If it weren’t for the P Bass, popular music as we know it would sound completely different. That’s because when the Precision Bass® hit the scene in the late 50s, it became a staple in studios all over the world. 

It was the bass that was used for everything and it sounded amazing. Some of the legends of the electric bass such as James Jamerson, Bob Babbit, and Carol Kaye recorded thousands of tracks for the biggest artists of the 60s with a P Bass. 

As the decades went by, we kept on seeing the P Bass everywhere and across every new genre that developed in the 70s and 80s. We’ve seen P Basses on everything from punk to jazz, to metal, and I’m sure you’ll find a P on genres that I’m not even aware of. 

So, it’s amazing how relevant the 70-year-old design has been throughout modern music history. 

But just because it’s got an awesome past, doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been any innovation in the P Bass. 

Far from it. 

We’ve got a host of forward-thinking bass pickup designers who have used the P Bass pickup as the foundation of their designs and have used it to find amazing tones that were unthinkable a few decades ago. 

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the pickups that feature innovative designs for the P Bass so that you can have a better idea of the possibilities for everyone's favorite electric bass. 

A modern definition

Modern means different things to different pickup designers. Here at FBT, we categorize a pickup as modern when it is a design that doesn’t aim to replicate the tones of a vintage design. 

These modern stylings can be designs that have a much wider frequency response, or that have characteristics and response not found in P Bass pickups from the 50s or 60s. 

Here are some of the options you currently have available to inject your P Bass with some fresh tone. 

Aguilar DCB-4P

Aguilar has a wide variety of designs in their lineup that range from 60s reproductions to entirely modern designs. 

One of their recent modern designs is the DCB line. 

DCB stands for ‘dual ceramic bars’ and ceramic magnets are the type of magnets that power this pickup line. These pickups have been wound to have a wide frequency range and a big boost in output. 

Aguilar states that they were aiming to match the output of active designs but with a passive pickup. 

These pickups certainly have high output, but have a character all of their own. These are great if you want your P Bass to have more highs, more lows, and an overall more even response.

Delano PMVC4

These German-made pickups have become a popular choice for bass players who want their P Bass to have more punch and clarity. 

One of their key design features is that they use a larger-sized pole piece, similar to what you would see in an MM pickup. 

This increased sensing area combined with a medium-high output gives the PMVC4 an overall snappy and dynamic response with a big but controlled low end, plenty of mids to cut through, and a present high end that doesn’t get shrill. 

These characteristics have made the PMVC4 the pickup of choice for bass players who play funk, pop, rock, and metal. If you’re looking for a dynamic pickup that you can use for every musical genre, the PMVC4 is a good option. 

Also, there is a five-string version of this pickup with the PMVC5.

You can listen to the Delano PMVC4 FE/M2 here. 

Delano PC4 HE/M2

Nearly every pickup in the Delano line is modern in one way or another, and the PC4 is a great example of a modern pickup design. 

The PC4 is Delano’s take on the extended frequency concept applied to the P Bass. This pickup uses blade magnets and is wound to medium-high output. This combo gives the pickup lower lows that aren’t flabby, a full midrange, and plenty of high-end detail that shines when you play in the higher registers or when slapping the bass. 

This pickup will work great if you’re looking to inject your P Bass with the tone you would expect from some full-range soap bars. 

Delano Times Square PC4 TF/M2

Another entry from Delano in the modern P Bass ring. The PC4 TF/M2 uses a unique kind of magnet in an equally unique configuration that gives it its unique voice. 

The PC4 TF/M2 uses Toferrite magnets in a very cool-looking slim rectangular 'pole' piece. 

This pickup is very accurate, dynamic, and shines with plenty of harmonic overtones, and has a medium output. 

This is the perfect pickup for bass players who like every nuance of their technique to come through on their bass. Shifting your hand position, plucking harder, or using a pick will give you a noticeably different sound with these pickups.

EMG P

The EMG P is one of the longest-running modern pickup designs. That’s because EMG is one of the manufacturers that have championed the active pickup design across their entire line and for many decades.

This bass pickup has an internal preamp (a 9-volt battery is necessary for it to function) which gives it increased output, noiseless operations, and the ability to maintain all of its detail even across long cable runs. 

The EMG P has found a home in boutique basses since the 80s and has been used in every genre under the sun.  In other words, just because it’s modern doesn't mean that it isn’t flexible. 

Also, EMG’s solderless install system makes swapping them a breeze. 

Hear them for yourself in the video at the bottom of the EMG P bass pickup product page. 

EMG PX

The PX is similar to the P but it features EMG's updated preamp. The X preamp has additional headroom and covers an extended frequency range.

This makes the PX a great choice if you want a very open and uncompressed tone that reacts to every nuance of your playing technique. 

This is a great pickup if you’re looking to add extra detail and clarity to your bass across the entire frequency range. 

Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pound

The SPB-3 Quarter Pound pickup has been one of the most popular P Bass upgrades since it was launched in the early 2000s. 

You can think of an SPB-3 as a P Bass pickup turned up to 11. 

It's loud, it has one of the highest outputs we’ve seen, and has a lot of bass, a lot of mid range, and a lot of highs. 

All this loudness gives it a slightly compressed signal character which helps it cut through walls of guitars. This is the reason why so many rock and metal players have naturally gravitated to this pickup. 

That’s not to say rock and metal is all it can do, but its character certainly lends itself to those musical situations. Also, it works great with distortion, so if you love your drive pedal, this pickup should be on your shortlist. 

If you’re looking for a pickup that sounds big and isn’t subtle at all, the SPB-3 Quarter Pound might be the ticket for you. 

Modern updates to a 70-year-old design

As you can see from this list, you’ve got plenty of options to add a modern touch to your P Bass-equipped bass. 

Whether you’re looking to add detail and clarity, or punch and aggression, there’s a pickup that will get you closer to your tonal goals. Check out one of the world's largest selection of P bass pickups here.

If you’re still on the fence about which will be the best pickup for your needs, or if you’re also considering adding an onboard preamp for even more flexibility, remember that you can give us a call (or email) and talk to a real human. 

We’ve helped thousands of bass players find the perfect pickup for their needs and we’re sure that we can help you on your road to tonal nirvana.