Pups - what's your favorite flavor?

[Al Krow]

Bit of (hopefully!) interesting fun for this weekend:

So you're allowed just one bass to keep. What pup set up would it have?

I guess we're going to be agreed that there are three main 'flavors': P, J and MM

But let's not limit ourselves to just these and chuck in the most common alternatives (neck) / (bridge): P/J, P/MM, P/P, J/J, J/MM, MM/MM

I know there will be a few other variations and if you're desperate for one of these we can include an 'other please specify' category - but you should be obliged to post a pic of your set up if you're choosing this.

And I hope we're also all agreed there is no right answer (even if most pros do apparently use Ps ) only a right answer for us...

Weird thing is, I'm just realising that my favorite config is actually one that I don't currently have (lol!). Oh dear, why does starting a thread always lead to GAS?

 

[fermata]

P...but reversed, for a more even tone and tighter lows.

 

[Stevorebob]

Kinda ignored the whole soap bar thing here.

 

[armybass]

 

[JRA]

i've never owned an ax with MM pickups (i don't think!) so i voted for my long-time favorite: PJ. IME: more options than either P or JJ. i'd be easily convinced, however, that a MM pickup(s) is also a great choice. but my point: two is better than one!

 

[Kro]

Kinda ignored the whole soap bar thing here.

Don't most of those just have some form of split-coil, single-coil, or humbucker in them though?

At any rate, I didn't vote. Flavor of the month for me right now is the Precision style pickup, but I also love the tone of the MM style pups.

I also really like the sound of the double Jazz style pickups, but IMO placement is probably more critical to the sound than the pup itself. I don't have much use for that Jazz type tone at the moment personally, but I sure do love listening to it in the right context!

 

[Al Krow]

i've never owned an ax with MM pickups (i don't think!) so i voted for my long-time favorite: PJ. IME: more options than either P or JJ. i'd be easily convinced, however, that a MM pickup(s) is also a great choice. but my point: two is better than one!

Gotta agree with that!

I've got a feeling that a reverse P + MM with choice of single or double coil to give you either J or MM options at the bridge, could actually be where I'm heading!

 

[jd56hawk]

Absolutely no desire for anything else.
Link Removed

 

[pie_man_25]

Absolutely no desire for anything else.
Link Removed

I'm sure they sound great too, but the neck pickup at right is aesthetic as heck

 

[two fingers]

P/JJ

Volume, tone, series/single/parallel switch for the JJ, neck/both/bridge pickup selector.

It's a passive beast.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Stingray Special 5HH. Neo pickups.

 

[BassGreaser]

T-Bird Plus

 

[Clark Dark]

 

[BassGreaser]

View attachment 3371559

Love this bass!

 

[CryingBass]

Delano.

Yeh, I know

 

[Watchootognbout]

Duo coil soapbar humbuckers.
Which you DID forget!

 

[NecroticImbecil]

No option for "Don't care."

I have a variety of P/U configurations in various basses that all sound good. That's the important thing.

 

[Keger Jupit]

Bacon flavor...or elk back strap...nope, bacon

 

[Dabndug]

Two P90ish single coils

 

[cnltb]

I'd have a single narrow aperture pickup on there.