AudioFu

Best Pickups for Basses 2025

Top-rated pickups for basses 2025 - expert picks for every budget and skill level

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $200 Under $500
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Bass Guitar For Tone Upgrade For Custom Build For Repair For Sound Enhancement For Professional Performance
BRANDS: EMG Seymour Duncan Bartolini Sadowsky
Seymour Duncan SMB4DS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Seymour Duncan SMB4DS

by Seymour Duncan
Repair Custom Build Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of bass pickup options
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands
  • • Pickup compatibility considerations

Seymour Duncan SMB4DSMusic M® ReplacementWith 4-wire connection cable for increased flexibility of possibilities;...

⭐ 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 183382
$347
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SMB-5DS Bass Humbucker - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Seymour Duncan SMB-5DS Bass Humbucker

by Seymour Duncan
Tone Upgrade Repair Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
  • • Upgrade potential for existing basses
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful
  • • Installation may require professional setup

Seymour Duncan SMB-5DS Bass HumbuckerElectric Bass PickupMusic Man-style humbucker pickup for 5-string electric...

⭐ 4.9/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 559969
$351
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SSB-5 NYC-S 5 Soapbar Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Seymour Duncan SSB-5 NYC-S 5 Soapbar Set BK

by Seymour Duncan
Custom Build Professional Performance Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
  • • Installation may require professional setup
  • • Pickup compatibility considerations

Seymour Duncan SSB-5 NYC-S 5 Soapbar Set BKSet of Pickups for 5-String Electric Bass2 Soapbar humbuckersFor bridge and...

⭐ 4.7/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 556866
$472
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fishman Fluence Bass 4 Soapbar Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Fishman Fluence Bass 4 Soapbar Set

by Fishman
Sound Enhancement Tone Upgrade Custom Build
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful
  • • Routing requirements vary

Fishman Fluence Bass 4 Soapbar SetPickup Set for Electric Bass2 Active multi-voice humbucker pickupsSplittableVoice 1:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 479863
$329
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fishman Fluence Mike Inez 4 Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Fishman Fluence Mike Inez 4 Set BK

by Fishman
Custom Build Professional Performance Repair
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
  • • Upgrade potential for existing basses
  • • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
  • • Installation may require professional setup
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands

Fishman Fluence Mike Inez 4 Set BKActive Humbucker Pickup for 4-String Electric BassPosition: Neck & bridgeOutput:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 549383
$351
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SSB-4NYC-S NYC Bass - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Seymour Duncan SSB-4NYC-S NYC Bass

by Seymour Duncan
Custom Build Tone Upgrade Bass Guitar
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of bass pickup options
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
  • • Installation may require professional setup
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful

Seymour Duncan SSB-4NYC-S NYC BassSet of Pickups for Electric Bass2 EMG Sized Soapbar humbuckersFor bridge and neck...

⭐ 4.9/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 556914
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SMB-5D - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Seymour Duncan SMB-5D

by Seymour Duncan
Professional Performance Tone Upgrade Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all bass types
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Upgrade potential for existing basses
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful
  • • Installation may require professional setup

Seymour Duncan SMB-5DPickup for 5-string electric bassHumbuckerUpgrade for StingRay bassesPassiveAssertive and...

⭐ 4.8/5 (43 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 138693
$169
Buy at Thomann View Details
Sadowsky MM-Style Bass Pickup 5-String - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Sadowsky MM-Style Bass Pickup 5-String

by Sadowsky
Repair Custom Build Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
  • • Upgrade potential for existing basses
✗ CONS
  • • Routing requirements vary
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands

Sadowsky MM-Style Bass Pickup 5-StringMM-style pickup for electric bass5-string versionBridge positionQuad...

⭐ 4.9/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 538517
$219
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SMB-4A - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Seymour Duncan SMB-4A

by Seymour Duncan
Sound Enhancement Professional Performance Repair
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all bass types
✓ PROS
  • • Professional sound enhancement
  • • Wide variety of bass pickup options
✗ CONS
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands
  • • Routing requirements vary

Seymour Duncan SMB-4A, Pickup For Electric Bass, Alnico replacement pickup, 4-String Version, For music Man Basses

⭐ 4.9/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 160733
$175
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar NB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar NB

by Bartolini
Repair Bass Guitar Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all bass types
✓ PROS
  • • Upgrade potential for existing basses
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
  • • Routing requirements vary
  • • Pickup compatibility considerations

Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar NBPickup For 5-String Electric BassHumbucker with 2 parallel coilsFor the neck...

⭐ 4.6/5 (8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 602556
$176
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bartolini 4-Str MK Soapbar Bridge BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Bartolini 4-Str MK Soapbar Bridge BK

by Bartolini
Sound Enhancement Bass Guitar Repair
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands
  • • Routing requirements vary

Bartolini 4-Str MK Soapbar Bridge BKPickup for Electric BassUpgrade for IbanezCortGroove ToolsLakland and other basses...

⭐ 4.9/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 602347
$171
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Seymour Duncan SCPB-3

by Seymour Duncan
Bass Guitar Custom Build Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all bass types
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful
  • • Installation may require professional setup

Seymour Duncan SCPB-3, Bass Pickups, Quarter-Pound Single coil, Type P for bass, The 1/4 inch magnet prepare an...

⭐ 4.9/5 (40 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 173700
$131
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fishman Fluence Bass 5 Soapbar Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Fishman Fluence Bass 5 Soapbar Set

by Fishman
Sound Enhancement Repair Bass Guitar
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of bass pickup options
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of bass pickup options
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
  • • Installation may require professional setup
  • • Routing requirements vary

Fishman Fluence Bass 5 Soapbar SetPickup Set for 5-String Electric Bass2 Active multi-voice humbucker...

⭐ 4.6/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 479867
$329
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SRB-1N Humbucker CR - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Seymour Duncan SRB-1N Humbucker CR

by Seymour Duncan
Sound Enhancement Custom Build Repair
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
  • • Replacement options for all bass types
  • • Wide variety of bass pickup options
✗ CONS
  • • Installation may require professional setup
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands

Seymour Duncan SRB-1N Humbucker CR, Pickup, For Rickenbacker Bass, Humbucker, For neck position, Finish: Chrome

⭐ 5.0/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 154310
$187
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar BB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar BB

by Bartolini
Bass Guitar Custom Build Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all bass types
✓ PROS
  • • Custom build possibilities
  • • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics knowledge helpful
  • • Quality varies significantly between brands

Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar BBPickup for 5-String Electric BassHumbucker with two parallel coilsBridge...

⭐ 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 602568
$176
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Pickups for Basses

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced pickups for basses typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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