P-J or P-MM

Definately go with the MM. If you want, you can wire a switch to have the MM opperate in single coil mode exactly like a J pickup. I played an american Deluxe P and it was really nice. Great sound and tons of tonal options. I would love to add one of those to my collection some day.

 

As an owner of a StingRay5 and a Jazz Bass and as an avid P-bass tone lover, I see why you want to do what you want to do. I've always thought that the PJ pickup setup was the "best of both worlds" between the Jazz and Precision, however, I've always thought a P-Ray would be awesome. Two incredibly classic rock sounds in one bass. Not sure how they'd blend, but maybe this is your chance to find out. The Jazz bridge pickup is killer, but I'd be tempted to try the P-Ray because, at worst, you'll have a bass that can double as a P or a Ray and just won't mix the tones.

 

That's it...

I think a soapbar will work well hear as well...

 

I've owned P-MM, and I prefer the P-J by far.

As was stated above, if you coil tap, it would simulate the single coil experience, but nothing beats the P-J for nailing the woof and nasal tonalities, not to mention virtually everything in between.

My Ibanez RKB900, Konoha, happens to have an SD P+J setup and I would not trade it for the world.

 

My experience suggests that P+J is a better all-rounder. I have had several P+J basses including Guild Pilots and Yamaha BB2000s, and I found that these basses had great fingerstyle and slap tones. I recently had a FEnder PREcision Deluxe V for a few days, it has a double J in the bridge position. That Fender had unreal finger tones, the best I have ever heard in fact, but the slap tone was less than impressive, maybe I should have changed strings, but based on what I heard, the P+MM combination is not versatile, but really great for fingerstyle.

 

I like your thinking...if you could do one fresh...i'd say get a P-body...put a splitable MM right in the sweet spot just like a 'ray...and then put the P-pup wherever she'll comfortably sit in front of her...or maybe reverse the P...YEAH THAT'S IT...
a reverse-P/MM combination!

don't you all just love stream-of-consciousness posts???? hehe...

 

THE tone of the P and MM extra close to each other may change the tone of both pickups. I know the Warwick $$ sounds almost like a super P-bass to me even though it has to large MM style humbuckers.

 

that's why I was thinking about reversing the P...to give her a little more room...

as far as the double-bucker...I've said this a few times before...I'd like to have 2 Kent Armstrong soaps (with individual parallel/single/series switches) on a Jazz body with a P-neck...passive electronics....Blonde Ash Body, Black Pickguard, birdseye maple neck with ...Ebony Fretboard (no inlays), black hardware (including controls plate)....MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

 

My thought is that if you can fit the Nordstrand Sterling-replacement pickup and a P pickup in the traditional pickup locations that it would be an insanely killer bass. The coil-tap would let you get nearly PJ tones, I'd expect, and then you can switch it into full-blown StingRay mode. Even if the humbucker cuts into the pickguard, I'd stick with the traditional spacings just to preserve the tone, unless the aesthetics really look awful (which I doubt they would). Now you have me GASing for a P-MM!

 

I can't say much about the P/MM, but I know that the P/J is awesome. I have a Yamaha RBX with EMG P/J p'ups and I love it. Like someone said earlier, never would I trade this thing. Perfect for me, so while I can't say which one, I know going P/J won't hurt ya at all

 

This is my bass so...
obviously...

all passive, vol /vol /tone- 2 series parallel switches, one for each pu.

 

Seems to me, that if the P-MM combination was a robust one, more higher end builders would employ it...

I wonder why we dont see it more oftne

 

(both the pu are alnico V)
Well, the bass is passive, (i prefrer this way)so the sound of the MM soloed it's not comparable to an active MM one, anyway the pu is really aggressive with big mids and clear high, great with pics and good nasal sound, maybe a passive one in the soloed mode need a lilltle little bit of bass, but anyway it's great sounding, and when you want a more powerful sound open the P and the tone and it's simply PERFECT, and closing the vol of the MM a little bit you have the best and more complete P sound ever...I love it

 

The MM doesn't have to be close to the bridge... nothing wrong with it being close to the P. They wont sound the same that close because they are differently constructed pickups. And if it is closer to the bridge, that's ok as well. The picture above with the P bass is a good location.

I say go for it!

I have P/MM/J setup in my bass... they are all EMG's. Originally I had a P/J setup with EMG soapbars (40P5, 40J), but I liked the 40-DC in the MM position on my fretless so much I crammed one on my bass! Recently I swapped the 40J for a regular J so I could slide the DC a bit closer to the bridge.

But it's a great combination! Nothing sounds quite like a P bass pickup in the P bass location. And the MM is a nice punchy sound.

So unless you want that Jaco bridge pickup burp, an MM would be a nice alternative.

 

Sweet!

 

I know about a Windmill one:


and some beautiful Sandberg California PMM: