P Pickups into Mustang Questions

[rage941]

I have several questions regarding my upcoming project. I have an American Special P bass and I want to sell it and get as close that sound as possible with my Mustang.

Short version of my questions: Can I drop the P pickups in, do the greasebucket mod and have it sound as close as possible to the P, or is there something more that I can do?

Detailed questions
1. All else being equal (theoretically) is a P pickup with P controls (standard, not greasebucket) going to sound different than a P pickup with Mustang controls (this is in regards to electronic factors only, not the rest of the bass)?

2. Does anyone know exactly what pickups came in the American Special P? I want those exact pickups but there doesn't seem to be a huge variety of Fender P pickups for sale or any specific information on the pickups offered in each P bass.
Anyone know if these are the same?
Fender Original 1962 P Bass Pickup | Musician's Friend

Unplugged, the short scale mustang sounds dead (like a rubber band) compared to the P bass.
3. How much of that do you think will show through when plugged in? (in other words will the mustang still sound more "dead" when compared to the P since it is a short scale?)

4. How much do I have to worry about placement of the P pickup on the mustang? Can I just eyeball it and compare it to the actual P bass that I have? I don't know how else to do it...

 

[Marko 1]

What a shame imo--

the Mustangs sound great.

 

[rage941]

What a shame imo--

the Mustangs sound great.

So what? Do P basses sound bad?

I do like the sound of the Mustang but it does not work for my band at all. I need something that cuts through more. Listen to a few songs from our recent EP and you'll hear how pathetic the Mustang sounds in the mix The Wallies. Listen at about 1:20 on the song Watch Them All Flock and you'll really hear it.

 

[Doctor J]

Unplugged, the short scale mustang sounds dead (like a rubber band) compared to the P bass.
3. How much of that do you think will show through when plugged in? (in other words will the mustang still sound more "dead" when compared to the P since it is a short scale?)

This needs to be your focus. All the pickup is doing is converting the string's vibration into electrical energy. If the bass sounds lifeless and dead inplugged then that's what every pickup you put into it is going to hear. Try different string types, try to get a more vibrant unplugged sound and that will be reflected in your amplified sound.

I suspect, however, that you're going to struggle to get two different scale length instruments to sound the same.

 

[ScarfFace]

So what? Do P basses sound bad?

I do like the sound of the Mustang but it does not work for my band at all. I need something that cuts through more. Listen to a few songs from our recent EP and you'll hear how pathetic the Mustang sounds in the mix The Wallies. Listen at about 1:20 on the song Watch Them All Flock and you'll really hear it.

1. Your band is excellent! I just had myself a listen and loved it!
2. the mustang sounded great in the mix. I'm not sure what you don't like about it. Sure, it didn't sound like a p bass would, but it still sounded good.
3. Doctor j is right. It will be very difficult to get a short scale and long scale bass to sound the same. In my experience, scale length, string choice, and technique all have more impact on tone than pickup model (various P style split coil choices)

 

[rage941]

This needs to be your focus. All the pickup is doing is converting the string's vibration into electrical energy. If the bass sounds lifeless and dead inplugged then that's what every pickup you put into it is going to hear. Try different string types, try to get a more vibrant unplugged sound and that will be reflected in your amplified sound.

I suspect, however, that you're going to struggle to get two different scale length instruments to sound the same.

I know they won't sound the same, I'm just hoping I can settle for as close as I can possibly get. I've also considered getting something with more of an edge to it, like the SD quarter pound, in hopes that that will compensate for it. I want to try Fender first though.

1. Your band is excellent! I just had myself a listen and loved it!
2. the mustang sounded great in the mix. I'm not sure what you don't like about it. Sure, it didn't sound like a p bass would, but it still sounded good.
3. Doctor j is right. It will be very difficult to get a short scale and long scale bass to sound the same. In my experience, scale length, string choice, and technique all have more impact on tone than pickup model (various P style split coil choices)

Thanks man! Yeah I guess it just comes down to preference. I expect to hear something with more balls.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try some different strings. Would thicker gauge strings get more sound out of it? and would that be okay for the instrument?

 

[ScarfFace]

I know they won't sound the same, I'm just hoping I can settle for as close as I can possibly get. I've also considered getting something with more of an edge to it, like the SD quarter pound, in hopes that that will compensate for it. I want to try Fender first though.


Thanks man! Yeah I guess it just comes down to preference. I expect to hear something with more balls.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try some different strings. Would thicker gauge strings get more sound out of it? and would that be okay for the instrument?

Do you like flats? I have chromes on most of my basses and really like them. They are pretty inexpensive. I don't have a "normal" mustang, but I do have a Mikey way mustang and I have a set on that bass that was made specifically for mustang basses. You can put just about any gauge strings on any bass as long as you have a functioning truss rod. Good luck!

 

[felis]

What a shame imo--

the Mustangs sound great.

That was my first thought too.

Rather than butcher a nice Mustang, sell it to someone who appreciates it for what it is.
Then if a short scale is still on the radar, get an SX or something, if you want to modify it.