I have this bass:
I had the MM pickup route put between the soaps and it currently has a Nordstrand MM and SGD Sidewinders. The MM is connected to a mini-toggle series/single/parallel switch and then to the bridge input on an Audere 3ZB. The Sidewinders are connected to a mini-toggle pickup selector switch and then to the neck input on the 3ZB. I figured that I could have a Jazz type tone (since the Sidewinders are essentially a single-coil pup) and an MM tone, and could blend the two. I miscalculated, though.
I like the tone of the MM and have always liked Audere preamps. Originally I tried some Bart "classic bass" soaps and liked the tone but they don't work well with Audere preamps. Then I went with the Sidewinders which sound different than the MM when soloed, but when the Sidewinders are paired they sound very much like the MM - duh, paired single-coils sounding like paired single coils. The two pickup systems blended only sound so-so as well.
What I'm looking for is a P4 shaped soapbar pickup that sound really good on their own and sound a good deal different than the MM. I don't want warmer because I'm using flats and it seems to be a warmer sounding bass anyway. I just want fundamentally different, so that I'm getting good versatility. It also has to be a P4 shaped soapbar because that's what fits in this 5-string bass. The dopes who designed this particular Ibanez BTB decided to use really long pups, which means I have to use 6-string pickups in this 5-string bass. This means, if I am going to use an exposed-pole pickup like any of the Nordstrand variety I have to order custom.
I'm also looking for something that has a good amount of output so I don't need to install a booster circuit and can have the soaps and the MM at similar heights. I'm going to be going passive with this bass so I won't be able to boost anything.
Any ideas? Thanks!
