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Ed Friedland Agrees: Reverse P is the way to go!

#21
Wouldn't moving the J pick up closer to the bridge make it sound even more nasally or pinched? I think there is more of a trade off then is being discussed in the video. Sure it sounds good, but to me if you want the classic P sound, the classic configuration is going to get you closer. Why wouldn't it?
 
#22
Burp City....

jb2pups_0830.gif
 
#27
If people spent more time using their ears rather than their eyes when evaluating gear, we'd all be better off.

The main reason we have so many P-J basses is it's always been easy to get a J pickup. Once MM style pickups became available from third party vendors there was a surge in basses with an MM at the bridge.

Fender themselves didn't offer a P-J for many years even though it's such a popular mod. Fender even offered a dual P (Elite II) bass before introducing their first P-J (MIJ Jazz Special...the "Duff McKagan" bass).
 
#35
RCCollins said:
It's an MFD that sounds VERY different from the split-P on any Leo-era Fender, even if it's mounted in the standard P-bass position! I LOVE them, but would love the SB-1/2 even more if the configuration were reversed. :smug:
Click to expand...

How do you know? Have you heard a bass with an MFD P pickup in the standard P-bass position? It's not, on the SB-2 - it's about 3/8" closer to the bridge than on a standard P bass. Or have you heard an SB-2 with a regular Fender P pickup on the SB-2's normal P position?

If neither, then how do you know whether the SB-2 sound is because of a difference in the pickup and not the pickup position?

For that matter, the SB-2's E-A pickup is about where it would be on a Fender P with a "Reverse P" pickup. The difference is that the D-G pickup on the SB-2 is a fair bit closer to the bridge than it would be on a Fender Reverse P arrangement. So maybe that's why the SB-2 sounds so much more aggressive?

Instead of P versus Reverse P, maybe Leo got it the best by not reversing it, but moving it closer to the bridge... All the benefits to E-A of a Reverse P, but with improvement to the D-G....

:D
 
#36
StuartV said:
How do you know? Have you heard a bass with an MFD P pickup in the standard P-bass position?
Click to expand...

Yes, this.

I'm not fond of high end or twang that's associated with the standard P-configuration. Mind you, it's still one of my very favorite pickup designs (I like vintage-type alnicos as well as MFDs, for different reasons); I just always find myself wishing the P were reversed. The tone seems just a little too uneven from sting-to-string. Of course I realize that this appeals to many people. I also prefer the reverse configuration for playing fingerstyle right on top of the pickup.

That isn't to say that moving the pickups down the body on the SB-1/2 doesn't have an effect. It just doesn't correct the (minor) issues I have with standard split-P configuration. It actually makes the brightness a bit worse (especially with no tone knob ;) ) - to ME. I think we have different tone goals.
 
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#39
RCCollins said:
That isn't to say that moving the pickups down the body on the SB-1/2 doesn't have an effect. It just doesn't correct the (minor) issues I have with standard split-P configuration. It actually makes the brightness a bit worse (especially with no tone knob ;) ) - to ME. I think we have different tone goals.
Click to expand...

Now you've prompted me to ask a different question. And please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not at all trying to imply anything negative about you. For all I know, Stanley Clarke comes to you for lessons and you are the first call sub when Will Lee is on vacation. :D So, the question is regarding the SB-2 and brightness. Have you ever played an SB-2 in a band mix (of the rock, blues, or even country genre)?

I ask because when I got my SB-2, it didn't take me long to decide I wanted to tame the zinginess and I ordered parts for it to do the Tone Mod. But, since then, I have not actually installed those parts. One of the main reasons is that I've now had a few jam sessions playing blues stuff along with 1 or 2 guitarists and a drummer. And, I found that, in that environment, all the zinginess or brightness that I didn't care for when playing alone completely disappeared and it just sounds awesome (to me). Better (to me) than my '66 Precision. Better than my Sadowsky Jazz.

Again, I sincerely intend no disrespect or anything at all negative by the question. I just found the SB-2 to be so different between playing it at home by myself versus with a band that I'm curious if you have tried it with a band and still felt like it was more bright-sounding than you want.
 

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