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Two "P" pickups???

#21
So hey, what about using single-coil p bass pickups? Like the old-school 50's P bass pickups
India_Sierra said:
There are probably more basses like this than you think. Plenty of basses fitted with soapbars actually have splitcoil pickups inside. For instance, the pickups in my Cort Rithimic are soapbars with splitcoils inside. It makes sense if you want a good clean output.
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Interesting. Any idea how one can tell if a soapbar pickup is, in actuality, a split-coil, and hopefully sounds like traditional split coils? Certainly would be easier to route a cavity for those...
 
#22
...should sound awesome:
EntwistleBuzzard.jpg


:thumbsup: :bassist:
 
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#25
Not all split coils sound like a Precision pickup. In fact, most soapbar-shaped split coils don’t. The distinctive tone of a split Precision pickup is a result of the coil shape and size, winding count, and magnets used.
 
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#26
ctmullins said:
Not all split coils sound like a Precision pickup. In fact, most soapbar-shaped split coils don’t. The distinctive tone of a split Precision pickup is a result of the coil shape and size, winding count, and magnets used.
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I kinda figured that might be the case...

Related - what about the single coils found in the '51 Precision/Tele basses? I looked around here to see how they sound compared to the more ubiquitous split coil, but the answers I found were...um...conflicting.
 
#27
ctmullins said:
Not all split coils sound like a Precision pickup. In fact, most soapbar-shaped split coils don’t. The distinctive tone of a split Precision pickup is a result of the coil shape and size, winding count, and magnets used.
Click to expand...
On the BBN5 II Yamaha replaced the J pickups from the original BBN5 with split coils in the same positions. It’s hard to be sure, since neither is in the proper P position, but I don’t feel like they’re voiced the same as P pickups.
 
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#28
definenredefine said:
So hey, what about using single-coil p bass pickups? Like the old-school 50's P bass pickups


Interesting. Any idea how one can tell if a soapbar pickup is, in actuality, a split-coil, and hopefully sounds like traditional split coils? Certainly would be easier to route a cavity for those...
Click to expand...
You can tap on the pickups with a screwdriver. Anywhere it makes noise, there’s a coil underneath.
 
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#29
definenredefine said:
So a mean as hell J bass tone. That sounds awesome - something I would totally be into. Unfortunately, I've never used a router in my life. My thought was to see what Warmoth's custom body builder would come up with...other thought would be learning/practicing pickup routing.

Y'all have given me a lot to think about. Thanks much for all of your responses.
Click to expand...
I have had Warmoth do a couple of different custom pickup routes. Until you gain the skills yourself, paying Warmoth a bit extra to have them do it is a good option.
 
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#30
definenredefine said:
I kinda figured that might be the case...

Related - what about the single coils found in the '51 Precision/Tele basses? I looked around here to see how they sound compared to the more ubiquitous split coil, but the answers I found were...um...conflicting.
Click to expand...

This bad boy has a pair of lollar single coil P bass pickups. Doesn't sound like a split P at all to me. Sounds great but not like a split.

jvMrZBj.jpg
Yf7CNVt.jpg
 
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#31
sprag said:
This bad boy has a pair of lollar single coil P bass pickups. Doesn't sound like a split P at all to me. Sounds great but not like a split.

View attachment 4722999 View attachment 4723000
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Regardless, that's a pretty bass. I'm not usually a fan of gold but it's looks great there.

Also, would one expect it to sound like a split p? Doesn't look like either pickup is in the "p" spot (or maybe the "bridge" pickup is? I don't know...)
 
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#35
definenredefine said:
There's another company that I found through reverb that does custom jobs also. Probably worth looking into.
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You'd mentioned Warmoth previously, so I was assuming you were thinking of getting a Warmoth body. If you are getting a Warmoth body, then it's probably going to be most economical to have them do it, rather than getting the body and then sending it to someone else. If you're not getting a Warmoth body, then Warmoth isn't an option, since they won't do pickup routes (or anything else) on bodies they didn't make.
 
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#36
BlueTalon said:
You'd mentioned Warmoth previously, so I was assuming you were thinking of getting a Warmoth body. If you are getting a Warmoth body, then it's probably going to be most economical to have them do it, rather than getting the body and then sending it to someone else. If you're not getting a Warmoth body, then Warmoth isn't an option, since they won't do pickup routes (or anything else) on bodies they didn't make.
Click to expand...

I get that. I meant there's another company that sells bass bodies and offers custom orders.

I've used Warmoth's body builder but it doesn't offer a body with 2 split coils or the option to reverse the layout. If I contact them, do you think that would be a possibility?
 
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#38
definenredefine said:
I get that. I meant there's another company that sells bass bodies and offers custom orders.

I've used Warmoth's body builder but it doesn't offer a body with 2 split coils or the option to reverse the layout. If I contact them, do you think that would be a possibility?
Click to expand...
Absolutely. My main bass for 7-8 years (the one currently in my avatar) is a 3-pickup jazz that I had custom routed by them. I also had Warmoth do a body with three P pickups. That project got back-burnered for a few different reasons, but I hope to resume and finish it this year. Both of those projects happened when I spoke with the guys at Warmoth over the phone. It helped that I knew exactly what I wanted, and was willing to pay for it.
Warmoth1b_zps1864764c.jpg
Bo 3 red.jpg
 
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#39
#40
BlueTalon said:
Absolutely. My main bass for 7-8 years (the one currently in my avatar) is a 3-pickup jazz that I had custom routed by them. I also had Warmoth do a body with three P pickups. That project got back-burnered for a few different reasons, but I hope to resume and finish it this year. Both of those projects happened when I spoke with the guys at Warmoth over the phone. It helped that I knew exactly what I wanted, and was willing to pay for it.
View attachment 4723874 View attachment 4723875
Click to expand...

Okay cool, I'll give them a shout then. Thank you for the tips!
 

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