Need Some Advice (Non Wick) Pup Question...

[BassPlyr Randy]

I am giving my beloved '83 Aria Pro II some much needed and over due love. As part of this I want to upgrade it's stock pups. I am totally unwilling to physically alter my bass, so whatever pups I get have to be able to fit in the current routes in the body and with the same number of controls.

Current Configuration:
Neck: MB-III Double Coil Pickup 1.5" x 4"
Bridge: MB-JI Tapped-Coil Pickup 1" x 4 5/8"
Controls: 2 Twin-Pot (Volume/Tone Controls) - 1 Three Position Pickup Selector Switch - 1 Dual Sound Switch - 1 Coil Tap Switch

I'm basically looking for a fairly versitile set of pups with great bass response and clean bright top end. Ive been spending a bunch of time on Bart and EMG's site and frankly I think Im so lost.

So far I am thinking ....

Bartolini...
M44CBC - dual coil humbucker - in the Neck position and
9CBJS3 or 9CBJD3 - J-Bass pickup - in the Bridge position

EMG...
35DC - in the Neck position and
LJ - in the Bridge position

Kent Armstrong...
HB4E3B Soapbar 4/5 String Pickup - in the Neck Position
VJBR/CL Hot Vintage Jazz Pickup - in the Bridge Position
Ive seen a couple posts where people have had Kent Armstrong make custom pickups that were exact upgrades for Aria basses, but I don't really think I could afford that. Not sure about these pickups as I have no experience with Kent Armstrong pups.

Ive checked out Seymour Duncans site and didn't really see anything that really excited me, besides, I've never really been a fan of seymour duncans so I don't think I would be happy with them anyway.


Anyway, 10,000 words later hahaha that's where I'm at and what I'm looking for. Any suggestion, reccomendations, and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Florin]

Hi Randy,

I am one of those guys considering that changing the pickups is the last thing to do, and most of the time is an expensive and unneeded mod...

If you want bright top end, then EMG's are better than Barts. More tha this, you should check their website for specs, as I am lost too

Cheers, Flo

 

[BassPlyr Randy]

I hear ya Flo... I bought this bass brand new in 1983 and it has pretty much been my main goto bass ever since. But I do have to admit, it has always been kind of a one trick pony and has a very low output. I guess it hasn't really been a problem because I always just compensated at the amp. But since I have so much work I have to do anyway, I just thought upgrading the electronics would be cool. Perhaps the answer is just installing a preamp and running with the stock pups. I don't know ... I just want to breathe some new life in my baby. I have some work that has to be done to her anyway and was just figuring while I was at it...

Please guys, I would really like to hear some opinions...

 

[jester]

I 'd like to help but my experience with different pickups is very very limited. :-(