MM or PJ for BEAD

[Systolic]

Down and dirty poll. I've done my homework on everything else. I just don't see much talk on configuration.

Actually this will be a drop B bass (B, F#, B, E)

Will either be a Ray or a Warwick

Feel free to recommend something else.

 

[Systolic]

This should've been in Pickups & Electronics

Please move MODs!

 

[Dradder]

This should've been in Pickups & Electronics

Please move MODs!

Use the "Report" button.

 

[Systolic]

Use the "Report" button.

I did. I was just putting that post there so you guys wouldn't call me out on it.

 

[Antisyzygy]

Either one sounds good, really just seems like more of a "your call" type of situation. I have a bass with a single P pickup that does great with BEAD though so I voted PJ.

 

[David Jayne]

I'd go with the one that has the stiffest, chunkiest neck.

 

[Systolic]

I'd go with the one that has the stiffest, chunkiest neck.

So you'd vote neck thru over bolt on?

 

[Dave W]

So you'd vote neck thru over bolt on?

Neck through doesn't necessarily have a stiffer neck. I'd vote bolt on just because if something bad happens to a neck through it's basically done. At least with a bolt on you can swap the neck.

As for MM vs. PJ? Have you played either config? One isn't going to be better than another for a particular tuning, it's all about what you want to hear. I tend to prefer MM over PJ.

 

[Systolic]

Yes i've owned both, but never one with a B string. I worried because i see so few 5 string PJ basses. Figured it might be for a reason.

 

[line6man]

You haven't given any criteria by which to base a decision on. In any case, this is another case of personal preference.

 

[Systolic]

You haven't given any criteria by which to base a decision on. In any case, this is another case of personal preference.

Yes, i did that on purpose. This is a gut reaction poll.

 

[bobbybass85]

I've played both my Am STD P and Stringray in BEAD. Of the 2 I loved the P and was meh on the Stingray. I would like having the added J on the P. So you know my vote...

 

[KwinS]

P/J. I'm using an Ibanez Mike D'Antonio Destroyer bass, with a P pickup in it...same tuning as you are using. It sounds great, but if I put a J in it, I would probably only use it maybe 25% of the time.
I really like the P/J in my Fender Tony Franklin basses, and still only use the J about 25% of the time in standard tuning.
I've owned a couple of Music Man Bongos, and the pickups in them just didn't do what I wanted to hear with Drop B.

 

[gsquare]

The bass in my avatar is BEAD, it has a Lace Alumitone pickup, which isn't a favorite among TB users, but I love it, especially for the B, it has a very wide frequency range and enough output to push those low frequencies. I'm sure the MM pickup would work great too, but this is what worked for me.

 

[David Jayne]

So you'd vote neck thru over bolt on?

I wouldn't vote based on that. Just whichever one is stiffest and thickest, which could very well be the bolt on. Stiffness/thickness helps with low tunings, IMO.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

The bass in my avatar is BEAD, it has a Lace Alumitone pickup, which isn't a favorite among TB users, but I love it, especially for the B, it has a very wide frequency range and enough output to push those low frequencies. I'm sure the MM pickup would work great too, but this is what worked for me.

Not to be off topic but why isn't the Alumitone not a favorite? does it stray too far from traditional split pickup design?
Back on topic, I choose the PJ and with your detuned setup I would try to find one with a reversed P like some Spectors, Ibanez, and Charvels.

 

[Matthew_84]

As an owner of a 4 stringer tuned to BEAD, I'd recommend getting a 5'er... Not having the G string is a lot more limiting than I thought it would be.

I'd go for a 5 string PJ, an Ibanez SR755:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Sorry, this won't have a chunky neck, and I didn't realize your different tuning.

MM pickups tend to have a higher output with a quicker attack time... It depends what you want. A PJ will be more versatile in my experience. If you go for a PJ, get one with the Reverse P pickup, it Is better on PJ basses (better balanced tone across the strings with both pickups on).

 

[raventepes]

Personally, I'd go both MM and P.

 

[Thunder_Fingers]

^ What he said, I would have tried to get the MM pickup splitable to, something like the Delano Hybrid Pickup.

I actually realy liked my Rickenbacker for B-E-A-D, it sounded pretty awsome. But so did my P/J Peavey Unity DynaBass to.

 

[LoTone]

Is this a clever way to ask us, what is the best bass for metal?

PJ then, because a PJ is a Precision and Precisions rule!