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P/J vs. P/MM configuration?

B

BassMonstrum

Mar 7, 2008
1,016
33
#1
I have a '70 RI Precision bass that will be modified in the coming months. One of the modifications will be a new pick-up by the bridge. I have a Seymour Duncan MusicMan pick-up in a Warwick that I never use and my first thought was to use this one. However, I have never heard that many P/MM-basses except for a couple of youtube-videos. Another option is buying a Jazz pick-up and installing this. The P/J sound is more documented, even one of my favourites use this exclusively; Duff McKagan.

One more thing; I will not install any active electronics.

So, any thoughts?
 
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#2
I went with a P/MM for something different. It is a different sound. In my experience the MM pickup is the dominant pickup, so much so I am now only using it's south coil and have a 10k resistor wired in series with the MM pup to put a little more bias in the P-pup. If your going for a Musicman sound, just remember that most of their tone comes from that active onboard preamp.

My experience may not be the same as yours. I used Duncan SPB-3 & SMB4a pickups and have the bass wired unusual for a unique tone to work with my electro-dark/ abrasive band.

I like having the MM pickup in my P-bass, makes for an interesting stage aesthetic with a big noticeable chunk of extra hardware in the bass. And I like what it does for the tone adding a good amount of brightness and highs while smoothing over the P-Bass 'dopey' sound..... I am naturally a J-bass guy anyways.

Pic from last thursday's gig. I'll be playing it again for tonights show, but now I'm thinking of experimenting with wiring again.... yup, never ends.

P7260132.jpg
 
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#4
I'm putting the finishing touches to a P+MM bass. So far it's passive, but I plan to put in a pre amp soon.

I tried to get the MM placed as close to the traditional sweet spot by flipping the p pickup (EA half stays put, DG half moves up).

2012-07-26202523.jpg


Having some switch wiring issues so can't comment on the combined sound but having the old school p bass sound and (nearly) the modern MM sound is great in one bass.

I have fretless 5 PJ (EMGs) and have to say that the pj sound is more than the sum of its parts. Until the PMM is finished I can't say likewise.

However, the PMM is a rare best and it looks and feels so good!
 
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#5
I have had P/J and P/MM basses and like them both. For the P/J, the J pickup is super important, IMHO. The problem I had in the past is that the J sounds thin and out of place by itself. The last P/J I owned had a Nordstrand P5 and a Big Split and it was fantastic.

I currently have a Reverend Mercalli that is a P/MM and I really like that set up. I don't have a coil splitter for the MM, but I know that some MM pickups allow for that, thereby expanding tonal options....
 
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#10
Hey, old thread I know, but I've got an OLP MM I put a Bart pickup in a little while back. I have an extra DiMarzio model P kicking around, so I'm thinking... Why not install in the MM? I bought the bass for $75. Now the question is how to find the "sweet spot" without routing out the entire center cavity of my bass?
 
#11
Tomusk said:
Hey, old thread I know, but I've got an OLP MM I put a Bart pickup in a little while back. I have an extra DiMarzio model P kicking around, so I'm thinking... Why not install in the MM? I bought the bass for $75. Now the question is how to find the "sweet spot" without routing out the entire center cavity of my bass?
Click to expand...

I think for the traditional Fender P spot the split coil pickup should sit right on top of the MM pickup

P+MM.jpg
 
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#13
As far as wiring goes, I've got vvt with a push pull pot for series/parallel. I'm thinking of adding one for the p for series/parallel, deleting the tone and running P volume (series parallel) MM neck coil volume (series parallel) and MM bridge coil volume. I run tone wide open 97% of the time.
 
#14
I'd suggest doing a reverse P configuration. IME it pairs better with bridge pickups and IMO looks better too :) You can leave the EA half in the traditional position, and put the DG towards the neck.

As far as wiring goes, your plan makes sense to me... You'll wanna see first how pickups combine anyway, some settings may work better than others...
 

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