I could never leave it as my only pickup since I'm a harmonic junkie... ;-)
I think Leo tried to address (and succeeded) some of the issues related to his first design. Obviously, you take and you give, but in terms of harmonics "fixed"=check, hum=check, smoother attack and larger magnetic window=check... The issue of magnetic void at the half between the two split coils of a split p in a single coil shape was brought forward before. However, due to the small magnetic window of the single pole pieces under the strings, you'll see that bendings on higher frets tend to drop in volume under each string anyway. Not that much with a Duncan single-coil quarter pounder, which I have too as a spare and it's not bad at all - I can't comment on the split QP as I've never owned one, and I don't want to touch that subject...
This was a really fun thread.
I think I'm (pleasantly) surprised I am by the 51.
For some reason, I always pictured them as being very low to low-mid focused and not that bright.
However, in listening to the first clips I actually thought the 51 was brighter and even had a bit more output/volume.
You know what's funny? It's that I do agree that the single coil sounds brighter (I'd say "airy") and less thick when listened back, but when playing those very two basses - which are both fine - I notice a clankier presence in the upper mid register which makes me think of it as "brighter". The 51, probably also thanks to it's pickup placement, has a "bouncier" feel when you dig in and airier but smoother high frequencies.
@bassdude51 , you seem to know the 51-style P inside out, can you confirm my feeling or is it just a personal thing of mine?
It might also be (to an extent) that the Bare Knuckle is claimed to be plain enamel (there's the waxed rope around the coil like in the original ones from the 50s, I can't see it) while the Pribora is enamelled copper (more orange-ish) like you see in Fralins, Aguilar, etc., with a thicker wire, which should lead it to have a slightly brighter resonant peak vs. the same design in plain enamel. However, I think both pickups are quite well voiced (I'm glad someone confirmed here) and they complement each other. And I have to add that the Knuckle is a bit thicker and warmer than the stock 51 MIJ alnico single-coil pickup, anyway, as a direct comparison. The single-coil quarter pounder is predictably rounder, fatter but also rather present on the high, with a nice modern and slightly more scooped tone. The Knuckle is smoother and more old-school by design, and definitely the more expensive of the three
I guess the wire would only be one of the factors anyway, and probably a rather minor one.
(OFF TOPIC: can anyone enlighten me on the wire specs of SPB3s, the "standard" quarter pounders? Is it formwar/orange or the dark purple plain enamel? All photos around the internet seem to have the plastic covers on...)
What was pointed out before and, alas, it's correct, is that the 51 has newer strings. I thought they were more similar in terms of wear than I realised here. OTOH, they are both coated Elixir Nanowebs of the same gauge, so they tend to age slowly, and I think this comparison is anyway more indicative than, say, two fresh sets of Elixir and Swing66 respectively... And I'm still within rounds, making a comparison with rounds and flats would be a bit moot IMO.
Question - where would something like the Fralin 51 split-coil fit in?
Its their early 50's P-Bass pickup, but with the E and A magnets in a separate coil from the D and G (even though its one horizontal pickup.
Thanks for the fun thread.
I can't help that much, there are more experienced users here for that, but I think you get a bit of both: a thicker response of the two coils with a lower resonant peak THAN a single coil, obviously no hum, the sharper attack of the single magnet under the string and a less mid-centered response compared to the short and large standard split bobbins - it still retains the "tall and narrow" design.
In terms of outward appearance................Slab Bodies RULE!
In terms of inward annoyance, I have to say they are a pain in the arse when playing seated, unfortunately. That's also one of the main reasons I mainly end up picking the "standard" P when playing.
