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P/J or P/HB?

louisray

louisray

Jul 10, 2017
17
16
#1
Hi fellas, I'm looking into probably adding a bridge pup to my P bass. I want to add that snarly and midrangey end that I only get when I play my jazz bass. With that, I'm looking at getting a jazz pickup to pair with my split-coil. A Dimarzio Model J, probably? (Classic and at the right price!)

I asked the tech who does my bass work on a whim of what he thought about it. He suggested that I get Musicman-style humbucker instead.

I checked out videos of what it would sound like and I found it to be too much for what I'm going for. I'd like the split-coil to still be the driver of the overall sound of my Pbass with the bridge pup adding a color to it but not overpower it.

While this sounds that I know exactly what to get, I'd still like to hear some input from you guys here on TB. Encourage/discourage my idea or suggest alternatives, go ahead! Thanks in advance!
 
#2
You can install an mm pickup with a single/dual coil switch so you would have the option of a j (ish) tone or a musicman tone.

For a truer j tone option within a humbucker Delano (and possibly others) make a hybrid j/mm pickup - called The Hybrid
And there is also stuff like the seymour duncan NYC dual coil or nordy fat stack (dual jazz coils) etc

If your p pickup is going to be the main driver of your sound then its likely you'll have the volume of your other pickup dialled back a bit so clips of a musicman pickup soloed won't be an accurate representation of what it a full volume p with a half volume mm will sound like.

You can put a j in and if you don't like it you can route the hole bigger for a mm. You can't make a mm sized hole smaller.
 
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#3
I think you're on the right track. A good ceramic passive J pickup with a passive alnico split coil P is a good combination. They will blend well for a variety of sounds. I use a P/J configuration and it gets close to a active MM sound. One thing that makes this possible is to use both P and J and pick over the sweet spot where the MM humbucker would be.
 
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#4
@sprag - That's a very interesting option. Those added controls may be a little more than what I'll need but thanks for the insight! I'll still have a look at it!

@Badwater - yes! Thanks for going the encourage route haha!
 
#5
A p+mm gives you more tonal options. I built one and put in a series/single/parallel switch. I choose to use a blend knob to mix the two pickups.

I can get a p sound
I can cop a mm sound with the mm pickup with just a bit of the p added in.
If I center the blend knob the bass sounds like and active bass with the pickups I chose (Sp3 and smd4).
Switch to single I get a bridge Jazz sound
 
#7
My bases are mm+mm and PJ heavy.

My vote is P+MM.

I just installed a set of Nordstrand Big Man in corvette $$.
Drop the MM little if you think they're overpowered compared to the P.

I could also see going with a 4-conductor HB.

Either case I'd decide if series or parallel works best with respect to volume jump.

Then I'd decide if inner or outer coil was best.

Finalize your setup.

It may take a few tries, and soldering isn't hard.
 
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#8
Seymour Duncan NYC 5. The coils are separate so you can have them wired (as I did) to a series/single/parallel switch.

I LOVE this all passive beast.
20170713_195154.jpg

Plastic is still on the guard in this pic. That's why it looks weird.
20170628_085008.jpg
 
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#10
louisray said:
@somebrains - Looks like the MM pup option is edging the J out! Thanks!

@two fingers - That is one sexy bass! Fender has those pickups on the Modern Player line and I also think they're neat.
Click to expand...
IMG_20170928_021729_01.jpg


Both of them on is a bit much.
Not a huge fan of my usual blend of a single coil with parallel or series humbucker in either position with these particular pickups.

If I could swap the bridge humbucker for a P, I'd be set on this bass.
I have zero complaints about the way the neck sounds, I'll probably live there all the time in series bc it's a Corvette ZR1 floored.

You have to have some contrast if you don't want a one trick pony.
My Nordstrand are very vocal and musical, but essentially it's a lot of MM in one place.

I'm always trying to go warmer/fatter in the bridge bc I'm not much for the doinky Jaco thing.

When I'm done with my current project arc I'll pull my bridge.
Maybe I'll get a P blade in an MM shell or something of that nature.

Man, I kinda want an old wenge neck FNA to put the bridge in this $$ in.........
 
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#12
two fingers said:
Seymour Duncan NYC 5. The coils are separate so you can have them wired (as I did) to a series/single/parallel switch.

I LOVE this all passive beast.
View attachment 2766322
Plastic is still on the guard in this pic. That's why it looks weird.View attachment 2766327
Click to expand...

I been wanting to ditch some emg 40's and try a set of NYCs.
Pretty soon I'm going to have to take the plunge and pay retail.

They aren't plentiful used.
 
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#13
Finally got my pair of Nordstrand Big Mans to split their outer coils.

The product literature is dead on. They sound like this snarly PJ in single, and this huge sledgehammer in humbucker.....maybe a bit more expressive in parallel.

Think Fugazi Waiting Room.
 
#15
I vote P/MM
Sound sample with P/Norstrand BigMan


The Bigman is probably a bit smoother than an AlNiCo MM pickup, but you can get the idea.

Note that This bass' Bigman is wired Parallel/Bridge Coil/Neck Coil, and eliminated Series altogether.
A Series wired Dual coil will have about 20% more output than Parallel or Single.

I had my Jazz V with J/MM wired Series/Bridge/Neck but with .1mF capacitors on the Single coil to boost output (read threads on G&L OMG single coil wiring).
A723783C-E83E-40F1-943D-D84436019289.jpg

Just today, I switched the wiring to Parallel/Bridge/Neck coil and eleiminated the capacitors. I actually like how this sounds better because the lower overall output of the pickup leaves for great high-end nuances that get lost otherwise.
 
#16
eastcoasteddie said:
I vote P/MM
Sound sample with P/Norstrand BigMan


The Bigman is probably a bit smoother than an AlNiCo MM pickup, but you can get the idea.

Note that This bass' Bigman is wired Parallel/Bridge Coil/Neck Coil, and eliminated Series altogether.
A Series wired Dual coil will have about 20% more output than Parallel or Single.

I had my Jazz V with J/MM wired Series/Bridge/Neck but with .1mF capacitors on the Single coil to boost output (read threads on G&L OMG single coil wiring).
View attachment 2771599
Just today, I switched the wiring to Parallel/Bridge/Neck coil and eleiminated the capacitors. I actually like how this sounds better because the lower overall output of the pickup leaves for great high-end nuances that get lost otherwise.
Click to expand...


Parallel is underappreciated that way, exception is Aguilar.

I have a $$, so if I flip the red and black wires I can try a faux J, or end up with a faux middle humbucker. I tried outer-inner and inner out as well.

Outer-outer is where I am for now, seems to be the most different sounding singlecoil option for my layout.

Series, in the neck position especially, is stupidly fun.

OP, learn to solder.
Your collection of basses will grow with your curiosity.
At some point you may find yourself wondering what else is possible in the pickups that are installed.

Your tastes may change and you may find yourself swapping preamps or pot values to really nail your tone.

I like a passive option as a sanity check.
 
#17
eaglemachine said:
A p+mm gives you more tonal options. I built one and put in a series/single/parallel switch. I choose to use a blend knob to mix the two pickups.

I can get a p sound
I can cop a mm sound with the mm pickup with just a bit of the p added in.
If I center the blend knob the bass sounds like and active bass with the pickups I chose (Sp3 and smd4).
Switch to single I get a bridge Jazz sound
Click to expand...
is it passive or do you have a preamp on this configuration?
 
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#18
I prefer a noise reducing J to go with the P. The ones I have used or installed for friends:
DiMarzio Model J - growly
DiMarzio Ultra Jazz - clean mid-scoop
Seymour Duncan Apollo - smooth
Seymour Duncan 5-string stack - used the neck version as a bridge pickup to go with a Nordstrand Mustang pickup - "polite" tone to match the Mustang pickup.
 
#20
I prefer a MM with a P and like in some of the pictures in this thread I like it tucked up against the P and not where a bridge J would go. For my ears a flaw with many MM in the bridge basses is moving the MM too close to the bridge.

I've also been interested in the classic PJ but moving the J closer to the P like in some of the basses here

https://www.wilkinsguitars.com/soundcheck
 
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