What pickup configuration/tone do you find most useful?

[chris_b]

I play active and passive PJ and Jazz basses. The pickup format doesn't matter to me, only the tone.

All I need is one good tone and I'll keep the controls on that spot forever.

I "set and forget" all my basses.

 

[Brandon Shea]

I love the jazz configuration, I usually pull back on the neck pickup slightly and the tone nob pulled back slightly as well

I've started doing something similar on my Sire V7, and I think it sounds fantastic. Just that little bit of volume rolled off the neck pickup works wonders!

 

[HueyFreeman]

Can't speak to MM pickups. Never owned one.
But as far as versatility between a Precision and Jazz, my jazz bass is unequivocally more versatile than the Precision.

 

[steimlem]

jazz or precision with all knobs maxed is the most useful. change plucking position and strength for tonal changes. can do majority of songs with these

 

[dbflats]

I play Spirit Steinberger copies, five strings with ancient flats. These basses have two soapbar passive EMGs. I've found my set-it-and-forget-it sound by simply diming both pickups, as well as the tone knob. Outboard gear takes care of the rest, whether live or recording.

Aesthetically I prefer the look and vibe of single pickup instruments. But my ears tell me to definitely use both pickups on these instruments.

 

[socknroll1]

Indecisive? Maybe on an active bass with lots of knobs. On a simple Jazz Bass setup, the choice of pickup(s) is an easy and one-time decision for me - whichever fits the song best. Then each time I play the song, I use the same configuration. 2 pickups is my favorite for covering multiple tones.

 

[ElectricBass72]

How about 2 Stingray pickups? Stingray 5 HH

 

[ardgedee]

Versatility is the means to find the tone you want to set-and-forget.

 

[LowWay]

2 multicoils with a filter preamp.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Seems pretty obvious, in general one pickup gives a narrower range of tones. A P/J might be the best compromise. I’ve actually never owned a single pickup bass.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

That what I said!!

Great minds and all that

 

[Pep]

The most popular bass guitars seem to be some form of either a jazz bass, Precision bass or Stingray as far as pickup configuration goes. What have you found to be the most useful?

You need to add P/J. Quite a few of those out there.

 

[HardNHeavy]

as much as i love the p bass with fresh nickel wounds, the tonal bark of a J or PJ does it for me.

 

[bholder]

Versatilitiy isn't needed if your one pickup sounds great. I'd say versatility often is a crutch. You think you need it, but you don't, and it just makes you indecisive.

The "do one great sound" approach is valid, I've got basses like that, sure. But I prefer max versatility, myself. Why settle for just one great sound? Sure, not every setting is a great sound for widespread use, but still can be useful for special cases. My bass shouldn't sound the same when I'm covering the Stones' version of "Poison Ivy" vs Vanilla Fudge's "You Keep Me Hanging On", or anything King Crimson.

A Bowie knife can be very useful. So can a Swiss Army knife multitool. "Any tool is a weapon, if you hold it right."

 

[bholder]

2 multicoils with a filter preamp.

View attachment 7228188

Could use a few switches, too, no?? hehe

 

[Baker69]

I think you should have also included P/J configuration in your voting list? I love the P Bass sound solo’ed, but my favourite and go to sound at the moment is on my Player Plus in Active mode but slightly favouring the Jazz pickup and with the bass boosted.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The most popular bass guitars seem to be some form of either a jazz bass, Precision bass or Stingray as far as pickup configuration goes. What have you found to be the most useful?

That is a very limited list of options. I don't use any of them.

 

[MCS4]

I find two jazz pickups to be the configuration that works best for me in the most situations. This is not related to the versatility of having different combinations of those two pickups available, though... when it comes to gigging and recording I nearly always use both pickups full-on. I enjoy a good P bass and have my own that I enjoy playing (mostly at home), but at least for me the j setup is the one that works the best in the most mixes for the stuff I tend to play.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

2 Jazz, love it, single MM love that as well, each great in their own right! My MM ,J set up works well also! Hard for me to choose just one.

 

[bigjames]

The most popular bass guitars seem to be some form of either a jazz bass, Precision bass or Stingray as far as pickup configuration goes. What have you found to be the most useful?

None of the above...I really like the PJ config on my Sadowsky. It does everything I need it to do.