Now You Need to Choose Your Bass Pickup!
Although we can get most any pickup configuration for you, we generally recommend the following because they have been proven to work well with our instruments. If you don't see what you want here, please feel free to ask, and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes.
For further analysis of the different Seymour Duncan choices, and make a better decision, you can access the Seymour Duncan site here:
Seymour Duncan Basslines
SMB-4a/SMB-5a
1976-voiced humbucker. Recommended for blues, funk, classic rock, southern rock, jam, and hard rock.
Alnico magnets in a Passive pickup configuration bundled with active tone circuits! Although this is not actually an active pickup, this setup does require a 9v battery for the tone circuits. In the case of the SMB-4/5A pickups, the Alnico magnets, together with unique coil windings, have the effect of extending both ends of the frequency spectrum beyond that of their ceramic magnet counterparts. In other words, the SMB-4/5A Alnico version is both warmer on the bottom and more detailed on top. Seymour uses .375” (3/8”) diameter Alnico 4 or 5 rod pole pieces and a winding spec that’s designed to produce the same resonance as the original 1976 StingRay. The SMB-4/5A is available in 4- and 5-string.
4- String Alnico Pickup
5-String Alnico Pickup
SMB-4d/SMB-5d
Hotter pickup. Recommended for classic rock, heavy rock, funk, punk, R&B, and metal.
Ceramic magnets in a Passive pickup configuration bundled with active tone circuits! Although this is not actually an active pickup, this setup does require a 9v battery for the tone circuits. Hotter pickup. Recommended for classic rock, heavy rock, funk, punk, R&B, and metal. This hum-canceling pickup offers a balanced, highly musical tone contour with a richly articulated bottom, lots of midrange, and biting treble. It’s got a nice, mild “bark” without being overly brash, and it’s not at all harsh in the mid-range. The low end is full and strong without being mushy or foggy. complete setup Generally used together with STC-3M3 and -3M4 Tone Circuits for optimal tonal control. Seymour uses .375” (3/8”) diameter Ceramic 4 or 5 rod pole pieces and a winding spec that’s designed to produce the same resonance as the original 1976 StingRay. The SMB-4/5D is available in 4- and 5-string.
4- String Ceramic Pickup
5-String Ceramic Pickup
STK-J2 hot for 4-string jazz setup
(4-String)
STK-J2
Higher output single-coil-sized Stack®. Recommended for blues, classic rock, heavy rock and metal.
This Precision pickup is similar to the Classic Stack, but with increased output and a thicker-sounding mid-range response making it better suited for rock tones.
SJ5-67-70 passive single coils for 5-string jazz setup
(5-String)
SJ5-67/70
Traditional single coil pickup for 5-string. Excellent for country, pop, blues, and classic rock
This pickup captures the tone, feel and articulation of a great ‘62 Jazz Bass. Seymour has adjusted the coil geometry and winding configuration to compensate for the different nature of extended range instruments. It’s now possible to capture the subtle characteristics of traditional “J-tone” all the way down to the low “B.” Calibrated neck and bridge set. Comes in this string spacing: 67 mm neck with 70 mm bridge. For traditionally narrower neck and bridge configurations.
SJ5-70/74 passive single coils for 5-string jazz bass
(5-String)
SJ5-70/74
Traditional single coil pickup for 5-string. Excellent for country, pop, blues, and classic rock
This pickup captures the tone, feel and articulation of a great ‘62 Jazz Bass. Seymour has adjusted the coil geometry and winding configuration to compensate for the different nature of extended range instruments. It’s now possible to capture the subtle characteristics of traditional “J-tone” all the way down to the low “B.” Calibrated neck and bridge set. Comes in this string spacing: 70 mm neck with 74 mm bridge. For traditionally wider neck and bridge configurations.
SPB-2 hot for p-bass setup
(4-String)
SPB-2
Hot pickup that’s perfect for pop, blues, classic rock and heavy rock.
This Precision pickup is Similar to the Vintage in construction, but with extra coil windings for increased output, enhanced low end response, and a fuller sound.
Quarter Pound for p-bass setup
(4-String)
SPB-3
High output, versatile, pickup. Recommended for blues, classic rock, punk, heavy rock, classic metal and nu-metal.
This
Precision pickup is for musicians who want maximum output and extended frequency
range. The quarter-inch diameter pole pieces expand the magnetic field and
extend the frequency ranges for 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 to a single pickup instrument making
this one of the most popular Basslines pickup.
These setups also come with their own tone circuit controls.
STC-2 & STC-3/2- & 3-Band tone circuits™
On board
Tone Circuits add tremendous tonal versatility. Enables the player to add
or subtract EQ at center frequencies voiced specifically for electric bass.
They feature low noise, low distortion and high headroom. Useful for all musical
styles and genres.
Description:
Two or three bands of active EQ, master volume, blend, plus the proprietary
Slap Switch. The lows are deep, clear, and tight. The mids range from ultra-smooth
to punchy and all points in between. The treble control can produce a very
wide, very usable response that is brilliant, yet smooth without any brittleness.
Pulling up on the volume knob engages the proprietary Slap Switch, a special
EQ contour made just for slap-style playing.
See Seymour
Duncan website for frequency response charts.
Use together with Basslines’ pickups.
Includes
the following hardware: high-quality potentiometers on pre-wired harness;
battery clip; stereo jack; and black anodized, knurled, dome-style knobs.
For basses with a single passive pickup. Will not work with 3-coil pickup.
Available
in three- or four-knob versions. Three-knob has: (1) volume / slap, (2) mid-range,
and (3) stacked-concentric bass & treble. Four-knob has: (1) volume /
slap, (2) bass, (3) mid-range, and (4) treble. Special harness options available.
Can use 18 volts for increased headroom.
Specifications:
Tone Circuits™
Power Requirements 9V (up to 36V can be used for increased headroom)
Current Consumption 1.55mA @ 9V (higher current at higher voltages)
Maximum Signal Swing 2.7V @ onset of clip
Gain Unity*
THD <0.01%*
Noise <-95dBV*
Tone Controls Center Frequency Q Range
Bass 20 Hz .67 20 dB
Mid 578 Hz .54 09 dB
Treble 6.6 KHz corner shelving 20 dB
Slap Contour
Bass Boost 83 Hz 1.79 +3 to +9 dB
Midrange Cut 633 KHz 1.12 -3 to -11 dB