The seasoned Alnico 5 rod magnets and custom wind ensure the right balance of warm growl and articulate click perfect for classic rock, surf, and staple R&B rhythm tones.

Hand made in our Custom Shop, the Antiquity II for P-Bass uses hand-fabricated forbon bobbins, plain enamel mag wire, hand-ground sand-cast Alnico V magnets, brass bottom plate, and waxed cloth pushback wire. Each is lacquered and potted in lamp black paraffin wax like the originals.

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