What pickup configuration/tone do you find most useful?

[BassicJazzy]

Basically it’s like Geddy Lee’s 2112 rack mount, having two seperate XLR outs. So one channel on the sound board handles cleaner low end with more scooped mids, and the other channel handles more treble/boosted mids and distortion. It allows for more flexibility when it comes to the mixing process, and also you can achieve tones you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

If two soundboard channels aren’t available, I still have two excellent SansAmps at my fingertips, and can easily dial in a good usable tone with just one if I have to, then use the second SansAmp to drive an onstage amp or FRFR speaker to hear myself and be able to dial in a stage sound without affecting my PA sound. There’s a few ways I can run this rig

If a guitarist wants to sit in on a song, they can also plug into my Para Driver in a pinch!

I get it now. Reminds me of how I used Rick-O-Sound on my '72 Rick, back in the day. Bridge into Phase shifter and/or distortion, neck into compressor. Always into different inputs on mixing board, sometimes into different amps. I could never get as good a sound out of the mono output, it always sounded meh to me.

 

[Azari]

I get it now. Reminds me of how I used Rick-O-Sound on my '72 Rick, back in the day. Bridge into Phase shifter and/or distortion, neck into compressor. Always into different inputs on mixing board, sometimes into different amps. I could never get as good a sound out of the mono output, it always sounded meh to me.

My childhood bass, a Rickenbacker 4003, is basically retired now. Man, my SB-1000 is WAY better. Especially the pickup. Sometimes 1 is better than 2.

 

[BassicJazzy]

My childhood bass, a Rickenbacker 4003, is basically retired now. Man, my SB-1000 is WAY better. Especially the pickup. Sometimes 1 is better than 2.

Yes, I agree with that. One great pickup beats two good ones. I'm usually heavily on the neck pickup with my two pickup basses, Ibanez SR and Fender Jazz, prefer the sound from my Sire P5's single pickup. I see the SB-1000 has neck-through body too, which is something I miss from the Rick, though my 4001 was reputed to have a fragile neck, which I was always paranoid I might break. All my basses now are bolt-on necks, but I rarely go above the 17th fret, access to higher frets is adequate if need be, so not a biggie.

 

[GrapeBass]

Versatile in regards to how many different sounds you can get or how it fits in with different genres. While people have stated that single p/up basses aren't versatile, I beg to differ.

Different techniques and plucking/fingering placement makes any bass versatile.

A simple P bass wrapped with rounds is pretty versatile, especiallyusing the volume and tone controls. I may prefer my P wrapped with old Chromes or my Sterling Joe Dart (more 'modern' sounding) but have to say, for a wider range of use in different genres, a P (or a J) with rounds cover more territory, if you need it.

 

[CK McLaughlin]

That’s an incredibly limited poll. I can’t vote.

Agree. Thread title should be "What Leo Fender designed pickup/tone ..." etc. There are many many popular bass pickups beyond the extremely limited Leosphere. Soapbars, lipstick tubes, bisonics, mudbuckers, T-bird types, etc. Purely fender-centric bassists should try expanding their horizons a bit!

 

[rooster]

Double P bass wired in series as 1 pickup...Direct to jack.

 

[Jefenator]

I like the idea behind most of the choices listed.
In practice, I keep coming back to a good set of J single coils.
I could and often do rock out al night on just the neck. I find the bridge pickup (blended or soloed) provides a welcome degree of versatility – without becoming a distraction.

 

[JazznFunk]

Mine isn't listed.... J plus MM with coil splitting, a-la Lakland's flagship setup.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

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 missed:

Ric single coils ( 1 or 2)

Thunderbird (1 or 2)

Mudbucker (+ or minus mini hum)

Single coil precision (51)

MM + single coil

MFD (split, dual coil -narrow, dual coil wide)
Configured as single, dual pickup combinations

Guitar sized humbuckers

Dual J bass (like Blacktop)

Dual P


Plus all the HUGE variations of pickup location

 

[/\/\3phist0]

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.

I’m not indecisive, I choose the response I desire based on the palate offered by the instrument , and know how to achieve the tone I seek.

 

[Brian Patterson]

I have several basses with the PJ setup that get me where I want to be for several tonal characteristics . I also prefer a DBL P over 2 Jazz for better tonal spectrum.

This is exactly what I'm trying to decide on - a P/P vs. a P/J setup on a custom stereo bass I'm building.
For recording individual pickups per audio channel, would two P's give me a greater range of tones in their respective neck/bridge positions?
A jazz pickup seems a bit 'thinner' or less full near the bridge - I want a full sound from both pickups - for recording purposes especially.
Is this why you use P's and not J's?

 

[SpiderBass1965]

This is exactly what I'm trying to decide on - a P/P vs. a P/J setup on a custom stereo bass I'm building.
For recording individual pickups per audio channel, would two P's give me a greater range of tones in their respective neck/bridge positions?
A jazz pickup seems a bit 'thinner' or less full near the bridge - I want a full sound from both pickups - for recording purposes especially.
Is this why you use P's and not J's?

I prefer them. Fuller sound. The BC Rich Eagle is a great example of it.