Next poll... What's your favorite pick up configuration?

[Thumb n Fingers]

So from my previous post regarding favorite body styles What's your favorite bass body style (and why?), the polls showed Jazz and Precisions running away with it, with some honorable mentions for Thunderbirds, Spector NS-2's, Rickenbackers, and Ibanez SR body styles.

With this in mind, off to the drawing board to try to incorporate what I like best from these syles into a bass that I can repeatedly re-make.

So the next question (without noting specific brands or models), is what pick up configuration do you all like that best? As a post, let me know your preference to active or passive out of curiosity. I think I already have a preconceived notion as to what I'm going to do, but I'd like to see the responses on this also.

Thank you all in advance for your time, votes, and reponses.

 

[Torrente Cro]

P + reverse P

 

[gfen]

P/P

I don't have experience with reverse P/reverse P, but I imagine that it's mostly the same thing just different. I also don't have P/reverse P, but I am hostile to the idea as I suspect the DG coils are too close to really have distinct tone differences. YMMV.

 

[alesreaper9]

Two single coils (not the J type).

 

[Jefenator]

Whenever I can get away with it, I love the simplicity of a V/T knob setup. More knobs and switches become an unwelcome distraction to me.
For slapping and/or low B, a neck pickup becomes necessary IME so my runner-up vote would be P/J. Both of my 5-strings happen to be P/J. Seems to be a bit more versatile than J/J, though I do sometimes miss that extra juicy, scooped vibe of the latter. (Perhaps that's why I make it a point to keep a good J-bass in the stable.)

 

[biguglyman]

j neck, hb bridge

 

[Torrente Cro]

P/P

I don't have experience with reverse P/reverse P, but I imagine that it's mostly the same thing just different. I also don't have P/reverse P, but I am hostile to the idea as I suspect the DG coils are too close to really have distinct tone differences. YMMV.

I don't have experience with P/P, only P/reverse P.
I moded a cheap P few months ago and while researching on TB, people said that bridge P is to close to the bridge and too trebly to use alone. That's the main reason for reverse P, and I pushed it away from bridge, closer to main P.
I put a 4-way switch: every pickup alone + series + paralel.
I am extremely happy with results, every sound combo is different and gets its playtime.

 

[sikamikanico]

I clicked the single humbucker option, because it most accurately captures what I like - one pickup, no hum. A P is actually a special case of that setup, and is one of my favorites, but other designs work well too.

That said, I don't quite like large dual in-line humbuckers like MM or similar.

 

[scuzzy]

Double hum, as long as each one has series/parallel/coil split. Makes one bass very versatile.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Double humbuckers for sure. I keep coming back to them. T-40s, stingray HH, Gibson EB (the 2014 one, not that new abomination), double bucks rule my stable

 

[ThePresident777]

Individual, position and height adjustable, pickups per string.

 

[Plectrum72]

Passive P/J with VVT and a pickup selector switch so I can remove either from the circuit or use both.

 

[Flippy]

PJ, though I'm a bit PP-curious. Also both reverse P types pique my interest (can't remember the precise name of the second type, with EA coil in the regular place and second coil moved up)

 

[two fingers]

P/JJ. After owning and loving a Fender Roscoe Beck Signature 5 I decided to incorporate the bridge section of the electronics into my custom Hammersmith bass. It turned out fantastic. This bass nails a P bass (only slightly more beefy with the Nordy in that spot). And the split JJ Seymour Duncan NYC5 with series/single/parallel switch gives me a ton more options. Such a great combination. The plastic film it still on the guard in this pic. The controls are (passive) Volum and tone, three way selector for neck/both/bridge and three way selector for series/single/parallel. Love it. (I realize this is a pickups thread, but the neck on this thing feels like an old baseball glove....one of my favorites I have ever put my left hand on.)

 

[TonyP-]

Big Single / Big Single

 

[JimmyM]

Don't have one. Most of my basses have the PJ config, but really, I like any good sounding basses and don't really stand on formality.

 

[Nedmundo]

I voted JJ, but strongly prefer good noiseless J pickups. I've had Lindy Fralin's Split-Jazz for 12 years in a Fender, and Lace Man 'O Wars for two years in a G&L JB. Both sets are awesome.

While I love P-basses, next up would be double humbuckers. Mine is a G&L M-2500, which is fantastic, but ideally I'd want series/parallel/single switching, as on an L-2500 with K-switching.

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

I'm surprised at the P/J love. They've always been sort of my favorite, but neither of my two main basses these days are P/Js...go figure?

@two fingers that P/JJ configuration is really intriguing to me. I'm going to have to dig around for some sound clips with that set up.

Thanks for all of the input. Really digging finding out what the peeps are into.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Individual, position and height adjustable, pickups per string.

Is that... is that a real thing?

 

[ThePresident777]

Is that... is that a real thing?

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that someone pulled it off as a prototype.