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The P pickup is the wrong way around!

Reverse the P?

  • Yes, the b just sounds better

    Votes: 47 38.8%

  • No, keep it regular

    Votes: 32 26.4%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 42 34.7%
  • Total voters
    121
B

Bootzilla

May 4, 2009
500
3
#1
I was just wondering why the P pickup is always placed with the DG side towards the bridge instead of the neck. I have one bass (ibanez gsr 190 :D) which has a "reversed" P and it sounds really good.
It gives the D and G strings a bit more bottom and warmth. This also balances the strings more making the change from the E/A to the D/G string smoother.

The only reason I see for putting the D/G side towards the bridge is to give you more tonal options (bright strings brighter, bass strings bassier) but that is IMO not what the P bass is about.
I just want that thumping, warm, bottom heavy tone on all my strings and if I want more treble I will pick up a Jazz or a PJ.

So is fender keeping the P pickup as it is because it is tradition, because everything used to be better, because it wont look like a vintage fender and of course Leo is always right?
Or is there another reason to make the D and G string more trebly instead of bassy?

I realize that in the old days there were probably good reasons to put it in like this (old amps with flatwound strings might be better served with a regular P)
but nowadays I think that the reversed P actually gives the top strings a more vintage vibe that everyone seems to go for these days.

So what do you all think about reversing the P?

BTW. I'm not suggesting to turn it around as in putting the EA part forward and the DG part backwards.
I suggest to just place the DG part at the neck side of the EA part and leaving the EA part in the same spot.
 
#5
mikezimmerman said:
Anyone else remember the Fender Rocco Prestia Signature P-bass? I can't seem to find any pictures of one, but it had a reversed pickup arrangement pretty much like you're describing....
Click to expand...

Whoa,whoa.....There was a Rocco Sig.Model??When?It had to be in the 80's when I wasn't payin' too much attention to the big "F".
I've always wondered why he didn't have a model.I'm embarrassed for not knowing that.
 
#13
It depends on where I want the bite. The sound of the coil that's closer to the bridge sounds the best to me regardless of which set of strings it's on. I like the tonal variation that you get with the standard non-reversed P (in any position--neck or bridge), however, I also like having the reversed P because of the bite that it gives the lower strings.

If I had a bass with a Jazz pickup in the neck position, I'd want it to be in the same place as the bridge coil on a P pickup. It's my ideal place to have a pickup.

And that's why I love my two favorite basses--one has a standard P, the other has a reverse P (with a standard P in the bridge).
 

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