Best bass guitar pickups: Change up your low end

Aftermarket pickups are one of the best upgrades you can make, whether it’s on a guitar or bass. With a lot of stock bass pickups, especially in low end models, manufacturers cut corners to keep costs down. 

This doesn’t mean they can’t sound great, but if you try some new bass pickups you’ll be surprised how much it can improve the tone.

Best single-coil bass pickups: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-J Bass Set

There are a few titans of the aftermarket pickups industry, and Seymour Duncan is definitely one of them. This set includes a mix of split-coils and a bridge single-coil that provides an upgraded tone that’s clear, clean, and cuts. Bass guitar is all about the low end, and with these there’s no worry about that – or the sustain..

Quarter-inch diameter poles give an even response, and the magnets offer an extended magnetic field which results in ideal extension across the top and bottom of the instrument’s frequency spectrum.

And if you’re looking to change up your electronics they play very well with multiple types of wiring setups.

Best humbacker active bass pickups: EMG EMG-40DC

Five-string bass guitars have an extended range that needs a unique pickup design to properly translate it. This active ceramic humbucker has active circuitry and the low-noise bassists expect from an active pickup.

All active pickups require an internal preamp, and this model’s pairs with ceramic-loaded and dual-parallel coils brings the clear and articulate sound that put EMG pickups on the map.

The need for an onboard preamp can add a little extra weight to an already heavy instrument that includes an extra string. But for five-string bassists that want to see what an active bass pickup can do there are few – if any – better choices.

Best Custom Shop bass pickups: Fender Custom Shop ‘62 Precision Bass Pickup

Fender created the split-coil pickup with the advent of the Precision Bass. This style of pickup has seen a lot of iterations over the years, but there’s something about the tone and response of 60’s versions that still resonates with players today.

This set is a spot-on reproduction of what made the 60’s P-Bass pickups so famous. Vintage sixties sound comes from doing what Fender did back then. Period-correct materials are what brought the magic back. Flush-mounted pole pieces provide the even string-to-string response every bass player needs, and Alnico V magnets drive the focused and frequency-balanced sound.

This bass pickups set has that smooth and warm tone that’s captured players and listeners for decades. If you’re looking for a classic Fender P-Bass split-coil pickups tone that defined eras of all types of music, this is it.

Best reissue bass pickups: Gibson Thunderbird Bass Pickup Reissue

When Gibson released the Thunderbird bass in 1963 it wasn’t like other bass guitars at the time. The body was neck-through, not bolt-on. But it was the unique style of pickup it used. At the time best known as what gave the Les Paul Jr. and Les Paul Special their iconoclastic sound, it translated to bass guitar well.

Soapbar pickups are unlike any other, and original Thunderbirds were designed with a soapbar ideology in the form of a humbucker. This recreation brings all of the original power and…thunder…of the originals. 

Alnico V magnets, potted design, and low-output sound that doesn’t sacrifice all the cut-through midrange without the feedback and noise that can happen with single-coil pickups.

The only downside are the dimensions. It’s designed to specifically accommodate Gibson and Epiphone Thunderbird basses. That’s not a necessary dealbreaker for bass players that use other models, but it might make it more difficult to retrofit. 

Best acoustic bass pickup: Lace USAB Ultra Slim

This ultra-slim profile acoustic bass guitar pickup measures only 5/16th in height. By designing it to these physical dimensions, Lace Sensor created one of the most versatile bass guitar pickups because it can be used with acoustic and electric bass.

It fits 4-string and 5-string basses and there are multiple ways to mount it, no routing or drilling needed. Surface mounting is possible through wood screws or mar resistant 3M adhesive tape that comes with the pickup.

If you’re looking for a versatile humbucking bass guitar pickup with great response that fits easily and effortlessly onto acoustic and electric bass guitars, Lace Sensor does it best.

FAQ

What types of bass pickups are there?

The main types are split-coil (think Precision bass), single-coil (Jazz bass), and humbuckers. Each offers distinct tonal qualities. Split and single-coil versions have a nice clear sound, while humbuckers are thicker. It’s pretty much the same concept as when it comes to guitar pickups.

Are active bass pickups better than passive?

Active bass pickups provide higher output and onboard EQ flexibility, but they require a power source – usually a battery. Passive pickups offer warmth and vintage character. The best choice depends on the sound you’re chasing.

Can I mix different types of bass pickups?

Yes. A lot of models combine split and single-coil pickups. Experimenting with different combinations of pickup styles is a great way to create more complex tonal options.