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Precision question: single coil tone vs. split coil

K

KataPolt

Aug 4, 2004
65
0
#1
I have a regular Precision bass, the split coil kind. Last week, I played someones Sting Precision bass with the single coil pickup. But I was not able to play it through an amp. I was surprised because I liked the feeling of the neck very much. It has a large, wide neck, but I liked it.

Can someone with experience tell me about the tone difference between the split coil and single coil Precision bass? Does the single coil Precision bass sound like punchy and more detail like a Jazz bass with only the neck pickup on? Or does it sound different? How? Thank you!
 
#2
KataPolt said:
I have a regular Precision bass, the split coil kind. Last week, I played someones Sting Precision bass with the single coil pickup. But I was not able to play it through an amp. I was surprised because I liked the feeling of the neck very much. It has a large, wide neck, but I liked it.

Can someone with experience tell me about the tone difference between the split coil and single coil Precision bass? Does the single coil Precision bass sound like punchy and more detail like a Jazz bass with only the neck pickup on? Or does it sound different? How? Thank you!
Click to expand...

I had a single coil P bass (51 reissue) which replaced my MIM Standard P Bass. The pickup of the 51 lacked power in the lows, was tinny in the highs and had virtually no mids to speak of. I couldn't use it without a lot of EQ and compression. Pity, as the neck was superb along with the rest of the CIJ build quality.

I replaced the 51 with a MIM Jazz Deluxe which is much better but I still pine for the power of the Standard P. That said, there are a fair few folks around here who really get a lot out of their Stings and 51s. Just wasn't for me.
 
#3
PJPJ said:
I had a single coil P bass (51 reissue) which replaced my MIM Standard P Bass. The pickup of the 51 lacked power in the lows, was tinny in the highs and had virtually no mids to speak of. I couldn't use it without a lot of EQ and compression. Pity, as the neck was superb along with the rest of the CIJ build quality.

I replaced the 51 with a MIM Jazz Deluxe which is much better but I still pine for the power of the Standard P. That said, there are a fair few folks around here who really get a lot out of their Stings and 51s. Just wasn't for me.
Click to expand...
The 51 pickup had no power in lows, had no mids, and bad highs? Wow, that sounds horrible.

Does anyone else have experience?
 
#4
The stock 51 reissue pup is not "hot."
The big diff b/t these two pups is "single pole/single coil" vs dual pole/humbucker."
I find the single pole to be more focused, and wider range. dual pole humbuckers tend to be a little blurry in comparison, and more mid focused. YMMV of course, folks hear things differently.
I replaced the stock pup on mine with the seymour duncan scpb-3 pup. Very hot, very wide range with big lows, very clear highs, great pup.
I too find the 51 reissue to be a great feeling neck, nice light resonant body and fun to play, and the scpb3 pup really turns it into a hotrod.
I disagree that the stock pup is a dog. It's not quite true to a real 51 sound, but with good solid flatwounds on there it does a creditable job of reproducing the sound of that era.
 
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#6
I played a show not too long ago where this pro sideman was backing a country artist here in town. He happened to be playing a '51 RI that night. I was floored by how good it sounded through a Mesa Walkabout head and Ampeg 610 cab. As far as I could tell, it was all stock.
 
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#10
Many years ago I had a 58 p bass, 69 Jazz, and 68 tele. I would bring all three to different gigs to compare. The tele had a deeper tone, better punch, and filled more sonic space in my 3 pc band than the others. Not sure if it was the string thru bridge, single coil pickup, or both but been a string thru, slab body, single coil guy ever since.
 
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#14
Doesn't sound, to me, like a solo'd jazz neck.

I loved my stock 51 pickup, replaced it with a scp3 quarter pounder. It's even better now. Tons of mids, punchy lows, clear highs, and everything is very well defined. I get compliments on my tone all the time. From other musicians and audience members alike.

...and it's NOT just a country/blues bass.

I play it with my trash metal band.
 
#16
As an owner of mostly Jazz basses I can honestly say I don't much care for the solo'd neck pup of a Jazz. The exception is one of my Jazz basses has SD quarter pounders and the neck solo is workable.
The sound of the single coil's tone in my '51 beats a solo'd Jazz neck pup by a mile (IMHO)
 
#17
I built a P bass with a Seymour Duncan SCPB3 Quarter Pounder. I prefer the sound of it to the old MIM P I used to have and it is now my favorite bass. I strung it with Daddario flats and it is actual very versatile. Roll off the tone and it thumps like crazy with huge bottom end, I like this for reggae. Crack the tone wide open and it gets a great clanky punk tone. For most general use though I leave the tone knob in the middle and it gives really thick, solid lows with clear definition.

I've never tried a classic style SCPB pup and I've never had a Jazz so I can't compare. But it sounds a lot fuller than the neck J pup on my Lakland 44-02 soloed.
 

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