pickups way up against the neck

henryjurstin13 · #1 02-06-2007, 05:47 AM

I am currently playing a Hwy 1 Jazz. I keep searching for my sound & I really dig the sound of the Gibson stuff with humbuckers, and pickups slammed up against the neck.

Has anyone ever put a P-pup up against the neck? what would it be like? I have often thought about building a bass with 3 pups, 2 hot jazz pups & a mudbucker on the neck. But, the volume would vary way too much. The P pup might be easier to tame, yet could offer much of the same tone. I have seen the old Fenders (tele?) with the pickup in the position I'm talking about, but I have no experience/knowledge of them.

I searched for a p-pup on the neck, but couldn't find anything. And I am not talking about putting a p-pup in the neck j-position, I'm talking about putting it up against the neck like an EB-3.

Liten · #2 02-06-2007, 06:13 AM

Think you should check out the Model One: http://www.guitar.com.au/pickups/dim...s/model_1.html

Im not keen on the "Billy" sound.. but on the other hand he uses 2 plugs and send the Model one signal throug some stuff.. Don't remembder the size on the speakers in his cabs.. but.. after hearing it live.. Im guessing there are som HUGE woofers in there somewere.. the hz is frekin' crazy low..

henryjurstin13 · #3 02-06-2007, 06:18 AM

I am familiar with the model 1 pups... I have no direct experience with them, but have read about them quite a bit.

henryjurstin13 · #4 02-06-2007, 05:51 PM

Also -- just another tidbit to add. I have a Variax & whenever I use the Pbass model, I turn the knob to simulate the pickup being up against the neck. Very warm & full. Much rounder & smoother.

Has anyone ever seen or tried this with a real bass & p-pup?

darthplagis · #5 02-06-2007, 06:11 PM

i have a MM copy (my 1st bass) that i retrofitted a P in see pic...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...gis/pickup.jpg

the tone is a little warmer and woodier but still P style (lots of thump but no way T bird style)

fender_mod · #6 02-06-2007, 06:30 PM

i put a SD quarter pound single coil in the neck of my p bass and it is nice, but kinda trebly for my taste, but the small space and high output get the job done. prolly might replace it for a rick replacement or eventually the dimarzio replacement, wired in parallel. but i have neither the money nor my old man's router to accomplish either of these.

neck pup is nice because if you add a little gain you can get very nice tone with finger style. thumpy and articulate. however playin up close to the neck presents some problems if you have lower action but playing style can be altered to counter for this.

all in all its nice and although i cant offer insight into a p bass or gibson p/up but like i said the single coil is nice so the p bass will most likely be a more verisite choice.

keyboardguy · #7 02-06-2007, 11:19 PM

Like this?

It's a Carvin B4 Alder. I'm using the stock Carvin J99's and adding a Reverend P-Pup. It will be passive with V/V/V Tone. I also ordered from Carvin a maple/rosewood neck with no dot inlays (on the side only).

I think it should put out some serious thump. <G>

Regards,

Mike

henryjurstin13 · #8 02-07-2007, 07:46 AM

I can't wait to hear more about it. That is exactly what I have in my head right now! It seems like such a simple idea, I wonder why it isn't a more common project?

keyboardguy · #9 02-07-2007, 10:11 PM

"I wonder why it isn't a more common project?"

Me too.

I have to finish staining the body and the neck is shipping this week. I usually put 10-12 coats of Minwax tung oil on the neck. I'll surely give a review when I get this baby put together.

Mike

henryjurstin13 · #10 02-07-2007, 10:37 PM

Keep me posted -- even outside this thread, if need be. I am way more positive about doing this myself, knowing now that I am not the only person thinking it would sound good. I really like the sound of the EB series basses with that big ol' humbucker up against the neck. A p-pup up there just seems like a no-brainer for that kind of tone. I have been debating some strong pickups (possibly some 1/4 pounders, or some other high output, passive pups) for my Hwy 1 Jazz & a p-pup (or maybe even a EB humbucker) in the neck.

blueyedmule · #11 02-12-2007, 06:03 PM

Just wanted to clarify, on Billy's old bass he calls "The Wife" he added a Gibson Sidewinder pup, the Gibson EB neck humbucker. However, the pup he has on his signature bass isn't a Dimarzio Model One, it's a Dimarzio Willpower (neck position). Looks like the EB or Model One but has different output characteristics.

keyboardguy · #12 05-17-2007, 11:26 PM

An update.

I sat in last week with a blues band and boy, this Carvin THUMPS !

A full ballsy tone with a deep low end.

I have the P pup @ 100%, middle 80% and the bridge off with the tone off or turned up 10%.

I'm now adding a Kent armstrong MM pup near the neck in a Peavey BXP Millenium. I think this one should sound nice too....

Mike

62bass · #13 05-18-2007, 03:31 AM

Nice job. How does the P pickup sound soloed?

keyboardguy · #14 05-18-2007, 07:09 PM

"Nice job. How does the P pickup sound soloed?"

Big and low

bassman10096 · #15 05-18-2007, 09:32 PM

Check out the Lakland Decade - twin Dark Stars, one right up to the neck - massive low end.

Kenny Allyn · #16 05-19-2007, 07:32 AM

Dark Star next to the neck sounds massive!

Attachment 58930

... Matter of fact they sound great in every position ... the Decade would be a good choice!