What makes the split-blade design different from standard soapbar pickups?

The split-blade design eliminates the string-spacing compromise common to many soapbars, ensuring balanced, articulate response across all five strings without dead zones or uneven output.

How long does the battery last, and what's included in the set?

The onboard active preamp delivers approximately 1,000 continuous hours of battery life per set. The package includes neck and bridge pickups, logo covers, mounting hardware, and complete wiring components.

Is this a direct replacement for my existing bass pickup cavity?

Yes, these pickups are direct replacements for Bartolini P2 and P4 configurations and will install directly into cavities designed for those platforms.

What genres and playing styles are these pickups best suited for?

The ASB-5S excels in modern jazz, funk, progressive rock, and studio sessions—anywhere articulate, detailed tone with warm character and natural clarity is valued. They are not designed for traditional jazz or blues.

How does the active preamp affect the tone compared to passive pickups?

The moderate output active preamp delivers more overall volume and presence than passive alternatives while maintaining a traditionally voiced character that emphasizes warm, balanced low end and detailed high-end articulation.

Seymour Duncan ASB-5S Active Soapbar 5-String Bridge/Neck Pickup Set

The Seymour Duncan ASB-5S captures articulate, warm tone with natural high-end clarity across a 5-string bass recording. Its split-blade design eliminates the string-spacing compromise that plagues many soapbar pickups, ensuring balanced capture across all five strings during tracking. The onboard active preamp provides substantial output and presence lift over passive alternatives, making these pickups ideal for tracking sessions seeking modern clarity and definition without sacrificing traditional warmth in the mix.

Tone & Recording Response

Active circuitry yields approximately 1,000 continuous hours of battery life per set, with a traditionally voiced character that emphasizes detail and natural articulation in the high end—critical for maintaining clarity during layered bass parts. The moderate output active preamp delivers more overall signal and presence than passive pickups while maintaining warm, balanced low-end response across the entire 5-string spectrum, translating well through recording chains and mixing workflows.

Compatibility & Studio Installation

Direct replacement for Bartolini P2 and P4 configurations, these pickups arrive with logo covers, mounting hardware, and complete wiring components. The split-blade soapbar design accommodates 5-string spacing without compromise, simplifying installation into existing cavities designed for those platforms and minimizing studio downtime.

Key Features

Active neck and bridge soapbar pickup set for 5-string bass
Unique split-blade design eliminates string-spacing issues
Moderate output active electronics
Traditionally voiced with warm tone and detailed high end
Onboard active preamp provides more volume and presence than passive pickups
Direct replacement for Bartolini P2 and P4
Battery life approximately 1,000 continuous hours per set
Includes logo covers
Includes mounting and wiring hardware

The ASB-5S combines the ergonomic advantages of a split-blade soapbar with modern active electronics, delivering the articulate 5-string response that tracks and mixes with authority.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States