Hey guys? why are my pickups backwards?

[Bassman Ski]

I posted these pics on another thread and I didnt want to hijack that thread... I was given this Charvel bass by an old friend. I have had it for nearly 17 years. When I posted these pics on the other thread, I noticed compared to my white charvel (same model) that the "P" pickup is backwards configuration than the white... What the junk?

 

[line6man]

Some prefer the reversed P configuration, as it makes the low strings brighter, and the high strings deeper.

 

[Bassman Ski]

Some prefer the reversed P configuration, as it makes the low strings brighter, and the high strings deeper.

Interesting! Shame I changed out the stock pups on the white charvel before I got the red one... I would have been interested to compare it.

But what makes it strange is that they are the same model bass.

 

[mongo2]

I prefer the reverse P and used it in one of my personal builds. My Guild Pilot has EMGs in a reverse P with a J configuration.

 

[JTE]

Not the same model, despite having the same name. Just like a 1954 Precision isn't the same model as a 1958 P, or a 1978 StingRay ain't the same as 2008 'Ray.

John

 

[amimbari]

and since I gave a extremely detailed explanation of why it is like that to B-SKI in the other thread on his Charvels, this one will now die

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I think the reverse P is preferable as it gives more even tonal response across the board.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Ibanez really made this p'up config popular on their older soundgear basses - - I tried it on a P-bass for a while... in the end, I went back to the old arrangement.

 

[PJSShearer]

My Yamaha BB400S fretless from 1982 has the Precision Pup backwards as well. See the enclosed pic.

However, these days Yamaha BBs have their Precision pups the "right way round".

 

[JTE]

The first one I saw with reversed P coils was Leland Sklar, who had it done on his main studio bass mongrel. He was also an early user of the Yamaha BB basses, and may have been working with them on its development. The Yamaha BB were the first production basses I saw with it. There was a small company called S.D. Curlee that made a bass with two P sets, and one of them was reversed. Then it got pretty popular about the time Guild, Charvel, etc. started making it common in the early '80s.

John

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The reverse P layout sounds more balanced IMO. You don't hear a big difference between the top and bottom strings. The low strings are punchier and the top strings are fuller.

All Ps should be set up this way.

 

[mongo2]

The low strings are punchier and the top strings are fuller.

I find that if the E/A pickup is in the traditional P position, there's no difference in the E/A response.

However moving the D/G to the side closer to the neck with the E/A in the traditional location makes quite a difference filling out and smoothing the D/G string response.

During my most recent prototype build, I found that moving them both loser to the neck and putting the D/G half on the neck side results in an overall fuller, deeper, and smoother response.

 

[amimbari]

well since the "why are they different" question has been answered --let's talk a little about tonal differences.....

without a doubt you folks are right. That small amount of distance between the 2 styles on mine make a big difference. In my collection, I have 5 of the same thing, except 2 are normal-p, and although due to woods they have a small amount of uniqueness, but the 2 with the normal-p don't sound like the other 3 of the 5 at all.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I find that if the E/A pickup is in the traditional P position, there's no difference in the E/A response.

However moving the D/G to the side closer to the neck with the E/A in the traditional location makes quite a difference filling out and smoothing the D/G string response.

During my most recent prototype build, I found that moving them both loser to the neck and putting the D/G half on the neck side results in an overall fuller, deeper, and smoother response.

Yeah, I don't care where the E/A coil is, as long as the D/G coil is closer to the neck.

Same is true of the angled pickups on Strats and Teles. I think they sound better reversed.