Bass Pickups
Get More at Sweetwater
Refine Your Search
Availability
Brand
- Seymour Duncan (45)
- EMG (37)
- Aguilar (35)
- DiMarzio (35)
- Bartolini (26)
- Fishman (17)
- Fender (15)
- Realist (8)
- 920D Custom (2)
- Boss (2)
- Gibson Accessories (2)
- Darkglass (1)
- KNA (1)
- Roland (1)
- Seymour Duncan Custom Shop (1)
Price Range
- Under $25 (1)
- $50 to $100 (16)
- $100 to $200 (109)
- $200 to $300 (84)
- $300 to $500 (16)
- $500 to $750 (2)
Financing What is this?
Type of Deal
Series
- EMG Signature Sets (18)
- EMG Active Bass (17)
- Fishman Fluence (12)
- DiMarzio Relentless (10)
- Seymour Duncan Antiquity (10)
- DiMarzio Colossal (9)
- Seymour Duncan Apollo (9)
- Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound (8)
- Bartolini Bass Soapbars (5)
- Fender Pure Vintage (5)
- Bartolini J-Bass (4)
- DiMarzio Sixties (4)
- Fender Cobalt Chrome (4)
- Bartolini 2J Squared (3)
- Fishman Full Circle (3)
- Bartolini b-axis (2)
- Fender Custom Shop (2)
- Fender Ultra Noiseless (2)
- Fishman Classic (2)
- Seymour Duncan Hot Stack Jazz Bass (2)
- Seymour Duncan Hot for Jazz (2)
- Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz Bass (2)
- Bartolini Music Man (1)
- Bartolini P-Bass (1)
- Bartolini Vinatage Brand (1)
- Bartolini Vintage Brand (1)
- Boss GR Series (1)
- DiMarzio Model J (1)
- DiMarzio Model P (1)
- DiMarzio Split P (1)
- DiMarzio Ultra Jazz (1)
- Fender Noiseless (1)
- Fender Yosemite (1)
- Roland GR Series (1)
- Seymour Duncan Duff McKagan (1)
- Seymour Duncan Hot P-Bass (1)
- Seymour Duncan Vintage P-Bass (1)
Type
Active/Passive
Position
Quantity What is this?
Number of Strings
Magnet Material
Format
- J-style (68)
- P-style (36)
- Soapbar (33)
- PJ (21)
- Upright (11)
- Music Man style (9)
- Rickenbacker-style (5)
Related Searches
If you want to compare another product, please remove one of your earlier choices.
About Bass Guitar Pickups
Nothing shapes the sound of your bass like your pickups, and when it comes to upgrading your favorite instrument, a new pair of bass pickups could be just what you need. Sweetwater carries an excellent range of bass pickups covering every kind of tone you could ask for. Whether you want passive single-coils for your P Bass or prefer a set of active humbuckers for something less traditional, Sweetwater has you covered. There’s a lot to know about bass pickups, and these handy tips will make sorting them out super-easy.
There are three major considerations you need to remember when you’re looking for replacement bass pickups. First, there’s basic compatibility; second, there’s the question of single-coil or humbucker; and third, there’s the decision of whether to go with passive pickups or active electronics. Fortunately, this all breaks down simply, and no matter what kind of bass you play, Sweetwater has plenty of options to choose from.
Unless you are comfortable routing out your pickup cavity or want to have Sweetwater’s experienced luthiers do it for you, you’ll want to stick with bass pickups that already fit your instrument. The most common bass pickup sizes are the narrow Jazz Bass single-coils, the split-single-coil Precision Bass models, and the fatter dual-coil humbucker pickup styles. There are a few others, including soapbar and mini humbuckers, so you’ll want to pay close attention to pickup sizing as you look for a replacement set.
Single-coil vs. humbucker: one of the most significant matters of taste when it comes to bass pickups. It would be entirely misleading to say that one kind is better for certain styles of music than the other, and while traditionalists might gravitate toward single-coil pickups, they may play anything from old-school rock ’n’ roll to modern metal. Instead, let’s take a look at how these pickups sound.
Most single-coil pickups deliver an open and organic sound. Compared to humbuckers, their tone emphasizes midrange frequencies, particularly as you move back toward the bridge. Single-coil bass pickups tend to be highly dynamic with complex overtones, but you pay for that with greater susceptibility to noise and RF interference. A highly popular combination of single-coil pickups is a P Bass pickup in the middle with a J Bass pickup at the bridge, which provides you with an impressive range of tones.
Humbuckers are darker, rounder, and far less affected by noise and interference than single-coil pickups. The most common layout for dual-coil humbuckers is a side-by-side configuration, which requires a much wider mounting cavity than standard single-coil pickups. That said, there are stacked humbuckers, which fit in single-coil P and J Bass routings. What’s more, some stacked humbuckers are wound to emulate the single-coil sound, providing a lighter tone without the noise.
Next, there’s the question of active or passive electronics. In terms of the pickups themselves, passive pickups are characteristically warmer and more dynamic than active ones. Users of passive bass pickups prefer them for their clarity and complex harmonics. Active bass pickups have a more limited and focused sound, largely due to the extra gain on tap. These battery-powered pickups are known for their added punch, and many bass players rocking tube amps love what they can do with the extra gain.
The subject gets a bit more complicated when you look at active versus passive equalizer circuits, which often have nothing to do with the pickups in your bass. Passive EQs cut only, whereas active EQs can boost frequencies and provide you with a greater range of tone shaping. Sweetwater’s Guitar Workshop can do all kinds of bass electronics mods, and we carry a fine selection of both active and passive bass electronics. As far as your pickups are concerned, you’ll need to know specifically whether or not you’re looking for active or passive pickups, regardless of whether or not there’s a battery compartment included with your bass guitar.
Shop for Bass Guitar Pickups by Brand
With so many different types of bass guitar pickups, it can be tricky to determine which one best suits the sound you are looking for. Luckily, Sweetwater has the bass guitar pickups for you. Our wide selection of pickups from the top brands, including Seymour Duncan, Aguilar, EMG, DiMarzio, and more, will ensure you have the best bass guitar pickups for you.
Get Started with Your New Bass Guitar Pickups
Ready to purchase your first or next bass guitar pickups? Sweetwater makes it easy. If you don’t know where to begin, then reach out to our highly knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700. They’ll help you choose the right pickup for you!
If you prefer to shop completely online, then Sweetwater’s website has tools to narrow down your bass guitar pickup choices based on your desired specs, such as the brand, price range, and much more. Select your preferred specs in our convenient product filters and explore your options!
What are the most popular brands for Bass Pickups on Sweetwater.com?
What are the most popular Bass Pickups on Sweetwater.com?
-
EMG GZR-PJHZ Geezer Butler Signature P/J Bass Pickup Set - Black
4.5 out of 5 stars 42 reviews
$179.99 -
Realist Copperhead Bass Pickup
5 out of 5 stars 4 reviews
$250.00 -
Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup - Black
5 out of 5 stars 48 reviews
$99.00 -
Realist LifeLine Double Bass Pickup
4.5 out of 5 stars 3 reviews
$239.99 -
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-J Bass Set - Black
4.5 out of 5 stars 22 reviews
$188.00
Why shop Bass Pickups at Sweetwater.com?
With a massive selection of Bass Pickups, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about Bass Pickups, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.
