Ed Friedland Agrees: Reverse P is the way to go!

[Dr. Cheese]

Warwick Streamer LX 4 SE Bass - YouTube


I think reverse P/J is so much better than a regular P/J that it's not even close, especially when it comes to slapping!
BTW, Ed Friedland is just sick when it comes to pick tone and technique!

 

[Jared Lash]

BTW, Ed Friedland is just sick when it comes to tone and technique!

Slight fix. Ed's got the goods whether it's pickstyle, fingerstyle or slap on pretty much any bass in any style. I'm always impressed by his upright playing.

And I can see why Ed would feel that way. While he is again very versatile, I think his default tone is very crisp, even and modern sounding and I think the reverse P does that better by tightening up the E & A string and giving a little more heft to the D & G vs the traditional P. Makes for a more even and clear tone IMO.

For a more vintage tone I dig the P and for a bit more hi-fi, slap friendly tone I like the reverse P.

 

[lowendgenerator]

I swear I just watched this video a few minutes ago, while waiting for my first Warwick to arrive. I am inclined to agree, reverse P is where it's at. More bite on the E and A, more roundness on the D and G.

Ed has a way of making everything sound awesome.

 

[5StringPocket]

+1 on the reverse P and on Ed sounding awsome. I like the sound of the reverse P on my Valenti PJ5. Slightly tighter lows, heftier highs, and a more even tone across the strings make it a keeper.

 

[pbass2]

I miss the two Yammy BB1200s I had in the past with reverse P. Man, they sounded so great.
Was always hoping to come across the Rocca Prestia sig P that Fender made a while back--would love to try one out.

 

[Peepaleep]

+1 on the reverse P. Sounds great on my Guild Pilot.

 

[SolarMan]

That thing is a TOne MOnster! - maybe the most versatile bass I have ever heard.

And some of the best playing I've ever seen by Ed - he is just fantastic.

Thanks Dr. Cheese!

 

[StuartV]

Bah! You've all got it wrong!

The G&L SB-2 pickup placement is where it's at. It's roughly 3/8" closer to the bridge. So, the low string pickup is about where a "standard" Reverse P low string pickup would be. But, the high string pickup is even closer to the bridge to give it a little more growl.

If you like a good P (or P/J) and you haven't tried an SB-2, you owe it to yourself....

 

[pbass2]

That thing is a TOne MOnster! - maybe the most versatile bass I have ever heard.

I've never cared much for the Warwick look, but that DOES really seem like a "do anything" bass--I think I could change my mind about the visual aesthetics...

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I've always liked the idea, and in every instance I've tried RVP, it always sounds good to me.

If I'm putting together a bass and I CAN easily go 'Reverse-P" I do it.

 

[johnk_10]

i have a bass that i can switch between a reverse P and a standard P and i actually prefer the standard P configuration, but to each his own.

 

[smcd]

I like Ed Friedland's videos as much as the next person, but you should not lose sight of the fact that he is paid to do these things. That makes these videos more of a showcase rather than a review.


Also note that what you're hearing is less a reverse-P pickup than a *Bartolini* reverse-P pickup. If you think that any reverse-P pickup is going to improve your sound, you're in for disappointment.

 

[sotua]

Warwick Streamer LX 4 SE Bass - YouTube


I think reverse P/J is so much better than a regular P/J that it's not even close, especially when it comes to slapping!
BTW, Ed Friedland is just sick when it comes to pick tone and technique!

Mind you, Ed Friedland will rule on a P/J, rP/J, J/J, MM, MM+J, or whatever bass you put in front of him.

(his videos have me with perpetual gas for a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2 I can't afford - and now a Warwick Streamer LX4SE! NOT FUNNY ED! )

 

[NWB]

Bah! You've all got it wrong!

The G&L SB-2 pickup placement is where it's at. It's roughly 3/8" closer to the bridge. So, the low string pickup is about where a "standard" Reverse P low string pickup would be. But, the high string pickup is even closer to the bridge to give it a little more growl.

If you like a good P (or P/J) and you haven't tried an SB-2, you owe it to yourself....

I do like a good P/J.

I have tried an SB-2.

I now own said SB-2!

 

[cloverkeys]

If you think that any reverse-P pickup is going to improve your sound, you're in for disappointment.

I'll argue it will improve your sound almost as much as shaving your head and growing a gotee

 

[ghostdog93]

I'll argue it will improve your sound almost as much as shaving your head and growing a gotee

Hey, wait...what?

 

[JMimbs]

Hey, wait...what?

Win!

Just saw that movie last weekend.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Pretty sure Leo tried both orientations. I'll stick with his decision.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

For the record, I have reverse P/J basses for years, going back to a sweet BB2000 I owned almost 25 years ago. I also remember being blown away by a wicked reverse P/J LowEnd six string I played back in 2008.

 

[edfriedland]

Thanks for all the nice comments y'all! I will answer one comment about my "default" tone. In fact, I'd say in everyday life... on most gigs, my default tone is vintage and dark. The sounds I get when demoing a bass do not reflect what I use most of the time. But then, I cover a lot of different styles and adjust my tone accordingly, so in a way I don't really have my own sound. I'm not really concerned with having a signature tone, I want my tone to be right for the situation - so I have lots of choices.

RE: Reverse P.... I think it's a great solution for a P/J setup, my main complaint with the standard arrangement is the treble coil of the P is too close to the J pickup in the bridge. Moving the J pickup back toward the bridge helps, but reversing the P coils makes it even better. That said, it's just a matter of opinion. Many people love their standard P/J setups, it's just my preference.