IMO the P pickups are because on Fender P-Basses it's the only pickup on the Bass and the D and G string pickup is closer to the bridge for tighter more defined sound on the skinnier strings and the E and A string pickup is closer to the neck for a bigger fuller sound with the big strings. And IMO the new Ibanez SR650 for example, has the reverse split P pickup because on that Bass they wanted the skinnier strings to sound fuller and bigger sounding and not too skinny sounding and the big E and A string part of the pickup is more toward the bridge for a more tighter defined less muddy sounding E or B string if its a 5er. But IMO I like 2 soapbar pickups. Now when you have the PJ pickups, bridge and neck pickups it don't matter that much weather you have 2 soapbars or 2 pickups being bridge jazz and neck P pickups. If the neck pickup on the SR650 was straight or split it would not make that much of a difference it's still a big single Nordstrand pickup split or straight. That's just my opinion.Another sweet feature the 500's have to is the passive/active switch rather than have the bass strictly active bass. I'll probably look into the 650 cause of its light weight and comfortability and also it's nice passive/active switch capability. I've gone through a fully active Bass once (ESP LTD specifically) and it wasn't good news.
Guess I'll start investing on the 650 lines further down the line. I really do like the lightweight of the bass and doesn't have a heavy body. I also forgot to realize the pickups of those are P&J pups! If that makes a difference in playing cause for a good hour or two I didn't hear a difference but that's either cause I was always surrounded with soapbar/jazz pickups. Never P style pups.
So if any Squier P users can help me differentiate the sound quality the pup offers as opposed to others would also be good tip to carry down the line in future upgrades or rule of thumb
