I think it's the same size as a musicman humbucker? Going off memory here tho
Is there anything creative I can do with that single pickup? The original triple humbucker had so much variety built into it that I would love to get something like a stingray sound and a p bass sound available. I asked Bing and here's what it said
**Yes — you *can* get both Stingray bite and P‑Bass punch in a Music Man–sized pickup route, but you need the right designs.** There are several “MM‑footprint” pickups that hide P‑style coils, dual‑voice systems, or multi‑coil layouts inside the Music Man shell.
Below is the clean breakdown so you can pick the right one.
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#
What You Want
- **Stingray sound** → ceramic or Alnico humbucker in MM position, strong upper mids, aggressive attack.
- **P‑Bass sound** → split‑coil offset design, mid‑forward, woody, classic thump.
To get *both* from one pickup, you need either:
1. **A Music Man pickup with P‑style coils inside**, or
2. **A multi‑coil MM pickup with switchable coil modes**, or
3. **A dual‑pickup setup (MM + P) in one housing**.
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#
Best Music Man–Sized Pickups That Can Do P‑Bass + Stingray
## **1. Nordstrand MM 4.2 / MM 5.2 (with “P‑coil mode”)**
- Nordstrand winds their MM pickups so one coil is voiced like a P‑Bass half.
- With a switch, you can run:
- **Series humbucker** → Stingray punch
- **Single‑coil (front coil)** → P‑Bass‑like mid bump
- **Parallel** → classic Stingray clarity
- Very popular for players wanting both worlds.
**Why it works:** The front coil is intentionally offset and voiced like a P coil.
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## **2. Delano MC Series (MC4 AL, MC4 FE, etc.)**
- Delano’s “MC” MM pickups have **huge pole pieces** and very flexible wiring.
- In single‑coil mode, the **front coil** gives a P‑like tone.
- In series/parallel, they deliver modern or vintage Stingray tones.
**Why it works:** Their coil geometry and magnet layout give a strong midrange similar to a P.
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## **3. Bartolini MMC / MME / DL Series**
- Bartolini’s MM pickups are known for:
- Warm, thick Stingray‑style humbucker tones
- **Front‑coil single‑coil mode that mimics a P‑Bass**
- They’re smoother and darker than Nordstrand or Delano, but very flexible.
**Why it works:** Bartolini’s coil design emphasizes low mids — the P‑Bass sweet spot.
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## **4. Aguilar AG 4M / 5M + DCB‑M Series**
- The AG‑M series gives a very authentic Stingray sound.
- The DCB‑M series is more modern and neutral.
- With coil switching, the **front coil** can approximate a P‑Bass tone.
**Why it works:** Aguilar’s MM pickups are designed for multi‑mode wiring.
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## **5. EMG MMCS / MMTW (Active Multi‑Voice)**
- EMG’s **MMTW** is the most “dual personality” pickup:
- **Mode 1:** Music Man ceramic/steel humbucker
- **Mode 2:** EMG single‑coil (very P‑like when placed forward)
- Requires active electronics, but extremely versatile.
**Why it works:** It literally has two different pickup systems inside.
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#
The Unicorn Option:
## **Nordstrand “MM + P” Hybrid (Custom Shop Only)**
Nordstrand will build a **P‑Bass split coil inside a Music Man shell**.
This gives:
- True P‑Bass tone
- True MM tone
- No routing required
This is the most accurate way to get both tones from one pickup footprint.
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#
Important Note
A Music Man pickup sits closer to the bridge than a P‑Bass pickup.
So even with P‑style coils, the tone will be:
- Slightly brighter
- Slightly tighter
- Less “woody” than a real P position
BUT the best designs above get **very close**, especially Nordstrand and Delano.
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#
Best Recommendation for Your Goal
If you want **the closest possible Stingray + P‑Bass in one pickup**, choose:
### **Nordstrand MM 4.2 (or 5.2) with coil switching**
or
### **Nordstrand custom MM/P hybrid**
These are the most convincing P‑Bass tones in an MM shell while still delivering the Stingray slap sound.
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If you want, I can also:
- Recommend wiring diagrams
- Suggest the best preamps for Stingray + P versatility
- Compare tones between brands
- Help you choose based on your bass model
Just tell me what bass you’re putting this in.
I have a paradactyl 3 preamp it is going in an Ibanez ATK 305 and I also have the three-way switch with the built-in filter in the neck position
Perfect — now we’re talking about a
very specific and very powerful configuration.
Your
Ibanez ATK305 + Paradactyl 3 + ATK triple‑coil switch + neck filter switch gives you more routing flexibility than a Stingray or a P‑Bass ever had. You can absolutely engineer both voices inside that MM shell if you choose the right pickup and wire it correctly.
Let’s break down what you actually have, what it gives you, and the smartest pickup choice for your goal.
Ibanez ATK305
- Triple‑coil MM‑style pickup in the bridge position
- 3‑way coil selector (series / single / parallel)
- Naturally aggressive midrange, closer to a Stingray than a P
Paradactyl 3 Preamp
- Extremely flexible EQ
- Multiple filter modes
- Can emphasize P‑Bass mid hump or Stingray upper‑mid bite
- Works beautifully with multi‑coil MM pickups
Neck‑position filter switch
- Lets you shift the resonant peak
- This is exactly what you need to “fake” P‑Bass placement even though the pickup is closer to the bridge
You want:
- Stingray slap tone
- P‑Bass thump
- All inside a Music Man footprint
This is absolutely doable with the right pickup.
Given your preamp and switching, the
Nordstrand MM 5.2 is the most powerful and flexible choice.
Why Nordstrand MM 5.2 is perfect for you:
- The front coil is intentionally voiced like a P‑Bass half
- In series → aggressive Stingray punch
- In parallel → classic Stingray clarity
- In front‑coil mode → P‑Bass‑like mid bump
- Works beautifully with the Paradactyl’s filters
- Nordstrand’s coil geometry plays nicely with the ATK’s pickup placement
This is the closest you’ll get to
true P‑Bass tone in an MM shell without routing.
Your ATK already has a 3‑way coil selector. With the Nordstrand MM 5.2, you can map it like this:
ATK 3‑way switch (recommended mapping)
- Position 1 — Series humbucker
- Your Stingray slap tone
- Boost upper mids on the Paradactyl for true Ray bite
- Position 2 — Front coil only
- Your P‑Bass mode
- Engage your neck‑filter switch to shift the resonant peak lower
- Roll a bit of high end off on the Paradactyl
- Position 3 — Parallel humbucker
- Classic Stingray clarity
- Great for fingerstyle or scooped tones
This gives you three
distinct voices from one pickup.
Because the pickup is closer to the bridge than a real P:
- You’ll get slightly more attack
- Slightly less “wood”
- But with the Paradactyl’s filters and the Nordstrand’s P‑voiced front coil, you get shockingly close
Your neck‑filter switch is the secret weapon here — it shifts the resonant peak into P‑Bass territory.
Nordstrand will build a
custom MM/P hybrid:
- True split‑coil P inside an MM shell
- True MM humbucker
- No routing
- Works perfectly with your ATK switch and Paradactyl
This is the “no‑compromise” option.
If you want, I can also map out:
- Exact wiring diagram for your ATK switch + Paradactyl
- Recommended capacitor values for the neck filter
- EQ settings to nail Stingray vs P‑Bass
- Pickup height settings for both tones
Just tell me how deep you want to go.
ibanez.fandom.com
