Pickups

Gibson has launched a bevy of pickups in the Gibson Pickup Shop Collection, and among the 22 offerings is one bass model. The Thunderbird Bass Reissue houses a period-correct T-Bird pickup under a chrome cover.

DiMarzio has improved and expanded on their Relentless line of pickups, which they created in collaboration with bass icon Billy Sheehan. Originally featuring a single split-coil model, the series now includes the Relentless P and the Relentless J.

Ruokangas made history in 2019 by introducing the first tube-powered active pickup system for guitars. Now they’ve announced the Valvebucker Mk2, which expands the concept to their four and five-string basses.

Seymour Duncan has unveiled a new set of bass pickups called the Heavy Weather set. The pair of single coils is described as a slightly brighter take on early ’60s jazz bass tone.

After launching the Acinonyx (aka Cat Bass) in 2020, Nordstrand Audio is now offering the model’s pickups on their own. The CatPups are vintage-styled in their sound and style.

Sheptone has unveiled the Miles Bass Pickup, a single-coil design that “goes the distance” for vintage tone. It was created to accurately reproduce the tone of the original Fender 1951 Precision Bass, they shared.

EMG has expanded their line of pickup sets with the Les Claypool “Pachyderm Gold” pickup. The company also updated Robert Trujillo’s Rip Tide J pickups with three new finishes. Check out Claypool’s and Trujillo’s announcement and two-bass jam.

Aguilar has blended their DCB pickup design into traditional shapes with the new DCB 4P, 4J, 5J, and 4PJ pickups. The dual ceramic bar style introduces a “new and unique voice for Jazz and Precision style basses,” they say.

Nordstrand Audio has expanded its Power Blade pickup line with a new five-string version. The hum-canceling pickup can be used as a drop-in replacement for a P-bass.

DiMarzio has unveiled a new P-style pickup that was designed with bass legend Billy Sheehan. The Relentless bass pickups feature sculpted metal covers for added form and function, the company says.

Among their many new products shown at NAMM, Warwick announced that MEC bass pickups would now be available with brushed metal housings. Now the pickups are available for purchase. The sets come in gold, black, and silver finishes.

Fishman’s new multi-voiced Fluence pickups have gotten a new sub-category with the Fluence Legacy series, which brings recording artists in to recreate the tone for which they are known. They’ve launched the lineup with Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez.