What are the noticeable differences between single-coil and standard P-bass pickups?

[pedroyoyoma]

I am building a Warmoth bass and I am wondering what are the big differences (if any) between a single-coil 51/54 style P-Bass pickup, like the style of pickup in the Sting bass vs a standard P-Bass pickup.

I play more rock stuff with a little bit of distortion. I just kinda like how the single coil looks, but I am looking for a warm, fat, vintage P-bass tone. Kinda like Come and Get Your Love by Redbone.

 

[bholder]

That bass () has been discussed here before - started life as a single coil Tele bass, then got the mudbucker and J bridge added - I can't imagine much else sounding quite like that. But for single coil P vs. split coil P, it's as much about the pickup position as type, I think - they are subtly different. The SC gives more thump and boom, in my opinion, but then, I "grew up" on a '54 P.

 

[Lobster11]

I just kinda like how the single coil looks, but I am looking for a warm, fat, vintage P-bass tone.

Personally, I can't even begin to wrap my head around the idea of choosing a pickup based on how it looks. If you want vintage P-bass tone you should use a P-bass pickup. There are lots of options on the market that promise a true "vintage" P-bass tone.

 

[5StringBlues]

Single coils, a little more grind and attack. Split coils, thick mids that dominate

 

[pedroyoyoma]

That bass () has been discussed here before - started life as a single coil Tele bass, then got the mudbucker and J bridge added - I can't imagine much else sounding quite like that. But for single coil P vs. split coil P, it's as much about the pickup position as type, I think - they are subtly different. The SC gives more thump and boom, in my opinion, but then, I "grew up" on a '54 P.

Thanks, that is really helpful. I think it makes sense. I hadn't seen the Redbone bass discussions, that is fascinating.

 

[pedroyoyoma]

Personally, I can't even begin to wrap my head around the idea of choosing a pickup based on how it looks. If you want vintage P-bass tone you should use a P-bass pickup. There are lots of options on the market that promise a true "vintage" P-bass tone.

That is why I am asking. I wouldn't choose looks over sound, but if they sound the same, why wouldn't I choose the one I think looks better? Doesn't seem that hard to wrap one's head around.

 

[pedroyoyoma]

Single coils, a little more grind and attack. Split coils, thick mids that dominate

Thanks. Is it similar to single coil vs humbucker in something like a fender strat guitar, or am I way off? I would assume more hum with a single coil if so.

 

[bholder]

Thanks. Is it similar to single coil vs humbucker in something like a fender strat guitar, or am I way off? I would assume more hum with a single coil if so.

Kind of a little something like that, yeah, but it plays out a little differently on a bass. Still, the humbucker is going to lose highs and lows and give that mid-focused sound, which is what plenty of people mean when they think "classic P tone". But the SC, while yeah, allowing noise in, is more hi-fi to the original signal, preserving highs and lows with a relatively tame midrange. Also a "classic P tone", just depends on the specific example you're trying to emulate.

 

[5StringBlues]

Beholder pretty much nailed it in the above post. Be aware that you can have a single coil shell with a split coil in it. Depending on the winding you could get very close to a split coil with a single coil/split coil pick up

Thanks. Is it similar to single coil vs humbucker in something like a fender strat guitar, or am I way off? I would assume more hum with a single coil if so.

 

[5StringBlues]

The split coil in the single coil shell will also be humbucking.

 

[JimmyM]

That is why I am asking. I wouldn't choose looks over sound, but if they sound the same, why wouldn't I choose the one I think looks better? Doesn't seem that hard to wrap one's head around.

You could probably find what you want in an early P pickup style, including humbucking if you prefer the sound of a split coil and dislike the possibility of introducing hum, as I do. What you won’t find, however, is an old school looking P pickup that puts the coils offset from each other. It’s a small distinction in the grand scheme of things, but for some, it makes a major difference.

 

[themickster]

I am building a Warmoth bass and I am wondering what are the big differences (if any) between a single-coil 51/54 style P-Bass pickup, like the style of pickup in the Sting bass vs a standard P-Bass pickup.

I play more rock stuff with a little bit of distortion. I just kinda like how the single coil looks, but I am looking for a warm, fat, vintage P-bass tone. Kinda like Come and Get Your Love by Redbone.

Singles hum, but there are humbuckers that fit in a single's cover.

 

[JEDI BASS]

That is why I am asking. I wouldn't choose looks over sound, but if they sound the same, why wouldn't I choose the one I think looks better? Doesn't seem that hard to wrap one's head around.

Of course looks matter! Do you pick out a sports car based on ONLY how it drives? No… you get the best driving one that also looks the best.

I have around 40 basses. And, I can play a show with any of them, and sound roughly the same on any of them, especially to the audience that won’t hear the subtle differences. The only struggle is trying to get a Stingray slap sound out of a P bass wearing flats. So… I typically take my best looking basses to my gigs and continually strive to build attractive instruments.
As for single coils vs split P, there are stacked and split 51/54 style pickups that sound more like split P pickups. If you want hum free split P sound with more grind and attack (like a single coil) then these are the way to go.

 

[Killing Floor]

A little hum and the placement on the body. I can say as a bassist since the 70s if you put a jazz pickup in the classic P position I would not be able to tell the difference without touch or sight. Except if there was a lot of hum.

 

[BelmontBiker]

Built a 51p replica and threw a MIJ single coil in it that I bout in the classifieds. It has Replaced my Lakland 55-01 with us barts and Audere preamp as my go to. I only play at church, but Every time I play it someone comments about the “voice” of the bass. No going back, but a 60’s p will be my next build.

 

[REV]

I have a couple of basses with the split coil in the single coil shell and I have a couple of basses with split "standard" P pickups. To my ear the split coil in the single coil shell has a little more complex tone. The increased mids of the "standard" P pickup seems to lose a little something but it's very slight and sometimes it's nice to have those extra mids. To me the best sounding P bass I have has a standard P pickup from an unknown maker.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Such a great song, too.

 

[pbass2]

I've never even had my mitts on a single coil pbass in all my years, and I would sure be curious to try one, but the idea of the noise scares me off(I even put humbuckers in my Jazz). I guess Sting and (RIP) Dusty Hill had workarounds though, so it must not be a deal breaker.

 

[2saddleslab]

I've never even had my mitts on a single coil pbass in all my years, and I would sure be curious to try one, but the idea of the noise scares me off(I even put humbuckers in my Jazz). I guess Sting and (RIP) Dusty Hill had workarounds though, so it must not be a deal breaker.

Sting & Dusty, [and me] use[d] a Seymour Duncan Stinger Stack.

 

[Freight Train]

I still have the ‘68 Telecaster bass I bought in 1969. A few years ago I got the Parallel Universe ‘51 Telecaster PJ, which has a Custom Shop split-coil. I love the new bass, but the ‘68 single coil is a touch hotter and just a little more aggressive in the upper mids, which I always identified as the Tele sound. Barring failure I’d never consider changing the pup in the ‘68.