JP4 pickups

[DoubleBuckUser]

The answer to my question will determine the bass I get.

I’m looking at a tune bass with “JP4” soap bar pickups.

Just wondering if they sound like single coils?

I hear that soap bar pickups are just shells and not an actual representation of the coils in the pickups.

I also hear that they’re not humbuckers but they’re also not single coil pickups. That they’re single coils with less hum which matches the description of why the humbucker were made. but hey I’m not a professional haha.
Thanks.

 

[sikamikanico]

Link/pics?

Indeed, soapbar is just a shape, looks like a bar of soap (well, some resemble it more than others). Inside can be many coil/magnetic architectures.

The term humbucker usually refers to pickups with two side-by-side coils. This design was popularized by Gibson and the name stuck, tho other designs “buck hum” as well, but sound more like single coils (or inbetween). To avoid confusion, such designs are typically called “hum-cancelling” or “noise-cancelling” and include sidewinders, stacks, split coils, and multicoils.

So given the JP4 name, there’s a good chance the neck pickup is a split coil inside a soapbar shell (P bass territory), and the other may be a single coil or an in-line split coil (J territory). I find that split coils capture the essence of single coils the best, IMO, IME.

 

[DoubleBuckUser]

Link/pics?

Indeed, soapbar is just a shape, looks like a bar of soap (well, some resemble it more than others). Inside can be many coil/magnetic architectures.

The term humbucker usually refers to pickups with two side-by-side coils. This design was popularized by Gibson and the name stuck, tho other designs “buck hum” as well, but sound more like single coils (or inbetween). To avoid confusion, such designs are typically called “hum-cancelling” or “noise-cancelling” and include sidewinders, stacks, split coils, and multicoils.

So given the JP4 name, there’s a good chance the neck pickup is a split coil inside a soapbar shell (P bass territory), and the other may be a single coil or an in-line split coil (J territory). I find that split coils capture the essence of single coils the best, IMO, IME.

I think it could be in line split coil because in the description they describe it as “jp4 single pickup”

It kinda looks like the Yamaha RBX774 pick ups.

 

[sikamikanico]

In-line, or maybe staggered like a P bass, or reverse P bass. Popular choice for soapbars - there’s lots of room in those covers/shells.

That said, depending on what “single coil” sound you’re after, they may work well or they may not. Even two single coils don’t sound alike… you may just have to try it, or try find demos/samples…

 

[sunbeast]

Can you link the bass?