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P Neck pickup with MM Bridge Pickup?

#21
getBAK said:
I'm curious if anyone has a reason we don't see basses with a P-Bass Stepped pickup in the neck position and a Music-man style pickup on the bridge?
To my knowledge the only bass made in this config is the Cort GB74Gig. While it's adored in Europe, the GB74 Gig isn't sold in the US (I'm told it's a licensing thing) and isn't available in 5-string anyways.
I know the Fender Invalid Link Removed has a soapbar in the bridge... maybe that's equivalent?

Is there an inherent reason we don't see the P/MM configuration? I suspect it's because the sweet spots for the pickups interfere with each other physically, but don't know. Rather than take opinions from the unwashed masses, I figured I'd ask the folks who do.
Click to expand...
There are plenty. It's a great combo.
 
#22
There are actually several brands and models available. In my view, most of them do it wrong. For each pickups sound like the bass it comes from, they need to be as close as possible to the original positions of those pickups. For that to happen they must literally be touching each other. The originals actually overlap. If I were going to have one I would either buy a 5 string P bass and add the MM pickup or buy a Ray and add the P pickup (along with all the necessary electronics mods to allow for both a Ray preamp and a passive option).
 
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#23
getBAK said:
I'm curious if anyone has a reason we don't see basses with a P-Bass Stepped pickup in the neck position and a Music-man style pickup on the bridge?
To my knowledge the only bass made in this config is the Cort GB74Gig. While it's adored in Europe, the GB74 Gig isn't sold in the US (I'm told it's a licensing thing) and isn't available in 5-string anyways.
I know the Fender Invalid Link Removed has a soapbar in the bridge... maybe that's equivalent?

Is there an inherent reason we don't see the P/MM configuration? I suspect it's because the sweet spots for the pickups interfere with each other physically, but don't know. Rather than take opinions from the unwashed masses, I figured I'd ask the folks who do.
Click to expand...


Hmmm, keep looking, there are lots! :)

Sandberg and Harley Benton have a few P/MM models but there are many more out there.
 
#25
I've tested the Sandberg VM: IMO the neck split coil gave a good P tone, but the humbucker solo'ed didn't convince me for a Stingray sound. Too thin. Like many others have said, this is probably due to the pickup being too close to the bridge. My solution was to order a Devon bass with the MM humbucker right against the split coil, about 1 mm closer to the bridge compared to an actual Stingray, as in the Nordstrand DL:
20210920_2120 - 2.jpeg
 
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#26
I'm going this route (sort of) with my next fretless build.

The pickups will be a MM in the sweet spot and a stacked 51P in it's classic position. The 51 is wound to around 8k, so closer to the original single coli output than many stacked or split coil noiseless versions and the MM is an alnico. A two band EQ and a passive/active switch with a blend pot should give a good range of tones. I'll post a build thread once my workshop refit is finished in a month or so. Oh, this one is going to be a 32 inch scale too. A small concession to old age....:D
 
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#27
There are quite a few basses with this pickup config. I heard it first in a demo of the SIMS Super Quad and was like "THAT IS THE SOUND". I found the Harley Benton MP5-EB that you see in my profile pic to be the most affordable quality option available so I pulled the trigger. The only way I could love it more is if the MM were closer to the P pickup. It's a bit too close to the bridge. If I want to solo it, it requires pretty massive EQ correction to sound authoritative enough (I put a nordy pre with 3-band eq in, so it's doable).
 
#29
Simple.

1. P and MM pickup locations overlap so one or both have to move.
2. MM in the proper spot with P shifted slightly doesn't look right (wall of pickups) and poor looks prevent sales.
3. P in the proper spot with MM shifted toward the bridge is a PJ with a humbucker in the J position. Nothing new to see here.

I actually think an MM / J setup where a neck J pickup is added to an MM might improve the looks of the proper MM/P by putting just a bit more space between the MM and neck pickup. Musicman did such a bass but the J was much further toward the neck than a Jazz bass so sound wise I'm not sure it was a big hit. I suspect the picked their J location based on looks.
 
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#32
Flamingo21 said:
I totally agree that it is a logical answer to the J pup in many PJs being too weak.

Also that traditionalism plays a big role here.

In other words: Leo didn't do it.
Click to expand...

‘I currently own a PBJ, a N series MIA from the 90’s that’s been my main player since 2004. My bridge pick up is not weak at all. My son has the next revision PBj, the Jazz pickup has less output, and the bass sounds much more like a PB.

Maybe on mine it’s the P pickup that’s weak… a point to ponder….
 
#34
roller said:
View attachment 4849619

:D
Click to expand...

Seriously though, that's got to be an option at some point.

You need 5 or 6 "bars" of pickups, with the ability to wire in all kinds of crazy ways (split coil, single coil, half pickup, etc), then you just wire it up how you want:

Reverse P, MM, Jazz at the bridge? Easy!
P, Reverse P, MM? Easy!
Jazz, Reverse P, P, Jazz? Easy!
MM, P, MM? Easy!
Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz? Easy! Well, with a 17-way switch, but still possible!

Yeah, the wiring starts to get crazy, but that's part of the fun with this kind of thing!
 
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#35
darwin-bass said:
Simple.

1. P and MM pickup locations overlap so one or both have to move.
2. MM in the proper spot with P shifted slightly doesn't look right (wall of pickups) and poor looks prevent sales.
3. P in the proper spot with MM shifted toward the bridge is a PJ with a humbucker in the J position. Nothing new to see here.

I actually think an MM / J setup where a neck J pickup is added to an MM might improve the looks of the proper MM/P by putting just a bit more space between the MM and neck pickup. Musicman did such a bass but the J was much further toward the neck than a Jazz bass so sound wise I'm not sure it was a big hit. I suspect the picked their J location based on looks.
Click to expand...
This one works great
B86C3323-06A2-4C8D-987F-703D4100945E.jpeg
this one im currently figuring out the best spot for the J… so far closer to the mm is best but im thinking the J needs to angle the other way
16A97463-3B9E-4C32-BE6C-C3972A6D123E.jpeg
Testing continues
 
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#39
darwin-bass said:
Simple.

1. P and MM pickup locations overlap so one or both have to move.
2. MM in the proper spot with P shifted slightly doesn't look right (wall of pickups) and poor looks prevent sales.
3. P in the proper spot with MM shifted toward the bridge is a PJ with a humbucker in the J position. Nothing new to see here.

I actually think an MM / J setup where a neck J pickup is added to an MM might improve the looks of the proper MM/P by putting just a bit more space between the MM and neck pickup. Musicman did such a bass but the J was much further toward the neck than a Jazz bass so sound wise I'm not sure it was a big hit. I suspect the picked their J location based on looks.
Click to expand...
I think you’re onto something with the looks. I like Reverend’s approach with the same size and shape of housing for both the split and the MM. Position those pickups like a Warwick $$ and there you go.
 

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