P vs Reverse P, what’s better?

[ThaCoast]

I've both, many standard pbass clones/builds, & one reverse BB bass clone. Though the BB clone has a nordstrand 2b-3a preamp, where my Pbass clones are all passive, i've not heard much tonal difference. If anything, all the strings sound "tighter" in the reversed split vs the traditional split. Though, within a mix/band context, might simply be a subtle notice.

Pickup height, playing technique can all but mainly dictate more on the "tone" of the bass, regardless if the Split pickup is reversed or not.

 

[Zbysek]

but this comes at a big cost as the range of sound is severely limited. It's great when you just love the sound of the bass, but otherwise, it can give you a limited range that you won't like.

What do you mean by that? ("range of sound is limited")

I mean, a traditional P-bass is already limited in the range of sounds it can produced, isn't it. How does the reverse P make more limited?

THX

 

[TonyP-]

Reverse P all day every day all day. (Well based on that choice )

 

[Zbysek]

Reverse P all day every day all day. (Well based on that choice )

Can you elaborate on that, please? I am considering getting a P bass (never had one)...and want to make an informed decision... THX

 

[crguti]

Reverse gives better volume balance between the strings.

 

[Zbysek]

What manufacturers make basses with reverse P pick-ups? I know that Sandberg, Spector and Ibanez make them.

Are you aware of any other?

 

[sikamikanico]

Many… I’ll add Yamaha, Fender, Charvel, ESP, Warwick…

 

[TonyP-]

Can you elaborate on that, please? I am considering getting a P bass (never had one)...and want to make an informed decision... THX

Sorry I just saw this.
I greatly prefer the tighter sound on the lower strings and find it better balanced.

 

[Zbysek]

Many… I’ll add Yamaha, Fender, Charvel, ESP, Warwick…

Are you sure Fender makes reverse P? I went through their web page and didn’t see a single reverse P in their production line…

 

[sikamikanico]

Are you sure Fender makes reverse P? I went through their web page and didn’t see a single reverse P in their production line…

Hoppus sig. maybe others.

 

[Lesfunk]

Reverse P
No question
It even makes more sense when you think about it

 

[Amalgam]

What do you mean by that? ("range of sound is limited")

I mean, a traditional P-bass is already limited in the range of sounds it can produced, isn't it. How does the reverse P make more limited?

THX

On the E string side, with a traditional P, it's sending more of the flubby side of the wire which is going to sound more loose and jangly. On G string side, it will be picking up a more refined tighter string.

When you reverse that sensing, the pickup is going to sense a physically tighter E string and a looser G. In effect, the G string is tight enough where the sensing is that probably doesn't make much difference as it's so tight anyway unless someone was really digging in, but I'd argue that this would affect the E string's sound. So to me, the reverse P sounds more refined and focused, but it also means that it's at the cost of dynamics. So if you like your reverse P sound a lot, it's great because you'll have it and not have to try to "get there," but if you want more dynamics/flabby E (maybe slap bass), you'll be fighting against the design of a reverse P to get there.

I have a reverse P in a Fender Power Jazz Bass Special (P/J), and a regular P in a Fender Precision Bass Lyte Deluxe (P/J). I love the refined sizzling sound of the reverse P on the Jazz Bass so I haven't modified the electronics, but much of the controls are practically worthless as I can hardly tell the change from 0-10. The Precision wasn't loud enough/dynamic enough so I went in the other direction and swapped out the P, modified the humbucker so I could use it as a double J or J and added an active preamp, and I love it for being a beast.

At the end of the day, we're taking about a couple inch difference at most, so even though it affects things in this way, it just pushes things in these directions, and the sound is more important than the theory. Regardless, if you took the same P pickup and reversed it by moving the E side to be closer to the bridge, in the same location, I think you'd notice the difference if you moved the E side of the pickup closer to the bridge.

 

[lalo_garcia-maynez]

My Grandfather experienced “Reverse P”, and went to see an Urologist and luckily He was able to fix the problem ; Both Grandpa and the Doc agree that reverse P is really not that good .
So that should answer the question !

 

[Joebone]

Well...I see the technical explanations for P being better than - or no different than - Reverse P. OTOH, when I first started playing bass (won a '73 P in a 1979 card game) I didn't like the loss of uniformity. I love the Yamaha BB2000 basses: Reverse P. Every time I hear a Spector bass for which the sound grabs me -- Reverse P. I've now taken an LEH 5 string, with Reverse P and a Nordstrand soapbar in '70's position, hoping for all that I dig about Reverse P, as well as a tight, articulate B-string...Mission Accomplished.

 

[bigtone23]

I have a ‘00 US Dlx Precision 5er. Most everything about it is amazing: tone, feel, looks… even the weight and ergonomics are exceptional. The split coil is matched with a dual J type bridge pickup, which makes so much sense in terms of relative tonality and volume balance.
However, Fender missed the boat on a little detail: the orientation of the split coil pickup. The split coil sees the B & E on the neckward coil, and the A, D & G on the bridgeward coil. To me, this is goofy, and I’m not a traditionalist P guy. Why not keep the P tradition alive and have the E & A on the neck coil with the B along for the ride?
However, a popular mod on these is to rout the body so the pickup goes reverse P, but also flip the coils so the B, E & A are the bridgeward coil, with the D & G neckward. One big square rout and a new pickguard and Bob’s your uncle.

I’m about to pull the trigger and do the reverse P or at least the BEA/DG split.

 

[lalo_garcia-maynez]

Well...I see the technical explanations for P being better than - or no different than - Reverse P. OTOH, when I first started playing bass (won a '73 P in a 1979 card game) I didn't like the loss of uniformity. I love the Yamaha BB2000 basses: Reverse P. Every time I hear a Spector bass for which the sound grabs me -- Reverse P. I've now taken an LEH 5 string, with Reverse P and a Nordstrand soapbar in '70's position, hoping for all that I dig about Reverse P, as well as a tight, articulate B-string...Mission Accomplished.

I have 4 old Spector basses made in Brooklyn in the late 70’s. They have the traditional P style pickup (not the newer reverse one which they changed I think in 1979). The basses sound just as good !! So it does make some difference in terms of making the D and G a little beefier , but no biggie ! They sound amazing either way . I recently bought a euro Spector 77 reissue and it came with the original P position ; I added a J pickup and gold hardware and gloss finish. The bass is a beast !! Sounds as good as any Brooklyn Spector .

 

[Groove Doctor]

Equal-tension strings are slightly better on a reverse P configuration.

For standard P, a slightly thicker G string and slightly thinner E string balances out any issues.

- I love the even tone of Roto 66’s original version, but the low E is too floppy for drop D IME.

- I like the feel of Billy Sheehan Sig Roto 66’s with even tension, but G is a bit too thin, E is good. So I put an original G on my P and it was perfect.

- Switched to Fodera Stainless since so they feel somewhere in between and less abrasive on my fingertips.

 

[Flog]

for pickers it doesn't matter. but for us pluckers who rest the thumb on the pickup the reverse P is akward and sounds different if you are used to playing a P bass. You are plucking closer to the bridge and it just sounds more aggro. Just can't get used to it....

 

[Yahboy]

for pickers it doesn't matter. but for us pluckers who rest the thumb on the pickup the reverse P is akward and sounds different if you are used to playing a P bass. You are plucking closer to the bridge and it just sounds more aggro. Just can't get used to it....

I have no plucking issue on reverse P in floating hand technique. Meanwhile, I found reverse P always has great result on BEAD tuning.

 

[Jazzdogg]

for pickers it doesn't matter. but for us pluckers who rest the thumb on the pickup the reverse P is akward and sounds different if you are used to playing a P bass. You are plucking closer to the bridge and it just sounds more aggro. Just can't get used to it....

I've found that each of my basses has at least one sweet spot where plucking produces a tone I'm really happy with.
I've also found that anchoring my plucking hand to a pickup doesn't always produce a sound that makes me smile.
When I modified my plucking technique from anchored to unanchored, I became far more likely to produce a tone I liked consistently.
For me, learning to play with my thumb unanchored has been entirely worthwhile.