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

[Stewie]

I have three basses
Two of them are P basses
Ain't haikus awesome?…

 

[tekhedd]

It's a strange question because, with a little money, you can get pretty much the same range of tones out of either configuration with the right wind and magnet. Slightly different placement on the strings is the only real difference, with the classic P configuration putting the high string coil in a poor location on modern basses (with the pickup pushed down closer to the bridge than on vintage configs).

So, er, I guess I've convinced myself that a single bar (stacked or split humbucking), angled to taste and wound to preference, is a superior configuration. I still like the looks of a reverse P though.

 

[shadven]

I prefer the single-coil thump.

 

[Paul New]

I like the grind of the single coil, but only a bass player will even hear a difference.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Thanks @Paul New.
Maybe I'm losing my hearing but I'm liking clarity a lot these days.

 

[TomB]

I like the grind of the single coil, but only a bass player will even hear a difference.

True, but I'm a bass player.

 

[vin97]

And BTW, for all you noise fanatics that are scared of singlecoils.
Just take some random DC power supply and ground the negative lead to your cable. Very easy to do with one alligator clip and a TS Y cable.

 

[TomB]

And BTW, for all you noise fanatics that are scared of singlecoils.
Just take some random DC power supply and ground the negative lead to your cable. Very easy to do with one alligator clip and a TS Y cable.

Never heard this before. That would be the "shaft" portion vs the tip, yes?

 

[vin97]

Never heard this before. That would be the "shaft" portion vs the tip, yes?

It won't give you humbucker noise levels but it should eliminate the really nasty hum that would otherwise make singlecoils unusable in badly wired venues.