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51 vs later precision??

L

Lowdown South

Guest
May 17, 2019
55
18
#1
I know this is a pretty nerdy question but!
Am I right in saying that the 51 pickup position is nearer the neck than the later better known split pickup? I’m thinking about having a bass built and I’m concerned that position is the same as the 51. Looking at photos of a 51 the position does look closer to the neck. If any of you can compare the two I would be very grateful for the information. And, yes I do think it affects the sound.
Thanks
 
#3
Lowdown South said:
I know this is a pretty nerdy question but!
Am I right in saying that the 51 pickup position is nearer the neck than the later better known split pickup? I’m thinking about having a bass built and I’m concerned that position is the same as the 51. Looking at photos of a 51 the position does look closer to the neck. If any of you can compare the two I would be very grateful for the information. And, yes I do think it affects the sound.
Thanks
Click to expand...
There’s likely measure specs either here at TB (search button) or on the internet’s. I’d suggest looking for consistent measurements over a few articles just to be sure your specs are as accurate as possible. People can argue about “how many winds would Leo do?” and all that so, you’ve got some research so you can recite it when the time comes.

We do enjoy pic by pic Bass build threads so, don’t exclude us and good luck.
 
#5
2saddleslab said:
Yes, the original single coil slabs had the pu closer to the neck. Sorry, I don't have a split coil to compare.
Click to expand...


Many thanks for your reply.
So as I thought from pictures I have seen. I wonder how a split coil would sound in that position. Also, wouldn’t it be great if we could ask Leo F if he moved it on purpose or if it was just a production blip and it ended up where it is by accident!
 
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#6
2saddleslab said:
Just measured my 51, it’s 3 1/2” from end of neck to middle of the pickup.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...


I’ve just measured my only bass (mij F Jazz) and it’s 4 1/8’’ from end of neck to centre of pickup. So the difference is significant and moving any pickup design would change the sound a tad. Because I play jazz and I am looking for a soft mellow tone I’ll go for the original position but to cover my basses (!is that an expression and no pun intended?!) I might have a second bridge position fitted to blend in depending on the venue.
I’ve never understood why Fender avoided a three pickup bass and why short scale basses nearly always have a true neck pickup like the EB2 for example. That’s not logical from the point of view that a short scale is going to be on the muddy side of tone anyway. I notice Billy Sheehan has a neck pickup always on his long scale but it’s very unusual.
 
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#7
To illustrate what they've told you....

Screenshot_20210822-092452_Gallery.jpg
 
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#8
Lowdown South said:
And, yes I do think it affects the sound.
Click to expand...
And yes, you're perfectly right to think so. (Although other factors contribute to the tonal difference as well, e.g. single pole piece vs double pole piece per string.)

I got both, and did a quick measutment for you.

Distance from nut to center of pole piece measured in millimeters:
- Split coil: 712mm (bass side), 741mm (treble Side)
- Single coil: 695mm
 
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#9
Lowdown South said:
Many thanks for your reply.
So as I thought from pictures I have seen. I wonder how a split coil would sound in that position. Also, wouldn’t it be great if we could ask Leo F if he moved it on purpose or if it was just a production blip and it ended up where it is by accident!
Click to expand...

From what I've read Leo didn't do anything without a good reason to back it up. He had dummy basses, a board with a neck and moveable pickups, so he could hear the sound from every possible pickup location.

I would imagine any difference between pickup locations could be smoothed out by a good EQ on an amp. These days pre-amps and amp EQ are more flexible than Leo could ever have imagined.
 
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#12
chris_b said:
From what I've read Leo didn't do anything without a good reason to back it up. He had dummy basses, a board with a neck and moveable pickups, so he could hear the sound from every possible pickup location.

I would imagine any difference between pickup locations could be smoothed out by a good EQ on an amp. These days pre-amps and amp EQ are more flexible than Leo could ever have imagined.
Click to expand...

Agree. L F wasn’t the kind of guy who would let something like this pass without his agreeing to it.
I think Dan Armstrong produced a bass with a sliding pickup arrangement. Never caught on though.
 
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#14
burpgun said:
Gibson Grabber had a sliding pickup too. I owned one a long time ago and don't remember it making much difference.
Click to expand...

Funny, you’ve reminded me! Also, too long ago I had a Bianchetti upright electric. It also had a sliding pickup arrangement and……. It didn’t make that much difference. Hahah
However it did make some difference and it did end up positioned closer to the neck end. Can’t believe I forgot about that but we are talking 30 years ago! It was an active split pickup with an early preamp. I preferred the bridge transducer piezo.
 
#16
The 51' style pickup because of it's position would have a bit more fuller bass response. According to Lindy Fralin, he feels it has a 'sweetness' that the modern P-bass doesn't have. I have a Sting as well as it's Squier copy, and I did them both a favor by having a Fralin Split 51' pickup installed. Taking out the 60 cycle buzz and keeping the tone, they are outstanding. Cheers, ;^D
 
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