Recommendation for economical pick up replacement

[gatorbrit]

I've have this cheap Dean Bass. Its a nice looking instrument and plays fine, but I think the pickup is really underpowered.

I play it through a Line 6 Flextone amp set to the Fender Bassman setting. I have to crank the amp to about 5/10 to get a sound close to the sound of a guitar with the amp set at 1. So I think the pickup is just crappy.

Any recommendations for replacements? I don't want to put too much into this bass as it obviously isn't very expensive.

Cheers

[progrmr]

What are they - soapbar pickups? I had a cheapie dean as my first bass. Good player IMO.

You can check talkbass.com too - that's THE place for bass info online (hope I'm not violating TOS by recommending this site, mods delete if I'm out of line)

[duhvoodooman***]

http://store.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Ba...kups_c_97.html

[marnold***]

I play it through a Line 6 Flextone amp set to the Fender Bassman setting. I have to crank the amp to about 5/10 to get a sound close to the sound of a guitar with the amp set at 1. So I think the pickup is just crappy.

Don't be so sure. That's kind of the nature of a bass. You have to have a LOT more power to amplify a bass decently. My 20W guitar amph could handle a band situation. My 20W bass amph could probably stand up against a couple of acoustics, but that'd be about it. My son sometimes plugs into my bass amph when we're playing together. I have to remember to turn it down first. If it stays on my normal bass playing levels, it'll blow us into next Tuesday.

[Commodore 64***]

http://www.azguitarparts.com/pickups.html

He's got a few bass PUPs there. 24 bucks a piece, doesn't get much cheaper than that. I just installed a Desert Dog Tele Rails Bridge this morning. I haven't had a tone of time to test it yet, and I think PUPs are so subjective. One thing I will say is that it is amazingly crisp when I stomp on a dirt pedal.

[gatorbrit]

Don't be so sure. That's kind of the nature of a bass. You have to have a LOT more power to amplify a bass decently. My 20W guitar amph could handle a band situation. My 20W bass amph could probably stand up against a couple of acoustics, but that'd be about it. My son sometimes plugs into my bass amph when we're playing together. I have to remember to turn it down first. If it stays on my normal bass playing levels, it'll blow us into next Tuesday.

That sounds like my situation. I don't really play bass, and I don't know much about it. I just have one for when I practice with friends and one us of wants to play it.

I guess what I need to do is a side by side with another bass guitar so I can figure out whether or not there is a problem.

Also it didn't occur to me earlier, but I wonder if I shouldn't up the bass setting on the amp.

[Commodore 64***]

I could be wrong, but part of your problem might be that you are playing a bass through a guitar amp.

[NWBasser]

I could be wrong, but part of your problem might be that you are playing a bass through a guitar amp.

A great point, and no, I don't think you're at all wrong!

The stock Dean pup's aren't so great, but I think the amp is the bigger factor here. You'll get much better results with an actual bass amph with enough power.

If money is a big consideration, then the old Peavey bass combos can be quite cheap and are usually fairly loud. Neary bulletproof too.

Also, consider that you can easily damage the speaker playing a bass through a guitar amp.

[Commodore 64***]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic...67-i1383305.gc

GC puts these on sale relatively often. I got one for $99 last year.

[NWBasser]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic...67-i1383305.gc

GC puts these on sale relatively often. I got one for $99 last year.

I agree with that one. I played through a friend's B100 and thought it sounded pretty good. Lots of bang for the buck on those.

I don't see many used ones around. Maybe nobody wants to part with them.

[marnold***]

As you can see from my sig, I too have a B20. Best bang-for-buck that I found!

[gatorbrit]

As you can see from my sig, I too have a B20. Best bang-for-buck that I found!

I am wondering whether, as a poster points out above, I really need a bass amp. I don't want to splurge too much, but would the B20 keep up with a drummer?

Cheers.

[NWBasser]

I am wondering whether, as a poster points out above, I really need a bass amp. I don't want to splurge too much, but would the B20 keep up with a drummer?

Cheers.

Yes and no. Yes, you do need a bass amp and no, a B20 will not keep up with a drummer.

If you try to keep up with a drummer using a guitar amp, you can expect to be replacing some speakers. Guitar speaker don't have excursion ability to handle bass notes and will likely fail.

For playing with a drummer, I'd suggest a minimum of 300 watts and at least one 15-inch speaker or a pair of 10s. A speaker output to add a cabinet is also a very good feature for a bass amp.

It's the nature of the beast for bass amplification that you'll need both power and speaker area to be heard. Those things aren't always cheap, but if you shop the used market carefully, you might find something that's within your budget.

Alternatively, you could spend your money on new drivers for the guitar amp as they blow.

[marnold***]

Unless your drummer has the lightest touch in the history of the world, the B20 won't be able to keep up. I kept up with a bluegrass band back in the day with a 50W Peavey, but I was the only electric instrument and the drummer was not a violent player at all. When I was in a rock/metal band, I couldn't be heard over the guitar player, much less the drummer.

[gatorbrit]

Unless your drummer has the lightest touch in the history of the world, the B20 won't be able to keep up. I kept up with a bluegrass band back in the day with a 50W Peavey, but I was the only electric instrument and the drummer was not a violent player at all. When I was in a rock/metal band, I couldn't be heard over the guitar player, much less the drummer.

He's loud. Too loud really. I think this is actually my problem, I had unrealistic expectations of what sort of sound I should be getting from the amp.

I'll be on the look out for a louder bass amp then.

[NWBasser]

He's loud. Too loud really. I think this is actually my problem, I had unrealistic expectations of what sort of sound I should be getting from the amp.

I'll be on the look out for a louder bass amp then.

Good luck hunting and please let us know what you end up with!

[Duffy]

First off, I would immediately stop playing the bass thru that guitar amp and make sure no one else does either. If I'm not mistaken that is a real good guitar amp. The bass will destroy that amp. All bovine waste material aside.

You might be able to get a Fender Rumble 350 watt for a reasonable price. Also you might find some used bass amps of good quality out there because a lot of bass amps can't handle five string basses and dudes might be trading in their inadequate four string bass amps for the more demanding five string capable bass amps.

I would definitely not go under 100 watts for your use and would try to get up into the 300 watt range as suggested. A 100 watt bass amp will sound like about a 15 or 30 watt guitar amp in terms of volume. A 300 watt bass amp will sound about as loud as a 75 or 100 watt guitar amp. Since a lot of guitar players use at least a 100 watt amp the bass player needs at least 300 watts. A drummer that lacks dynamism and control and is just a "slammer" will drownd out even a 100 watt guitar or 300 watt bass amp.

What you want is an amp that can "drownd" out that slammer drummer and have him frantically waving you to turn down your volume. This will give you a great sense of satisfaction and always provide you with the power to turn up and overpower him when he starts getting too loud. A weak amp will allow that loud slammer to dominate your band without challenge.

I would advise looking around and finding a decent real strong bass amp, especially since you have a slammer drummer to deal with. He probably only knows how to play one way - loud. This is common and I think it is a difficult habit to break.

[gatorbrit]

Duffy - thanks for the excellent advise!!

Yes, the amp is a really nice one - it is actually the very first Flextone series made by Line 6. I reckon in 30 years it'll be vintage!!!!

I'll definitely stop using it until I can get a bass amp.

As for the drummer - he's a far better musician than me, but I think he likes to let out his pent up stress on the drums.

Anyhow, thanks again.

Rich

[Eric***]

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic...67-i1383305.gc

GC puts these on sale relatively often. I got one for $99 last year.

I just bought one off Craigslist for $60 today. I'm interested to get it home and give it a whirl.