Can’t find the best pickups for Squier P Bass? Then, you are in the right place.
The Fender Precision Bass, popularly called the P-Bass, is a versatile 4-string electric guitar featuring a single split-coil humbucker-style pickup.
After Fender acquired Squier, the latter has vastly fine-tuned the original P-Bass’s design, thereby greatly boosting the instrument’s versatility.
Though the stock pickup(s) in the Squier P Bass deliver superbly performance-wise, you can opt for replacing or upgrading the original piece for a better output. That’s why we decided to compile our list of the best Squier P Bass pickups available on the market.
Best Pickups for Squier Precision Bass
Seymour Duncan SSPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup (Editor’s Choice)
If you want to make the most of the output from your P Bass and capitalize on an extensive frequency range, look no further. The Seymour Duncan SSPB-3 Pickup features hefty ¼” wide pole pieces, which broadens the electromagnetic field and widens the frequency spectrum. This design innovation allows you to take advantage of the full stretch of low to high-end frequency range for a thickset hard-hitting sound with midrange emphasis.
The heavy-duty Alnico V magnets and the coil windings maintain an impeccable balance that results in excellent harmonics and massive sustain. The Alnico V magnets cancel out hum effectively, and their durability ensures they can endure the roughest of handling for at least a year. What’s excellent about this Seymour Duncan quarter-pound pickup is that it takes in your instrument’s thump making your sound well-defined.
The pole pieces are vacuum wax potted to eliminate distortion regardless of the dynamic level. The versatility of these SSPB-3 Quarter-pound P-bass pickups by Seymour Duncan renders them ideal for metal and heavy rock.
Pros
- High-output
- Expansive frequency range
- Bursting sound with enhanced midrange
Cons
- Many players have reported that the pickup doesn’t deliver crystal-clear high-end and midrange.
Fender Precision Bass Pickups (Close Runner-Up)
These P-Bass Pickups’ layout and structure have been heavily inspired by the vintage bass pickups introduced by Fender in 1962. So it won’t be an exaggeration to state that these split-coil humbucker-style pickups are nearly a facsimile of the original version. In addition, this humbucking pickup comes reinforced with Alnico V magnets and enamel-coated magnetic wire for steadfastly emulating that classic 1962 Fender P-bass pickup tone.
With this pickup sitting in the bridge of your P Bass you can look forward to a well-balanced tone with sparkling clean highs, pithy midrange, and taut low-end. Demonstrating excellent detail and articulation, these Fender Precision Bass Pickups come in handy for efficiently playing almost all musical genres. You bet you won’t find a more practical way of transforming your humble Squier into an American P-Bass in terms of tonality.
The flush-mount pole pieces guarantee a balanced response from your bass’s strings, while the enamel-layered wires lend warmth to tone. In addition, the Alnico V magnets boost inflection and sharpness and boost dynamics making your bass sound smoother than earlier.
Pros
- Fiber bobbin with period-correct cloth output for recreating the original’s sound
- Fat tone with a broad dynamic range
- Flush mounted poles for a balanced string response
Cons
- The backplate is too large for the Tele P-Bass (special edition), requiring trimming work.
DiMarzio Model P DP122 Pickup
Replace the stock pickup of your Fender P-Bass with the DiMarzio Model P DP122 and relish the splendor of its brilliant sound. This hum-canceling pickup pair enhances the versatility of your P Bass enabling the instrument to reproduce huge forceful sound. In addition, the DiMarzio DP122 Pickup replicates the sound of your guitar as well as furnishes extra gain and tonality.
Pushing your bass to the limits bestows you a plucky midrange, and when paired with a DiMarzio Model J in the bridge, you can expect everything from a lush bottom-end to taut midrange. These beefy replacement pickups are just the thing for P-Bass enthusiasts keen on reproducing full-bodied sound with distinctive midrange snarl.
Though these pickups for P-Bass come across as amazingly high-output pickups, they’ll pleasantly surprise you with their crunchy and fresh sounds.
The Model P DP122 is integrated with ceramic magnets that boost the output and furnish perfect signal processing regardless of the level of dynamics. In addition, the pickup’s configuration goes a long way in canceling unwanted noise or buzz, resulting in the reproduction of incredibly bright sound.
Players who love to strum colossal bass sounds with high gain will warm up to these DiMarzio pickups that focus more on bass than the high-end trebles.
Fine-tuned bass reproduction is typified by rich, plump tones that do not forego their clarity even if you gradually turn up the volume.
Pros
- Dual hum-canceling pickups for terse sound with added gain
- P-Bass, when pushed hard, delivers a bold midrange growl
- Greater emphasis on bass sounds than trebles
Cons
- Somewhat less bright highs
Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup
Maximize your Squier Vintage P-Bass TB output by swapping out the stock pickup with the Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 Quarter-Pound P-Bass Pickup. The SCPB-3 is a high-output single-coil pickup delivering authentic vintage bass tone and highly eloquent treble that receives a good boost with enhanced string sensitivity.
The quarter-inch wide pole pieces and the high output coil offer you an assertive attack characterized by excellent midrange and robust bottom-end.
Think of the SCPB-3 P-Bass pickup as an ultra-powerful standard single-coil that provides you additional tonal flexibility. This high-output genuine single-coil pickup can directly replace the stock neck pickup in any American Standard Precision Bass. However, if you’re looking for a pure single-coil punchy and stout tone with a prominent midrange attack and growl, then look no further.
P-Bass players specializing in nu-metal, classic rock, heavy rock, garage, classic metal, and blues will find the SCPB-3 immensely handy. Handcrafted in Santa Barbara, California, the Quarter-Pound Pickup for single-coil P-Bass features Forborn flatwork and Alnico V rod magnets. In addition, the Pickup is vacuum wax potted for ensuring squelch-free operation.
Pros
- 100% authentic single-coil with high-output
- Coherent treble response with strong midrange presence
- Hard-hitting tonal response with vigorous low-end
Cons
- The distance of the pickup from the strings significantly affects sound quality
- Players may need to carry out several improvisations for a perfect installation.
Kmise 4-String P Bass Humbucker
The jet black Kmise 4-String Electric Pickup Humbucker for Precision Bass Guitar is a top-rated humbucker offering smashing output. At the same time, this P Bass Humbucker for 4-string P-Bass allows you to maintain the melodic highs and hard-hitting chords with a judicious mix of distortion and sustain.
With this Kmise humbucker sitting pretty in your instrument, you can rest assured that you’ll effortlessly drift from charming arpeggios and triads to unrefined blues and black rhythm.
This 4-String P Bass humbucker by Kmise provides a beefier treble response, high-end, and bottom-end than the SH-4 custom 5. A good number of bassists pair this humbucker with 250K pots for leveling out the higher-end frequencies. Players can install the Kmise humbucker for P Bass in series, parallel, or coil-split mode, including a 4-conductor connection cable.
Pros
- Premium humbucker pickup for 4-string P-Bass
- 4-conductor hookup for multiple wiring options
- Thunderous output with forceful chords and balanced distortion and sustain
Cons
- Not quite suitable for soft and mild playing/music styles
EMG PA-V2 Active Pickup Set
The PA-V2 Active Pickup Set is primarily modeled on the original EMG P but comes with Alnico V magnets instead of the classic ceramic. The EMG PA-V2 provides a warmer and richer tone with a characteristic vintage flavor thanks to its Alnico V magnets. In addition, the Alnico V magnets wrapped with small squat coils help lend to the tone a well-rounded sonic with less hum compared to most stock P-bass pickups.
The EMG PA-V2 active pickup pair best works with a preamplifier for Precision Bass. In addition, this pickup set comes equipped with a wire harness, tone and volume pots, connectors, and mounting screws for straightforward installation. The new, upgraded PA-V2 has a better characterization, and its natural presence delivers extensive midrange and mighty lows as effectively as its forerunner.
This active pickup set is your best bet if you want to dial in that unmistakable classic tone.
Pros
- Passive humbucker replicating an active pickup’s performance
- Alnico V magnets with accurately wound bobbins for excellent clarity
- Wide tonal range with vintage fluidity
- Warm and palpable vintage tone with more signal and less noise
Cons
- It could be trickier to mount the solderless mode, notwithstanding
FAQ: How to Choose Between P-Bass Pickups for Squier
What Is the Difference Between P Bass and J Bass Pickups?
Besides the noticeable design differences in the bodies of Precision Bass and Jazz Basses, the dissimilarities in their pickups (and electronics) also influence their distinctive sounds. For example, the split-coil pickups embedded in the P Bass play a crucial role in imparting its signature bass sound to the instrument.
The J Bass, on the other hand, features dual single coils that are instrumental in delivering a sparkling tone with a more focused midrange compared to a P-Bass.
The P-Bass’s intrinsic sound resembles that of a Stratocaster, is immaculate for playing rock ‘n’ roll. However, the Precision is also excellent for country, grunge, surf, punk, and classic rock. Alternatively, players specializing in progressive metal, fusion, jazz, funk, reggae, and blues take advantage of the J-Bass.
The P-Bass, when it was introduced in 1957, had an integrated 1957 that was later upgraded to a hum-canceling split-coil pickup. This split-coil humbucker-style pickup came with staggered pole pieces, excelled in delivering lucid high-end and booming low-end. The two single-coil pickups in J-Basses are configured for two pole pieces per string, resulting in a robust midrange roar with a sharper and clearer trebly tone.
Jazz basses offer players the knack to use a distinct ‘volume’ pot for every coil and a master tone circuitry to explore a broader tonal range. Technically speaking, the split single-coil in P-Bass functions more like humbuckers. The branded pickups of Seymour Duncan, EMG, and DiMarzio for a reputed P-Bass such as the 4-string Squier comprise a pair of two small split single-coils each dedicated to two strings.
Wired in series with one coil in the reverse wound for reverse polarity (RWRP), the dual single-coil pickups help eliminate hum. As a result, the P-Bass pickups have a heftier tone with a tauter midrange and low-end compared to its counterpart in the Jazz Bass. Additionally, a P Bass pickup’s humbucking makeup makes it quieter, rendering the pickup ideal for high-gain and high-decibel musical genres.
The long and short of it all is that J-Bass pickups deliver intensely clear highs, pronounced midrange, chunky bottom-end with a tight beefy tone. Most importantly, these idiosyncratic facets of sound stay consistent throughout with a gradual increase in gain and volume.
So, the Best Pickup for Squier P-Bass Is…
So there you are-six high-quality pickups for your Squier P Bass-two from Seymour Duncan, and one each from Fender, EMG, Kmise, and DiMarzio. Though the Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, EMG, and Fender pickup models stand out owing to their versatility, it’s your playing style and preferences that’ll determine your choice.
At the same time, keep in mind that the other components in your bass rig, such as the amp, effects pedals, and cables, will also have a bearing on the sound by and large.
We vote for the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup as for the greatest P-Bass pickup you can find for your Squier guitar.