I replaced the pickups on my alpineguitars Precision Bass that I bought around a month ago.
I had no complaints about the original pickup, made by the Japanese brand Yuta. However, I had been interested in the VanZandt P-Style Bass pickup for some time, so I finally bought one and installed it.
In this article, I compare the VanZandt and Yuta pickups in the same bass, focusing on their tone and overall balance. I have prepared audio samples both with and without a drum track, so please have a listen and compare them for yourself.
You can read more about my alpineguitars Precision Bass here.
Why I Chose VanZandt
I have used VanZandt pickups in several of my guitars, including my Gibson Les Paul, my VanZandt Telecaster, and a Thinline I used to own. I removed the pickup from the Thinline, and I still have it.
You can read my article about the Gibson Les Paul equipped with a VanZandt True Bucker here.
VanZandt pickups feel right to me. They help me get the sound I am looking for, and I find them easy to play. That is why I decided to try a VanZandt pickup in my alpineguitars Precision Bass.
Incidentally, the packaging appears to reuse the case for the guitar pickup labeled “Vintage Plus.”
First Impressions
The VanZandt P-Style Bass pickup has a warm, mellow character, with a noticeable high-mid presence that makes it sound brighter and drier to my ears than the Yuta pickup. It has what I would describe as a vintage-style tone. Even so, the sound does not feel unbalanced; it feels well balanced and easy to play.
What surprised me most was the sound when playing with a pick. Along with the gritty attack, playing higher up the neck gave me the impression of playing an acoustic instrument. The pickup also delivers a full sound when played fingerstyle.
One thing I like about VanZandt pickups in both guitars and basses is the combination of warmth and dryness. I think that character is a big part of why I keep choosing VanZandt.
The Yuta pickup, on the other hand, sounds more modern and slightly wetter to my ears. That wet character reminds me of the SEYMOUR DUNCAN SPB-1 Vintage P-Bass. However, the Yuta pickup still sounds punchy and cuts through the mix well. If I were playing modern music and wanted a punchier sound, I would probably choose the Yuta.
Audio Samples for Comparison
Below are audio samples featuring two playing styles—fingerstyle and pick playing—with and without a drum track. I am primarily a guitar player rather than a bass player, so there may be a few mistakes in my playing. Please treat these samples as a reference for comparing the pickups rather than as polished performances.
The recording equipment is listed below. No additional plugins were used.
- Bass preamp / DI: NUX / MLD Bass Preamp + DI (I did not use the preamp section; I used only the DI’s IR cabinet simulation.)
- Microphone preamp: WARM AUDIO / WA73
Fingerstyle — Pattern 1
VanZandt — Fingerstyle 1 — With Drum Track
VanZandt — Fingerstyle 1 — Without Drum Track
Yuta — Fingerstyle 1 — With Drum Track
Yuta — Fingerstyle 1 — Without Drum Track
Pick Playing — Pattern 1
VanZandt — Pick 1 — With Drum Track
VanZandt — Pick 1 — Without Drum Track
Yuta — Pick 1 — With Drum Track
Yuta — Pick 1 — Without Drum Track
Fingerstyle — Pattern 2
VanZandt — Fingerstyle 2 — With Drum Track
VanZandt — Fingerstyle 2 — Without Drum Track
Yuta — Fingerstyle 2 — With Drum Track
Yuta — Fingerstyle 2 — Without Drum Track
Pick Playing — Pattern 2
VanZandt — Pick 2 — With Drum Track
VanZandt — Pick 2 — Without Drum Track
Yuta — Pick 2 — With Drum Track
Yuta — Pick 2 — Without Drum Track
Conclusion
I originally made these audio samples as a personal record, but they turned out to be a useful way to compare the two pickups and hear their differences. Honestly, I still like the Yuta pickup, but VanZandt suits the sound I am looking for at the moment.
To my ears, the Yuta has a more V-shaped sound, with stronger lows and highs. The VanZandt is more mid-focused and has a vintage-style character, while remaining balanced and easy to work with. Its amplified tone also feels close to the sound I hear acoustically when I play.
I am currently using the VanZandt pickup, but listening back to these recordings may make me want the Yuta sound again someday. In any case, this comparison has been an interesting record for me personally.
日本語版 : VanZandt P-Style Bass pickup vs Yuta｜P Bass ピックアップ比較