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P bass with mudbucker?

L

LotusCarsLtd52

Dec 6, 2009
398
1
#1
I guess this could fit here or in "Basses"...

I'm looking for that thick warm bass tone and I was looking for ways of replicating it on a P bass (specifically by adding a Gibson mudbucker at the neck).

How would this actually end-up sounding? I know it's an alder body so I'm not sure how much warmth there would be.

Thanks!
 
#3
I did that. It sounds exactly like you think it would. I used a five-way switch, so position 1 is just the mudbucker, position two is the mudbucker and p-bass pickup, 3 is just the p-bass, etc. etc.

Frankenbass-1.jpg


Position 1 is just stupid loud and deep. Gotta roll off the volume to keep from blowing out speakers. However, position two, the P and the mudbucker, is pretty good. I use this setting in acoustic-accompanying situations because it gives me good solid lows even when played low-volume, and tones down the P-pickup's midrangey-ness, too.

However, either pickup by itself is actually louder.
 
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#4
M.R. Ogle said:
I did that. It sounds exactly like you think it would. I used a five-way switch, so position 1 is just the mudbucker, position two is the mudbucker and p-bass pickup, 3 is just the p-bass, etc. etc.

Frankenbass-1.jpg


Position 1 is just stupid loud and deep. Gotta roll off the volume to keep from blowing out speakers. However, position two, the P and the mudbucker, is pretty good. I use this setting in acoustic-accompanying situations because it gives me good solid lows even when played low-volume, and tones down the P-pickup's midrangey-ness, too.

However, either pickup by itself is actually louder.
Click to expand...

I dig that bass!
 
#5
Thanks!!! The mudbucker cover is an electronics small parts project box lid. I didn't have one of those nice chrome covers for it.

The P-bass pickups, by the way are apparently BBE's. No pole pieces, epoxy encased, just one coax wire off each pickup. Weird, I've never seen "hide nor hair" info on these pickups anywhere, much less an instruction manual.

I finally figured out how to jumper the two halves together. They're real "barky" lots of mids. But I've never seen another set, and no mention of them on the BBE website.
 
#7
LotusCarsLtd52 said:
I guess this could fit here or in "Basses"...

I'm looking for that thick warm bass tone and I was looking for ways of replicating it on a P bass (specifically by adding a Gibson mudbucker at the neck).

How would this actually end-up sounding? I know it's an alder body so I'm not sure how much warmth there would be.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I guess you have heard Billy Sheehean.

Bodywood is not an issue imo.
 
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#10
LotusCarsLtd52 said:
I guess this could fit here or in "Basses"...

I'm looking for that thick warm bass tone and I was looking for ways of replicating it on a P bass (specifically by adding a Gibson mudbucker at the neck).

How would this actually end-up sounding? I know it's an alder body so I'm not sure how much warmth there would be.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

As with M.R. Ogle I did a variation on the multi pickup p bass thing as well however I wired it differently. I originally had it wired so that each pickup had it's own volume pot. However I realized that I essentially just used three settings... the MM solo, the spit-p solo and the M1 with a little bit of the MM so I changed the wiring to incorporate one V, one T and a three-way switch. I may add a little micro switch to add/remove the MM from the M1 setting but I find the M1 really is a great pickup alone... and the body is red oak, for what that's worth.

Also, I can see why Billy biamps the M1 and the split-p... when blended together they each lose quite a bit of their individual character whereas biamping allows each one to shine in it's full glory.

Link Removed
 
#11
I did it with a Trib SB2 (basswood body) after trying a Yamaha BB714BS and loving the tone but not the ergonomics.

I mimicked the Yamaha wiring as best I could - one vol per pickup, a master tone and then a switch with a tone cut for only the neck humbucker. I used a DiMarzio will power neck pickup.

It's become my favorite SB2. I tend to like the humbucker and P pickup blended in various ways, usually with the tone cut engaged. I feel it adds some syrupy goodness to the MFD P. I feel it thickens up the tone and yes, adds some warmth. Not the same as a semihollow body but I really like it.
 

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#13
M.R. Ogle said:
I did that. It sounds exactly like you think it would. I used a five-way switch, so position 1 is just the mudbucker, position two is the mudbucker and p-bass pickup, 3 is just the p-bass, etc. etc.

View attachment 1683259

Position 1 is just stupid loud and deep. Gotta roll off the volume to keep from blowing out speakers. However, position two, the P and the mudbucker, is pretty good. I use this setting in acoustic-accompanying situations because it gives me good solid lows even when played low-volume, and tones down the P-pickup's midrangey-ness, too.

However, either pickup by itself is actually louder.
Click to expand...

standard strat scheme on the wiring?
 

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