Best Pickups for Basses 2026
Top-rated pickups for basses 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 7, 2026 • Next update: January 14, 2026
#1
⭐
4.7/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SSB-5 NYC-S 5 Soapbar Set BK
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
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SMB-5DS Bass Humbucker
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
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Seymour Duncan SSB-4NYC-S NYC Bass
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
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Seymour Duncan SMB-4A
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
#5
⭐
4.9/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
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
#6
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Tele Style
Custom Build
Tone Upgrade
Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Upgrade potential for existing basses
- • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Tele StylePickup for T-Style P-BassSingle coilFor neck positionWithout coverVintage early 50s...
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 554375
$193
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SMB-5D
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
#8
⭐
4.4/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
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
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Seymour Duncan SMB4D
Bass Guitar
Custom Build
Repair
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
- • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Installation may require professional setup
Seymour Duncan SMB4D, Replacement Pickup, 4-Conductor cable for increased flexibility in series, parallel and single...
⭐
4.8/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 226984
$175
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Lace Pickups Ultra Slim Bass Pickup - USAB
by
Lace Pickups
Repair
Sound Enhancement
Custom Build
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
- • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Lace Pickups Ultra Slim Bass Pickup - USABMagnetic pickup for acoustic bassesHumbuckerSuitable for 4- and 5-string...
⭐
4.9/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 428738
$197
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Seymour Duncan SMB4DS
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
#12
⭐
5.0/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
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
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
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
#14
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Bartolini 5-Str M4 Soapbar Neck BK
by
Bartolini
Repair
Professional Performance
Bass Guitar
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of bass pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
- • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
- • Routing requirements vary
Bartolini 5-Str M4 Soapbar Neck BKPickup For 5-String Electric BassVersatile classic bass soundHum-free designNeck...
⭐
4.8/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 602423
$176
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
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
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.
