Top P pickups that are very different

[Nedmundo]

I have tried several different P pickups, the only ones that struck me as being particularly different were the SPB-2 and the Dimarzio model p, the others were pretty much different shades of the same thing.

I've had both of those, and I agree they're different from your typical split-coil. I'd add the G&L MFD split-coil from the SB-series basses. It's similar to the DiMarzio Model P, with huge full-range output, but in my SB-2 it had more vintage warmth than the Model P did in my old Fender. The MFD is an amazing pickup.

 

[kyral210]

I've had both of those, and I agree they're different from your typical split-coil. I'd add the G&L MFD split-coil from the SB-series basses. It's similar to the DiMarzio Model P, with huge full-range output, but in my SB-2 it had more vintage warmth than the Model P did in my old Fender. The MFD is an amazing pickup.

The MFD WAS an amazing pickup. G&L are liquidated and all the remaining stock thrown into landfill. Is a tragedy that Fender didn’t buy them outright and keep them as a small custom shop. But hey, that’s history.

 

[atquinn]

The MFD WAS an amazing pickup. G&L are liquidated and all the remaining stock thrown into landfill. Is a tragedy that Fender didn’t buy them outright and keep them as a small custom shop. But hey, that’s history.

I'm pretty sure all the existing MFD pickups didn't just disappear when G&L folded
But I don't think they were every really in the market anyway in terms of easy ability to purchase for aftermarket use.

 

[SharpCat]

I’ve been curious about these ever since Charlie (@Passinwind) spoke so highly of them.

I find them very clean and articulate, but still high output.

 

[micguy]

DiMarzio model p sounds like a hot fart in a car with the windows rolled up compared to a GZR

A GZR is a little bit more articulate if the model P is wired in series, but if you wire the Model P in parallel, it'll easily outdo the GZR in that department. Capacitively loaded, you can get many more sounds out of a parallel wired model P than you can out of the GZR.

 

[Nedmundo]

I'm pretty sure all the existing MFD pickups didn't just disappear when G&L folded
But I don't think they were every really in the market anyway in terms of easy ability to purchase for aftermarket use.

Actually, they were sometimes available from G&L’s web site, along with several other pickups. 916 Pickups is making some MFD types, and apparently Mighty Mite will possibly be making some parts for G&L instruments, but I doubt that would include pickups.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

A GZR is a little bit more articulate if the model P is wired in series, but if you wire the Model P in parallel, it'll easily outdo the GZR in that department. Capacitively loaded, you can get many more sounds out of a parallel wired model P than you can out of the GZR.

Interesting...the Duncan hot P SPB2 to me is unusable for anything close to a traditional P sound but I never tried it in parallel....hmm.

 

[micguy]

Interesting...the Duncan hot P SPB2 to me is unusable for anything close to a traditional P sound but I never tried it in parallel....hmm.

That'll change it a LOT. Free experiments are the best.

 

[shoulderpet]

Interesting...the Duncan hot P SPB2 to me is unusable for anything close to a traditional P sound but I never tried it in parallel....hmm.

The SPB-2 is a perfect candidate for parallel wiring, they are wired to around 22k so each half is around 11k

 

[micguy]

The SPB-2 is a perfect candidate for parallel wiring, they are wired to around 22k so each half is around 11k

just so you know, a 22K Ohm P bass pickup.....That has to be finer wire. #42 guage wire is what most folks use to wind most pickups, P bass mopdels especially. You see 10, 11, and 12k Ohm resistances commonly, and those can all be would with #42 wire. But...there isn't enough space on a P bass bobbin to wind the number of turns of 42 gauge wire that would take you to 22k Ohms. Many folks seeing 22kOhms would think....it's twice as hot as an 11 k wound pickup, but it's not - It's likely somewhat hotter, but how much hotter it actually is depends on what gauge wire they do use - finer wire has more resistance per foot. Also, when you add that much resistance, it damps the high mid peak of the pickup/cable resonance. That takes away articulation - its going to be a duller sounding pickup.

Wiring it in parallel will definitely help compensate for some of that, though.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

just so you know, a 22K Ohm P bass pickup.....That has to be finer wire. #42 guage wire is what most folks use to wind most pickups, P bass mopdels especially. You see 10, 11, and 12k Ohm resistances commonly, and those can all be would with #42 wire. But...there isn't enough space on a P bass bobbin to wind the number of turns of 42 gauge wire that would take you to 22k Ohms. Many folks seeing 22kOhms would think....it's twice as hot as an 11 k wound pickup, but it's not - It's likely somewhat hotter, but how much hotter it actually is depends on what gauge wire they do use - finer wire has more resistance per foot. Also, when you add that much resistance, it damps the high mid peak of the pickup/cable resonance. That takes away articulation - its going to be a duller sounding pickup.

Wiring it in parallel will definitely help compensate for some of that, though.

Thanks yes I'm aware of the finer wire that is used on high resistance windings...SPB2 HOT sounds way different than any traditional P pickup I've encountered.

I could not EQ a sound I could live with and I am very familiar with Gibson mudbucker pickups that I can easily EQ lol.

I plan on on wiring the SPB2 parallel on the next project because in series it has some kind of EQ curve that is hard to describe and I adjusted it different heights.

 

[shoulderpet]

Thanks yes I'm aware of the finer wire that is used on high resistance windings...SPB2 HOT sounds way different than any traditional P pickup I've encountered.

I could not EQ a sound I could live with and I am very familiar with Gibson mudbucker pickups that I can easily EQ lol.

I plan on on wiring the SPB2 parallel on the next project because in series it has some kind of EQ curve that is hard to describe and I adjusted it different heights.

Have you tried 500k pots or 500k volume and a no load tone pot? This will bring out more of the upper mid frequencies, I had a P bass before I went exclusively to short scales that had an SPB-2 with 500k volume and no tone pot, sounded amazing.

 

[manchego_eggo]

These are great and look different:
Delano PMVC
Le Compte Triple Threat
Nordstrand np4a or power blade
Bartolini B-Axis
Dimarzio Sixties

There's a bunch of other blade pickups around as well. Some good, some bad.

The NP4A (Staggered poles) is an all time favorite for me. It has a lot of traditional P sound but then has a hifi-ish tone (maybe extra treble or high mids?) and extra output that made it very versatile with the use of the tone knob.

Delano PMVCs have an almost stingray meets precision tone. Def different and very modern.

The next was the SD Quarter-Pounder, which sounds darker than the Model P but still punches very hard.

The first blades I can remember were the Bill Lawrence, which were hot output but very clear. Nice pickups if you can find them.

The Bartolini 8S is another of the early P replacements that sounds like other Barts - warm and detailed.

The original EMG actives came out a little later - again, typical of the other offerings from that brand: super clean and very full-range. I don’t know their current offerings so well.

Current options that are very clean and full range are the current Bill Lawrence (Wilde) P-46 and the Lace Alumitones.

As others mentioned, Nordstrand is doing several versions of blade Ps that have various characters - none of them much like a stock P.

Delano makes a P pickup with big, single pole pieces instead of a smaller pair for each string. I think some other makers are doing that, too. Ostensibly, it would provide more clarity and touch sensitivity at the expense of even dynamics. I haven’t tried them to find out but the theory is sound so I don’t doubt it works.

There are probably two dozen I’m missing. As one of the most popular bass pickup form factors, you can find a P version of nearly every bass pickup now.

The Wildes and Bart 8S are two vintage but different takes IMO. The 8S was one of the best pickups I’ve ever used to sit in a mix followed closely by the Wilde P46. Neither had an exciting bedroom tone however.