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

[Dr. Cheese]

I've always thought that reverse P pickups make a lot of sense. A bit more bite and less woof on the low strings, and a bit more roundness and less twang on the high strings, for more even tone.

That sums it up for the P-pup. When run with a J, the reverse P makes for a less harsh slap tone, that is much closer to a Jazz bass when the two pickups are combined. Run solo, the reverse P-pickup still has that Precision tone.

StuartV, the harshness of he SB-2 slap tone is what makes it a no go for me. It takes a reverse P to get the slap tone I really like.

 

[RCCollins]

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. 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.

No offense taken. That's a totally reasonable and legit question, and the answer is yeah, sure I have. But I've never found that the G and D strings needed any extra brightness - the strings that benefit from being further from the neck are the E and A. I like a pretty mid-heavy sound and never have much trouble cutting through for lack of highs. I like the tonal and output consistency to be as even as possible from string to string.

Mind you that I really have no problem playing a standard P configuration - it just isnt PERFECT to me.

FWIW I don't currently own any bass with a reverse P. So I'm obviously dealing with my pet peeve.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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. 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.

Many make similar observations about Sadowskys, saying they are too bright alone, but are clear and present in the mix.

 

[MEKer]

Most all the early 1980's Washburn basses (including my SB-40's) were made with reverse P's with the jazz pickup in bridge position. I love'em.

 

[StuartV]

Thanks for the responses, Doc Cheese and RCCollins.

I think I'm going to have to do the Tone Mod to my SB-2, just to see if I like it any better. When I'm playing my P, I do like to roll the tone off a bit. Which is why I got the parts for the SB-2 in the first place....

 

[johnk_10]

while i respect Ed's playing and opinions (as well as everyone else's), i really think Leo nailed it in 1957 on the p bass. the standard P (non reverse) is the one for me. and IMO, same thing for the slanted telecaster as strat guitar bridge pickups too.

 

[Nedmundo]

I think I'm going to have to do the Tone Mod to my SB-2, just to see if I like it any better. When I'm playing my P, I do like to roll the tone off a bit. Which is why I got the parts for the SB-2 in the first place....

Well, FWIW, I did the tone mod and really like it. This allows you to add some growl/edge via the bridge pickup, then remove a little zing. It's just more flexible, but not necessary by any means. As usual, Leo's original concept gets the job done.

I suspect Leo moved the MFD split-coil closer to the bridge to remove just a touch of low end boom, and even then, the MFD still produces more low end power than a regular P-bass. At least it sounds (and feels) that way to me. And I love it.

 

[Thundar]

RevP/J has always been my favorite configuration, especially on a Spector
Im with you, Cheese....theres something about the "slap" sound on a revP/J that really appeals to me... they have a certain "bounce", I call it, that no other configuration has.

 

[Darnell Jones]

I like Ed Friedland's videos as much as the next person, but you should not lose sight of the fact that he is paid to do these things. That makes these videos more of a showcase rather than a review.

Is that why there's never ever a bad review and everything is always awesome and buying advertising in his magazine?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Is that why there's never ever a bad review and everything is always awesome and buying advertising in his magazine?

I think Ed Friedland does honest reviews, they just are not negative in tone. I remember clearly pointing out the significant hum on the Yamaha BB2025X and I remember him making a point of how narrow the string spacing is on the Ibanez Gerald Veasley Signature Bass, as two examples of him noting things that a buyer might not like about a bass.

Back on topic, the coolest reverse P bass that I have never owned, but would love to have is a Spector NS-2. I would love either the American version of the Doug Wimbish Signature model.

 

[Jim C]

Other than Warwick, Spector, and Yamaha, what other major manufacturers made reverse P basses?
Also, aren't most of these in the 9+ lb range?

 

[Schlyder]

I also like the reverse P configuration. It sounds great on my Elias bass.

 

[David Jayne]

Eh, I've had P's both ways and I really don't hear a huge difference. Yeah, reverse lends more lows to the high strings and vice versa, but to me that's not necessarily desirable. A standard P has more meat on the low strings, and more 'pop,' or presence, on the high strings, which helps them to be heard. I suspect that was the original idea behind it, and I like it.

 

[Darnell Jones]

Tobias soapbars from the Pre Gibson/Hollywood & Gibson/Burbank era are reverse P's under the cover.

Lot's of soapbars are P or reverse P.

 

[Darnell Jones]

A standard P has more meat on the low strings, and more 'pop,' or presence, on the high strings, which helps them to be heard. I suspect that was the original idea behind it, and I like it.

Could be, the bridge on a strat or tele does the same thing and maybe the goal was to go the other way and not make the strings sound even.

I have a quad coil that can be switched from regular P to reverse P and while I think I favor reverse either is just fine for me

 

[smcd]

Is that why there's never ever a bad review and everything is always awesome and buying advertising in his magazine?

Yes. He strikes a deal with the manufacturer to showcase instruments. There was a thread a while back where he explained his principles on this. As I recall, he only reviews instruments he likes. Which isn't much of a review, of course. He also receives compensation from the manufacturer for his trouble. This causes me to take his opinions with a grain of salt. Even so, I do watch his video presentations, and I do enjoy them.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Eh, I've had P's both ways and I really don't hear a huge difference. Yeah, reverse lends more lows to the high strings and vice versa, but to me that's not necessarily desirable. A standard P has more meat on the low strings, and more 'pop,' or presence, on the high strings, which helps them to be heard. I suspect that was the original idea behind it, and I like it.

If it's a single pickup bass, there is not much difference, IMO. The difference is very pronounced if the reverse P is paired with a single coil in the bridge position. When the two pickups are combined, the tone of the bass is much closer to a Jazz Bass, especially when it is slapped.

 

[smcd]

This is the thread where Friedland describes what he does. In great detail. He's honest and open about it, and as in his videos, he comes across as very likeable.

 

[Darnell Jones]

Yes. He strikes a deal with the manufacturer to showcase instruments. There was a thread a while back where he explained his principles on this. As I recall, he only reviews instruments he likes. Which isn't much of a review, of course. He also receives compensation from the manufacturer for his trouble. This causes me to take his opinions with a grain of salt. Even so, I do watch his video presentations, and I do enjoy them.

It's good to keep that in mind. I do think the videos are very useful in comparing one reviewed instrument to another to see how they differ. Having one person on so many instruments lets you remove the player & venue from the comparison.

This style of reviewing isn't limited to Ed. I don't want to single him out amongst the rest of the advertisers. Most anything you see in a magazine or commercial youtube channel is simply advertising.

 

[darkstorm]

I like the tonal balance better with reverse P myself.