Can’t find the best bass pickups for metal? You’re in the right place. We’ll help you pick the perfect match for your bass.
One of the first upgrades that most metal bassists opt for to add to their repertoire of high-voltage tones is to choose a higher-output pickup.
In this guide, we take a close look at the six best bass pickups for metal.
Best Bass Pickups for Metal – Comparison Table
1. Seymour Duncan SSPB-3 Quarter Pound Bass Pickup (Editor’s Choice)
The SSPB-3 is one of the best bass pickups for metal available on the market at the moment.
If you’re looking to maximize the frequency range and output from your bass, then opt for the Seymour Duncan SSPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup. Prominent quarter-inch broad pole pieces help create more significant disruption in the pickup’s magnetic field when you pluck the bass’s strings. Consequently, you get to make the most of an extensive frequency range varying from low- to high-end for a hard-hitting and robust midrange.
The SSPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup features a Seymour profile that balances the perfect balance between the magnets and the coils. This balancing effect is excellent harmonics whose consistency can be sustained through the duration of the gig. When you’re plucking the strings, you can be assured of a catchy and riveting sound.
You can bet that the notes from your bass guitar will not be drowned out by sounds emanating from other musical instruments. One noticeable benefit you get from this Seymour Duncan bass pickup is that you can turn up the volume without sounding raucous. You’ve reasonable leeway with fine-tuning the volume as per your convenience so that the playback sounds pleasing to your audience.
Features
- Hum canceling
- D.C. Resistance: 12.5k
- 0.25mm diameter Alnico magnet
- Resonant peak: 10.2k
- 1-year limited warranty
Pros
- Punchy on the high-end typified by higher output with excellent clarity
- Seymour-styled design for balancing the magnets with the coils to reproduce the entire harmonic range
- Quarter-inch wide magnet pieces for broadening the frequency range
Cons
- More output on the lower end but lacking clear high-end and midrange
- Overly bassy: Not ideal for bass overdrives
2. EMG Geezer Butler Signature P Bass Guitar Pickup
The EMG Geezer Butler Signature P-Bass Guitar Pickup dials-in the celebrated rock and roll bassist Geezer Butler’s original Black Sabbath tone, albeit with contemporary touches. This completely solderless P-Bass Pickup takes advantage of Alnico V magnets and custom-built coils for delivering balanced grit and punch. The Alnico V pole pieces, together with the two customized split-coils, help in eliminating the hum that was standard with the bass pickups in the early 1970s.
The Alnico pole pieces and the custom-wound split-coils also contribute towards delivering additional power and volume compared to another standardized single J coil. Thus the magnet-coil combo goes a long way in ensuring an extraordinary balance between the J and the P pickups. This bass pickup is a passive one that enables you to strum those classic vintage notes without the noise and distortion associated with single-coil pickups.
You’ll surely warm up to the balanced output from this P-bass pickup characterized by the taut and profound sounds of the low-end.
Features
- Geezer Butler Signature P-Bass Pickup contains EMG’s elite Solderless Installing accessories.
- Passive pickup embodying a vintage tone
- Recreates vintage bass tones from the early days of Black Sabbath
Pros
- It comes with Alnico V pole pieces and custom wound coils for producing an accurate level of punchy bass.
- Creates the classic tunes identical to the early days of Black Sabbath minus the noise and hum
- Ideal for almost all music genres tempered with that bit of extra low-end thump
Cons
- Jack plug socket might be a tad bigger compared to standard knobs
- Many bassists will intensely feel the need for OEM perforated foam cutout
3. Seymour Duncan SJB-3N Quarter Pound Pickup
The SJB-3n Quarter Pound Pickup for Jazz Bass Neck Position has been designed exclusively for bassists specializing in nu-metal, blues, heavy rock, classic metal, and classic rock. This single- coil quarter-pound high-output pickup is indispensable for bass guitarists who specialize in strumming high-end and midrange notes. The dexterously wound coils around the quarter-inch wide pole pieces coordinate to convey the entire gamut of notes with good sustain.
This neck position SJB-3N pickup by Seymour Duncan comes in handy for upgrading your existing bass for a punchier jazz tone. If you’re a gigging bassist looking for a top-quality pickup for swapping the stock sets, then this SJB-3N pickup is perfect.
Features
- Single-coil neck pickup with moderate output
- Quarter pound neck pickup for J-Bass
- Simple and straightforward fine-tuning offers you a plethora of tonal options.
Pros
- Easy to install provided you’re familiar with electronics soldering
- Superior tones compared to ordinary Squier and Fender pickups
- Ideal for bassists who focus on specific music genres such as blues, classic rock, vintage metal, and so on
Cons
- Not much better than cheap aftermarket pickups
- It would be best if you were very careful in adjusting the tone, or it may be too hot to handle
4. Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 Quarter Pound Single Coil P-Bass Pickup
This Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 Quarter Pound Single-Coil P-Bass Pickup is a purebred single-coil with tons of output and highly versatile. The pickup will amplify the guitar strings’ vibrations significantly even when you set the volume to low. If you’re into heavy metal or rock, you’ll be better off placing the pickup close to the strings for a more hard-hitting effect.
You can easily tame the output by keeping the SCPB-3 P-bass pickup relatively low to the guard. Alternatively, you need to pull back the pickup a bit if you’re looking for a mellowed and flatter sound. You bet that you’ll notice a massive improvement in sonic quality once you replace your stock pickup with the SCPB-3.
You’ll love the output and the superb sound quality and also that this pickup can maintain a note for more than 30 seconds without feedback.
Features
- 0.25” diameter pole pieces boost the sensitivity of strings more effectively than the hot pickup
- Genuine high output single-coil
- Expands the tonal flexibility of an electric guitar with a single pickup
Pros
- Single-coil P-Bass pickup immensely valuable for classic rock, nu-metal, heavy rock, and blues musicians
- Effective in delivering forceful tonal response typified by plenty of mids and full-bodied bottom-end
Cons
- Installing the pickup could be a bit tricky
5. EMG Robert Trujillo RT Rip Tide J Bass Guitar Pickup Set
The EMG RT Rip Tide J-Bass Guitar Pickup Set has been inspired by the legendary heavy metal bassist of Metallica. The EMG J-Bass Set has been the go-to pickup for Robert Trujillo much before joining forces with Metallica. This RT Rip Tide J-Bass Guitar Pickup Set features the signature solderless wiring strap-up for a standardized tone and volume programming.
The J Bass guitar pickup also comes with classic black-chromed stainless steel caps and round ceramic bar magnets. These features enable this EMG pickup to deliver a time-honored sound symbolized by energetic highs and punchy mids.
Features
- Exclusive J-Bass Pickup Set popularized by Robert Trujillo of Metallica.
- Features EMG’s signature solderless wiring tackle for a normal tone and volume setup
- Black-chromed stainless steel capping for an unprecedented aural experience
Pros
- Ceramic bar magnets with rounded edges facilitate the delivery of vibrant top-end and incisive mids.
- Boosted low-end response owing to the low resistance to inductance ratio
- Though designed for vintage J Bass guitars, it works with 5-string instruments as well.
Cons
- You may have to struggle with installation, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
6. EMG TA Tom Araya Signature Active 4-String Bass Guitar Pickup Set
The Signature Active 4-String Bass Guitar Pickup Set from EMG takes its name from Tom Araya, the celebrated bassist, and vocalist of the US thrash metal band Slayer. Tom Araya has solely banked on EMG bass pickups to buttress his role as a heavy metal musician. Like Tom, you too can rely on this Signature Active 4-String Bass Guitar Pickup set to deliver just what you need to keep your audience enthralled.
This Guitar Pickup Set comes with a complete set of accessories, including but not limited to the stereo output jack, tone, and volume pots for easy installation.
Features
- Features EMG’s patented signature solderless installing accessories
- First time pairing of pickup combo
- It takes the bass growl to an altogether new level
Pros
- Versatile pickup featuring adequate articulation makes you heard distinctly above the clamor of other basses and percussion instruments.
- Signature Tom Araya bass guitar pickup combo: 35DC coupled with 35J
- Thunderous bass balanced with harmonics and slapping sounds
Cons
- Easy to install, provided you know your way around a soldering
How Important Are Bass Pickups and Why?
The pickup forms the core of the electric or bass guitar, without which the bass won’t produce any sound. The pickup is integral to the guitar as the amp, strings, and the material from which it is produced. A good bass pickup for metal literally “picks up” the vibrations generated by the strings’ strumming, converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Hence given the significance of a bass pickup, it does not emphasize that you must choose the right one for your bass. However, given the wide variety of pickup available nowadays, selecting the appropriate one can be challenging.
Conclusion: The Best Bass Pickups for Metal
In the review above, we closely looked at six bass pickups-three each from Seymour Duncan and EMG, respectively. While some pickups work well with precision bass guitars, the rest of pickups are suitable for Jazz basses. Budget-conscious bassists will prefer Seymour Duncan pickups, while the well-off will choose from the EMG models.
The SSPB-3 are the best pickups for metal overall.