Best Pickups for Basses for Custom Build 2026
Perfect pickups for basses for custom-build - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 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
⭐
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
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
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
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky Soapbar Bass Pickup Neck
by
Sadowsky
Sound Enhancement
Tone Upgrade
Custom Build
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of bass pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
- • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Installation may require professional setup
Sadowsky Soapbar Bass Pickup NeckPickup for 6-String Electric BassSoapbarFor neck positionDual coilSerially connected...
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 611848
$175
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar BB
by
Bartolini
Sound Enhancement
Bass Guitar
Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
- • Upgrade potential for existing basses
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Routing requirements vary
Bartolini 5-string Bass MK Soapbar BBPickup For 5-String Electric BassSoapbar humbucker with 2 parallel coilsFor bridge...
⭐
5.0/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 602233
$160
#8
⭐
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
#9
⭐
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
#10
⭐
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
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
MEC MM-Style MC-4 Brushed BK Ch
by
MEC
Custom Build
Sound Enhancement
Repair
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of bass pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Routing requirements vary
MEC MM-Style MC-4 Brushed BK ChPickup for Electric BassPassive dual coil4-String versionSuitable for the neck and...
⭐
4.6/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 493408
$153
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
MEC MM-Style MC-5 Brushed Chrome
by
MEC
Professional Performance
Sound Enhancement
Bass Guitar
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all bass types
- • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
MEC MM-Style MC-5 Brushed ChromePickup for 5-String Electric BassPassive dual coil5-String versionFor the bridge...
⭐
4.5/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 493444
$142
#13
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Sadowsky Soapbar Bass Pickup 5 N
by
Sadowsky
Tone Upgrade
Professional Performance
Repair
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all bass types
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
Sadowsky Soapbar Bass Pickup 5 NPickup for 5-String Electric bassSoapbarFor neck positionDual coilPassiveShielded...
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 612846
$102
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
EMG TBTW
by
EMG
Repair
Tone Upgrade
Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Upgrade potential for existing basses
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all bass types
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
EMG TBTWPickup for Bass GuitarActive dual mode pickupFor TB Style E-BassChange from humbucker to single coil through a...
⭐
4.9/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 401667
$131
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
EMG MM5CS
by
EMG
Tone Upgrade
Professional Performance
Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of bass pickup options
- • Replacement options for all bass types
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
EMG MM5CSActive humbucker pickupFor 5-string MM-Style electric bassWide coils combined with a large coil surface...
⭐
4.6/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407857
$120
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.
