51 P vs 57 P (reissues) - Blind Test

[GreggBummer]

They BOTH sound great.

A- Spit Coil (possibly)
B- Single Coil (maybe)

I prefer A just a little more. Honestly they both sound great. I'd like to hear them in a live mix through a big amp.

I love these "Pepsi Challenge" threads.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Sticking with B being the ‘51.

 

[cnltb]

Provided that not only was the set up used to record these two identical, but also the settings:I'd guess, that B is the '51 single coil.

 

[JZQuantum]

Sample A does not play for me, only B plays.

 

[bassliner50]

This is what I got. Definately a '57:

Sorry, you can't view or download this file at this time.

Too many users have viewed or downloaded this file recently. Please try accessing the file again later. If the file you are trying to access is particularly large or is shared with many people, it may take up to 24 hours to be able to view or download the file. If you still can't access a file after 24 hours, contact your domain administrator.

 

[ahc]

I can't get either file. I get the same message as @bassliner50

 

[JZQuantum]

I can't get either file. I get the same message as @bassliner50

Wondering if OP can change to hosting on Soundcloud or something similar.

 

[Dynacord]

Sample A does not play for me, only B plays.

I had the same but it worked after reloading a couple times.

Listening on laptop speakers, I'd go with A as the '57 and B as the '51.

 

[micguy]

Sorry, you can't view or download this file at this time.

I got the same comment. As downloads weren't possible in 1951 or 1957, this information...OK, it doesn't really add to the conversation, but this is Talkbass, where that doesn't matter.

A 51 should, by virtue of the pickups being closer to the neck, have a bit more beef in the bottom end. As they were typically wound, the 51 pickups also had less inductance, so they'd also have more top end extension - more "clink". And, of course, more hum. As you've changed the pickups to non-stock ones, the high end comment might be moot. Not having 2 sets of the same, fresh strings is another confusion factor that doesn't help in comparisons like this.

 

[FantasticFour]

Before reading any responses I thought the 51 was B. It seems a little brighter but could be the newer strings on that one making me think that.

Precisions are my favorite basses and I have 2 51 style (one with an original single coil and the other with a Fralin Split ‘51) 2 split coil and 5 split coil p/j s. I love em all. To me they are more similar than different.

Would you recommend changing a single coil to a split? How different are they? I love the single coil sound, but man, that noise...

To O.P.: couldn't download the files.

 

[micguy]

Would you recommend changing a single coil to a split? How different are they? I love the single coil sound, but man, that noise...
.

A split in the single coil form factor will help considerably with noise, but split hum cancelling pickups often have a problem with a "magnetic valley" - if you're high up on the neck, and bend the D string up, there's a place where that string's signal drops off. On a split P, this usually isn't noticeable - the offset makes the valley a 3d thing, and I don't notice it. One a split J pickup, the spaced dual magnets help alleviate it somewhat, but it is there - I can live with this - it doesn't pose a practical problem for me when playing. One a split coil version of the original P pickup, that valley is deep and wide - if you never bend strings high on the D string, you're good, but if you do, you'll notice it. That bothered me enough that I moved away from that pickup style.

 

[I-play-bass]

I preferred A, B sounded a hair more scooped. I don't care which is which.

 

[bassdude51]

I could not get into your sound clips but I own 4 single coil P Basses (including a real deal '53) and 6 split coil P Basses. All strung with TI flats. So, I very familiar with both.

First off, all basses sound different. Every bass has it's own "finger print" in terms of sound.

Generally, the single coils are brighter and have lower output. Generally, the split coils are thicker in sound and have normal output.

One of my split coil pickups is a 9 K ohm, MIJ Gotoh AlNiCo 5 magnet and it sounds almost exactly like a single coil P pickup (except no hum). Most split coil P pickups are in the 10.5 K to 11.75 K range. (My 1953 P Bass pickup is only 5.6 K ohm.)

On the single coil P pickups, if the high end is rolled off and the volume kicked up a bit, there's not really a terrible big difference in sound compared to the split coil.

The fact that you are getting different opinions on which bass is which is proof that there's not a whole lot of difference between the single coil Ps and the split coil Ps.

In terms of outward appearance................Slab Bodies RULE!

 

[FantasticFour]

A split in the single coil form factor will help considerably with noise, but split hum cancelling pickups often have a problem with a "magnetic valley" - if you're high up on the neck, and bend the D string up, there's a place where that string's signal drops off. On a split P, this usually isn't noticeable - the offset makes the valley a 3d thing, and I don't notice it. One a split J pickup, the spaced dual magnets help alleviate it somewhat, but it is there - I can live with this - it doesn't pose a practical problem for me when playing. One a split coil version of the original P pickup, that valley is deep and wide - if you never bend strings high on the D string, you're good, but if you do, you'll notice it. That bothered me enough that I moved away from that pickup style.

Thanks, that's very useful to know. I guess I could live without bending the D on this particular bass. Does the split-coil produce a decent clear sound? I wouldn't want a quarter pound in there.

 

[Maxfenderbass]

I would be very surprised if A was not the split coil. It sounds a lot like my 58 reissue.

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Rats!

I knew I shouldn't rely on Google Drive, as pub(l)ic as you set it...

I'm uploading to Soundcloud now, fixing in a sec

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Sample A does not play for me, only B plays.

Sorry, you can't view or download this file at this time.

I can't get either file. I get the same message as @bassliner50

Wondering if OP can change to hosting on Soundcloud or something similar.

I got the same comment.

To O.P.: couldn't download the files.

I could not get into your sound clips

Here we go:

SAMPLE A

SAMPLE B

Hopefully that'll fix it, I can't edit the first post anymore.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Here we go:

SAMPLE A

SAMPLE B

Hopefully that'll fix it, I can't edit the first post anymore.

A = 57
B = 51

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Good to know that it's working now...

... I was gonna write something more but I'll give some more time for those users to catch up - in case they want to.

I'm upset no one has congratulated on the playing material, though

 

[bassdude51]

Heard your clips. Great job redoing it!

WOW! Which is which? I don't know. It's that simple, I don't know. The difference between the 2 is like maybe 5%. #1 clip sounds a teeny tiny bit brighter so I'm gonna guess that it is the single coil.

I'm glad that my life is not on the line with my answer because I don't really know which is which.

A fun thread and it sure shows that there is never any reason "to cuss" the old single coil P pickups because they sound GREAT!

Here's mine.