Bass Pickups

The Bartolini "Classic Bass" pickups are passive designs that feature an extended, resonant frequency range. They offer more air and definition at the top while maintaining lows and low mids. The "Classic Bass" series pickups come in 4, 5 and 6 string J Bass (jazz bass) configurations. Bartolini also offers their "Original" series in 4-7 string configurations. These are older passive jazz bass pickup designs.

EMG offers four distinct varieties of bass guitar pickups. Their active pickups come in P, PJ, J (jazz), HB, 4 string, 5 string, 6 string, Custom Shop and MM models. EMG also offers their X-Series of bass pickups that include P, PJ, J (jazz), 4 string, 5 string and 6 string models. The EMG Dual-Mode bass pickups include 4, 5 and 6 string models. Finally, EMG offers over a half dozen models of their Passive HZ Series of pickups. These are dual coil design.

Seymour Duncan makes a wide variety of bass guitar pickups. There are too many to mention here but a few of the designs they manufacture in their Basslines Series include 4 string for Rickenbacker 4000-Series, 4/5 string Passive Phase II Soapbar, 4/5 string for Music Man (3-coil alnico), 5 string Stack for Jazz Bass, and Active for 5 string Jazz Bass. There are so many more pickups to choose from.

Fender offers Custom Jazz Bass pickups, Vintage Jazz Bass pickups, and Precision Bass pickups.

Demarzio bass pickups come in two models; 5 String and Standard. The 5 string bass pickup models are available in Area J and Ultra Jazz designs. The Area J bass guitar pickups offer vintage warmth, sustain and clarity. The Ultra Jazz design offers a traditional Fender Jazz Bass sound. The Standard models of bass pickups come in Area J, DiMarzio Model J, DiMarzio Model P, Model One, Split P, Ultra Jazz and Will Power designs.

Aero builds a huge variety of bass guitar pickups. All are hand wound and built to order. The J Bass 4 (jazz) comes in Type 1 - Standard, Type 2, Type 3 - Alnico 2, Type 4, Type 4A, and a Mexican J Bass 4 replacement. Aero also offers J Bass 5 and J Bass 6 pickups for jazz players. Other pickup styles available include an SCPB 4, a MusicMaster 4, a Mustang 4, a PJ (P style pickup), D and E Series pickups, C and G Series, H and K Series, Music Man (Stingray), M and P Series, Q Series, and Fodera replacement pickups.

Shadow Electronics manufactures bass guitar pickups. Their E-Bass pickups come in JB type magnetic or split magnetic configurations. Shadow offers upright models as well in double side bridge, single side bridge and single disc transducer models. Their SH SB 2 is a twin disc transducer, while their bridge bass pickups come in 4 or 5 string configurations with a pickup and a saddle that fits an 8 mm slot.

Lollar offers a variety of bass guitar pickups. The Jazz Style pickup comes in both neck and bridge models and provides superior tone, a full sound, and a smooth response. The Precision Style pickup is patterned after the original split coil humbucking bass pickup wound to early 60’s specs. The Original P-Pass Single Reproduction Pickup is a reproduction of the 50's single coil style with extended frequency response. Lollar also offers Thunderbird Style bass pickups.

The Suhr Classic J Vintage & Humphrey Bass Pickup is designed for Classic J basses and other basses in its design class, with an accent on retaining the woody acoustic quality of the instrument. The Classic J Vintage pickups are true to the authentic designs of the early 60's. The stacked Humphrey pickups are designed to be used with the active Classic J onboard 2-band bass preamp.

Schatten offers their RB Series and Rock-A-Billy upright bass pickups. Easy to install, non-invasive and intelligently designed, the RB series is available in both passive and active formats. The Passive pickups work well when plugged directly into a bass amp. The Active pickups are excellent for plugging into P.A. systems or outboard preamp/DI units.

Joe Barden J-Style bass pickups were designed to maintain authentic Jazz Bass tone and character, with an extended frequency response and the articulation that characterizes all Joe Barden pickups. Barden P-Style bass guitar pickups are designed for 4 string instruments and use two single coil pickup pairs.

K&K builds upright and acoustic bass guitar pickups. Included in their line-up are the Double Big Twin, Bass Master Pro, Bass Master RB Plus for Rockabilly, Golden Bullet URB, Golden Trinity, and the Pure Bass transducer for 4 and 5 string acoustic. 

Fralin bass guitar Jazz Bass, P-Bass, and '51 P-Bass Style replacement pickups offer a loud, clear and even response to four string players. Using ALNICO V magnets and 42 gauge Heavy Formvar wire, they are all hand wound to vintage specifications. Under or over winding is available upon request as is a steel poled version of either pickup.

DeArmond bass pickups (owned by Fender) are built today to recreate the magic of the old styles from the 50's and 60's. The Turbo Jet single coil designs are made for the Jet Star bass. Their Gold Tone humbucking pickups are inspired by Guild's Starfire bass guitar.

O.C. Duff Jazz and P Bass guitar pickups feature vintage correct lacquered fiberboard bobbins, Alnico V magnets, black plastic covers, and are wound with 42 gauge Heavy Formvar wire for that classic, warm Jazz Bass tone.

Q-Tuner bass guitar pickups are the first neodymium powered pickups. Their BS model is for 4 and 5 string bass and combines the power of neodymium magnets with "free standing" air coils. Their BL 4, BL 5 and BL 6 bass pickups are for 4, 5 and 6 string basses. They are available in High Z (bridge) and Medium Z (neck) versions.

Rio Grande manufactures an array of bass guitar pickups. They offer bridge and neck humbuckers, humbucking sets, singles sets, 5 string models, and P-Style and Jazz Bass pickups.

Sentell Pickups are made to order to suit the specific sound you want. Their bass guitar pickups are hand made depending on the sound you want. Alnico or Iron Pole pieces are available. Alnico produces a bright, clean sound. Iron has high output and is available with fixed or adjustable pole pieces (hex or slot head).

The Nordstrand jazz type bass pickups come in several models, including single coil 4 and 5 string, and humbucking split coil 4 string.

Hammon Engineering Dark Star Pickups are a recreation of the single coil bass guitar pickup used on the Hagstrom Coronado IV, Guild Starfire and M-85 basses of the 60's.