Mustang vs Precision pickups difference

Which pickups have you already tried?

 

1. Probably. Depends on the details, but yeah, tall and narrow pickups like Mustang tend to be more hi-fi sounding than short and wide pickups like P.
2. & 3. If you go the custom route, just talk to Duncan about making them to fit the P bass.

Or, if you have not yet tried them, try Wilde P46, I think they do what you're looking for really well. They're more tall and narrow type pickups, at least compared to most P pickups.

Since you have a PJ, just get a set while you're at it. They're on sale for the holidays: Holiday Set P/J Bass

 

Dropping Dimarzio Relentless P and Model J in my MIM Mustang PJ tomorrow, will advise.

 

Have you tried the mustang pickups from your Traveler in your other bass? Then you will know of it gets you closer before trying new pickups. It could be the bass itself. Even basses with the same designs, woods, and pickups can sound quite a bit different.

Have you tried other strings? Different strings can make a huge difference...

Finally, a wiring trick can help you, tho it won’t blend the same with the J pickup. If you wire the P in parallel, it will sound much brighter, perhaps too bright. But then you can add loading caps to fine tune it’s resonant frequency to your liking.

but sometimes nothing works, some basses just sound like they do. I still recommend Wilde P46 is worth trying for what you’re trying to do, but I tried it in two of my P basses and the basic sound of each bass was still there with any pickup. The solution was finding the right strings for each bass and embracing their basic sound rather than fighting it.

 

I have seen several threads over the past couple of years where someone wants to replace a P pickup with a Mustang pickup in a P-J pickup configuration.

If you try to replace the P pickup with a Mustang pickup in any P-J bass you will run into an IMPORTANT issue...
The ONLY Mustang pickup that you should consider, that I know of, is the one specifically made by Fender for the American Performer Mustang Bass.

The problem is the difference in the phase relationship between the halves of a P pickup and a "normal" Mustang pickup. They're very different, and you'll run into phase cancellation problems when combining the M with the J.

Read this post:
Pickup upgrade for American Performer Mustang Bass?

and this one (with the followup posts):
Picked up a jmj and wondering about the AweSome tone control mod

The Mustang pickup in the American Performer is designed to work in combination with a J pickup.

 

I’m surprised Duncan won’t fit a mustang pickup inside a P bass cover. I’m no pickup maker, but as far as I can tell they’d only need to use larger P-sized flatwork. I could be wrong, but I’d contact a few other pickup makers like Nordstrand and Curtis Novak. Or Sentell, he makes oddball pickups, he might do what others don’t...

Another idea would be to get a new pickguard with proper holes for mustang pickups. But I’m not sure if Mustang pickguard are all the same size, or if you’re looking at another custom order (an expense).

 

So far as I know the Am Perf Mustangs aren't voiced the same as a Vintera or CIJ (or even Squier).

Mustang pups are different from. P for sure. Have you tried an EQ or OD pedal? Something like a VT bass or an 808 style drive (Vertex Dynamic Distortion is my fav) can add some of that without switching bass or pups.

Or try a Squier CV Mustang bass on the cheap. They're pretty great little basses for the price.

 

I've been making my own 'custom' pickguards by ordering adhesive paper and using an Xacto. Works super well, will be posting up in Mustang thread with a relevant build soon once I finish up installing my Dimarzo Relentless P and Area J on my PJ.

 

Have you called Lindy Fralin? I don't know if they make pups that will fit the Mustang, but they do make PJ pups and will do custom winding for different tonal palettes. Their bass pups are excellent, so might be worth a call.

 

Another thought: Fralin (and maybe others) will rewind other maker's pups. They might be able to re-wind your pups to get clearer mids, etc.

 

The tone you’re describing sounds like the Nordstrand NP4A. Nordstrand also happens to make their own Mustang pickup, and does custom work all the time. I would give them a call and describe what you want. They’ll either recommend the NP4A or tell you if they can make their Mustang in a P shape.

 

Love the Wilde PJ set. I have them in a Warmoth unlined maple necked with GHS Tapewounds. Great sounding bass.

 

You can totally get a replacement American Performer pickguard for that and pop a traditional mustang pickup in there. I vote for the JMJ pickup. It's great. It's like a P pickup, but instead of being a giant P Bass sound that goes < and gets bigger, I find it goes like this at the frequencies =. It's punchy and big but doesn't envelop the room like a precision bass sound.

WD = Link

On WD - not a big fan of their tort if you are thinking about tort. Check out Pickguard heaven / chandler music.

Or see if want more of a vintage vibe check out this place on ebay - I don't dig the shop in person - but they make some awesome pickguards. (They are local to me).

Link.

 

Just to check... This is an interesting thread, but you guys ARE discussing modifying a Mustang PJ, right?
One with a J pickup?

Please re-read post #7 above, and the links:
Mustang vs Precision pickups difference

You need a specially designed Mustang pickup to combine with a J.
NO traditional Mustang pickup will work right when combined with a J pickup, not even the "normal" boutique/aftermarket ones.

The M pickup MUST have opposite-wound coils and opposite polarity magnets to work.

I bet any of the custom pickup makers could easily make such a beast. Otherwise, the only available choice I know of is the pickup that comes in the American Performer Mustang.

I am NOT a troll... I am NOT a troll...

 

The V-Mod Pbass pup is arguably the most hi-fi and trebly one. Low output but very clear and defined tone. I like it for modern jazzy/funky stuff with the appropriate strings (D'Addario NYXL or Pro Steels or similar).