DESCRIPTION

The Seymour Duncan SMB-4A is a very close-to-vintage-spec Music Man bass pickup. It's got the iconic snap, it's got the midrange presence, it's got the tight bottom; pretty much everything you expect from a vintage-voiced example, which makes it perfect whether you want it in a passive project (which works great) or whether you plan to add some sort of active preamp (which it responds awesome to). It's a great all-around option for those of you who want something very close to the vintage-voiced Music Man pickup.

Built in Santa Barbara, California, the SMB-4A uses oversized Alnico 5 rod magnets and Forbon flatwork construction. The pickup is vacuum wax potted for squeal-free operation, even at high volumes. With a DC resistance of 1.9k ohms and 4-conductor shielded wiring, you have the flexibility to wire it in series for maximum output or parallel for that classic Music Man voice.

Compared to ceramic versions, the Alnico 5 magnets deliver a warmer bottom end with more detailed highs. The extended frequency response at both ends of the spectrum gives you a solid fundamental without muddiness, while the highs provide snap and clarity without harshness. In parallel mode, you get that pleasant midrange scoop that's become synonymous with the Music Man sound.

When wired in series, the output jumps up significantly, giving you a hotter, more mid-focused tone that cuts through dense mixes. The 4-conductor wiring opens up tonal possibilities beyond the standard Music Man voice, allowing you to experiment with different wiring schemes if you're building a custom bass or upgrading your favorite MM equipped bass.

Whether you're restoring a vintage Music Man, upgrading a budget bass, or building a custom instrument, the SMB-4A delivers that classic 70s tone that changed funk, rock, and slap forever.

From Seymour Duncan

Seymour Duncan has constructed a MM pickup that captures the feel and warmth of the originals. All the vintage 70s MM tone can be found in this version, which uses oversized alnico 5 rod magnets, together with our unique coil windings to deliver an extended response at both the treble and bass ends of the frequency spectrum. Compared with the ceramic version, this pickup is both warmer on the bottom, and more detailed on the top. This is the tone that changed funk, rock, and slap forever.

This pickup is a drop-in replacement for 4-string Music Man Stingray basses. It may fit into OLP instruments as well, but check the dimensions of the pickup against the size of your OLP pickup slot to be sure. Combine with our Music Man replacement preamp for a complete setup. NOTE not for use with Music Man basses that have a 3-way blade switch.

Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, our alnico Music Man replacement pickup uses oversized alnico 5 rod magnets, Forbon flatwork, 4-conductor leadwire, and is vacuum wax potted for squeal free operation.