hey y'all I have p bass pickup that I want to put in the neck position of my musician man sting ray 5 string is there any reason why I shouldn't (besides devaluing the bass) or can't because I haven't been able to find any examples online. Plus if any one has any tips on how to make the cavity I would love that.
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Is a P bass pickup in a music man 5 string possible
- Thread starter tedpug
- Start date
There's no reason why you couldn't.
You'd need a routing template and a router with which to make the cavity or you'd need to be extremely careful and use hand tools (forstner bits and chisels). You'd also need to decide how you'd like to wire it as there are a lot of options.
You'd need a routing template and a router with which to make the cavity or you'd need to be extremely careful and use hand tools (forstner bits and chisels). You'd also need to decide how you'd like to wire it as there are a lot of options.
@MYLOWFREQ has a point, assuming you want to put the Precision pickup in the P position - the half nearest the bridge overlaps the neckward coil of the MM pickup. You can mount a P pickup, but it will be closer to the neck than a usual P pickup location. I hope that all makes sense. 
FullumMusic
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- Oct 13, 2022
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One place is Bartolini. The pickup halves are configured so one of them covers three strings and the other cover the other two. They have nice graphics which show how this is done on their site here:
5-String P-Bass® Shapes - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics
Nordstrand makes 5-string P pickups, too... some realky nice ones.
I have a P/MM 4-string (Nordstrand NP4 + Nordstrand BigSplitman). The bass turned out superb. For the record, I mounted the BigSplitman in the traditional Music Man location and only had to bump the NP4 toward the neck a smidge because in their regular positions, yes -- there is a sought overlap.
The NP4 still sounds like a P pickup!
I have a P/MM 4-string (Nordstrand NP4 + Nordstrand BigSplitman). The bass turned out superb. For the record, I mounted the BigSplitman in the traditional Music Man location and only had to bump the NP4 toward the neck a smidge because in their regular positions, yes -- there is a sought overlap.
The NP4 still sounds like a P pickup!
D
Is it a 5 string split coil (p) pickup?
im guessing (totally guessing because I haven't tried it myself) that a 4 sting p pickup would work on a 5 string bass closer to the neck if it were spread correctly.
i have put together 2 4string basses with an mm style humbucker in the "sweet spot". One has the split coil centered 2 1/2" closer to the neck from the center of the mm.
The other has the split coil centered 3 1/4" from the mm ( purely by chance at the time)
I actually like the bass with the split coil closer to the neck.
Lots of other variables between the 2 basses so the pickups positions aren't 100% comparable.
im guessing (totally guessing because I haven't tried it myself) that a 4 sting p pickup would work on a 5 string bass closer to the neck if it were spread correctly.
i have put together 2 4string basses with an mm style humbucker in the "sweet spot". One has the split coil centered 2 1/2" closer to the neck from the center of the mm.
The other has the split coil centered 3 1/4" from the mm ( purely by chance at the time)
I actually like the bass with the split coil closer to the neck.
Lots of other variables between the 2 basses so the pickups positions aren't 100% comparable.
I added a MM pickup to my Fender Precision 5 string. Just have to put the treble side of the P pickup "up". I've heard no noticeable difference in tone.
Had it wired so that it has a P passive circuit completely separate from an active MM John East preamp, essentially creating a fully functional P and MM bass in one. Switches for activating the different circuits and for series/single/parallel. I absolutely love this thing! Shout out to Doug at Dmara Guitars in Cinci for his fantastic work!
Had it wired so that it has a P passive circuit completely separate from an active MM John East preamp, essentially creating a fully functional P and MM bass in one. Switches for activating the different circuits and for series/single/parallel. I absolutely love this thing! Shout out to Doug at Dmara Guitars in Cinci for his fantastic work!
Split coil pickups have an awkward transition region between the two halves. On a 4 string, it's OK, as there's no string there. On a 5, if you use a 4 string pickup, your A string will be in that void - it'll sound weak.
This might be of interest, though I myself have not used one:
https://www.mamapickups.com/en/shop/music-man/special-quad-coil-mm-detail.html
https://www.mamapickups.com/en/shop/music-man/special-quad-coil-mm-detail.html
A while ago, I wanted a P-style in a 6 string fretless. Nordstrand made one in a big MM housing for me. You do want to think of how it might balance out with that big MM pickup, though.
Below is a shot of my above-mentioned bass with Nordstrand's NP4 + BigSplitMan. Like @Shindig73, I can run the pickups together (via a blend knob) or separate. The BigSplitMan is wired with a three-way switch for parallel / single-coil / series operation. Alnico V magnets in the BigSplitMan, Alnico 3 in the NP4. Nordy's 3b preamp onboard with the midrange controlled with a mid-boost switch ala Will Lee's Sadowsky.
I love this bass.
I love this bass.
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That was my experience with the Wilde P46 in a five string. Both coils pick up the A string, so it tends to be a little hotter. You can even it out a bit by setting them a little lower under the A string than under the outside strings.
D
Just curious, do you run the mm in single coil or series often? I have wired mine with those options in the past but always have landed back on parallel.
I run the BigSplitMan in single-coil 60% of the time... parallel 30%... and series 10%.
Series mode is my strong heavy rock setting when I need a lotta ooomph.
Series mode is my strong heavy rock setting when I need a lotta ooomph.
D
Sounds like you have a versatile beast there
I bet the bigsplitman does a much better job as a single coil than the Seymour Duncan smb 4a that I have.
