I keep going around and around what I might want out of a dual P setup. The variability of where everyone places the pickups contributes to the difficulty in deciding. I’ve done a lot of work with photos to try and work out pickup placements as best as I can, and listened to a lot of YouTube examples where I could find them. Maybe this will help others if I share it.
For me, it boils down to a few choices - all centered around the fact that I really want the original Precision pickup in its original location. Not many makers keep this - many seem to move the Precision EA coil to the front 60’s Jazz Bass location. (Alien Audio do this, for instance.)
Turns out the old BC Rich Basses - the Eagle and Mockingbird - kept the P pickup in its original location, though they sometimes changed the orientation of the coils. And the rear pickup, from what I can tell, either has the centerline between the halves on the 60’s Jazz Bass rest pickup position, or the coil of the front part of the P pickup on that line. So finding audio of those basses is helpful, at least to some degree. I’ve gone looking for Precisions and others as well when I can find them.
Here’s what I think the sonic choices end up being, depending on pickup orientation.
1.
Dual P, non- reversed.
Front pickup sounds familiar on its own. Rear pickup sounds a little thinner on DG strings, but absolutely magnificent mixed in with the front. IMO
(This video flips between Eagle and Mockingbird - different P orientations)
2.
Dual P, reversed.
The front pickup sounds Precision-ish, and perhaps better balanced between strings, but it sounds to me more like a modern humbucker overall at the front and also the rear position. The rear pickup sounds more balanced on its own as well. It’s a great sound, and I like it, but it kind of stops having a Precision character in some ways, at least to me. More like a modern double humbucker bass. Others I’m certain will disagree. But that’s my take.
https://youtu.be/H9V8E7X7QQg
3.
Front P pickup non-reversed, rear P pickup reversed.
Not a lot of these out there. Mainly Warwicks. Alien Audio as well, but I haven’t included video from them as the P pickup is shifted forwards a bit into Jazz coil position. This I thought was my solution, but I’m less sure now than I was. The front pickup on its own sounds typical Precision, the rear pickup on its own sounds balanced, but the blend is interesting. Jazzish on the EA strings and Stingray-esque on the DG strings.
https://youtu.be/cosmaeHQSsQ
I’m still making up my own mind. If anyone has other audio samples to add, WITH the front P pickup still in the usual position (either reversed or non reversed), I’d love to hear them.
- about $400 for the entire set! I have some projects in the works now so this might be something I tackle next year. 
