Best mate for a P pickup

[birminghambass]

Ok, have a MIA Fender P, love it. The fit, finish, neck, and weight are perfect for me, definitely a keeper. Problem is (as with all Ps) I have to have a bridge pickup. The Nord P in it sounds great but I need the tonal diversity that a bridge pickup adds. Now I just need to decide what pickup to add in the bridge position. I'm not a fan of PJs, owned about a dozen through the years the tone never quite worked.
I'm considering adding a Nord big split or dual coil. Any suggestions?

 

[xoloder]

I have a frankenP to which I added a second split P at the bridge position. It sounds wonderful to me. It started with double quarter pounders, but as my tastes changed a bit I switched to a Fender '62 in the original position and a random Squier pickup that I had which actually sounds great at the bridge. I love the tones I can pull from this thing. Just a thought...

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Just get a Nordstrand MM humbucker with Series / Parallel / Single switch. A P pickup with a Big Split would be a bit weird..

 

[birminghambass]

Just get a Nordstrand MM humbucker with Series / Parallel / Single switch. A P pickup with a Big Split would be a bit weird..

Weird? Isn't a big split like a P pickup?

 

[Double E]

Weird? Isn't a big split like a P pickup?

Nope...not quite.

 

[miles'tone]

A Nordstrand dual coils (series option) would be very interesting.

 

[Clark Dark]

I have a frankenP to which I added a second split P at the bridge position. It sounds wonderful to me. It started with double quarter pounders, but as my tastes changed a bit I switched to a Fender '62 in the original position and a random Squier pickup that I had which actually sounds great at the bridge. I love the tones I can pull from this thing. Just a thought...

+10... Those BC Rich Mockingbirds the metal guys love sound great with the double P arrangement. So do those Blacktop Fender Jazzes. That's going to be my next build too with a filter pre.

 

[Lo-E]

I was going to suggest another Nordy split P as well.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Weird? Isn't a big split like a P pickup?

Big Split

P pickup

 

[birminghambass]

Well obviously they differ in appearance, thanks. I meant the fact that a big split is two fat single coils side by side, like a P.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

But, have you made a decision?

 

[birminghambass]

No but I have narrowed it down to Nord Big Splits or Dual Coils.

 

[walterw]

i don't think you should do it at all, but if you gotta, the big split makes perfect sense.

 

[birminghambass]

I gotta, I'm a two pickup kind of guy. And my cover gig demands the versatility.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

@ WalterW

Well I would recommend the Dual Coil instead, since it's a humbucking pickup.

 

[birminghambass]

The Big Splits are humbuckers too.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Ah yes, but I should have mentioned ''with switch option''

 

[walterw]

sure, but sometimes i find that the combined "P+big humbucker" sound lacks the clarity of a nice J pair, or even a P+J. it just seems a bit murky.

the big split would still keep a good bit of single coil edge, while being fat enough to balance with the P, having similar impedance (so the controls work the same), and of course not humming.

 

[thumblypeg]

I have a frankenP to which I added a second split P at the bridge position. It sounds wonderful to me. It started with double quarter pounders, but as my tastes changed a bit I switched to a Fender '62 in the original position and a random Squier pickup that I had which actually sounds great at the bridge. I love the tones I can pull from this thing. Just a thought...

Do you know where I can find wiring diagrams for this scenario?

 

[blindrabbit]

How about considering some non-pickup options for adding tonal versatility? Maybe an active preamp, or using some pedals?

I'm curious too how it is that you dislike P/Js but feel that a bridge pickup is what you are looking for? Maybe you want a MM-type tone?