Which P would you rather have?

[Will_White]

I'm looking at building a P style bass and I'm trying to decide what type I want to do. So if you could only have one P bass would you want a Split P or a Single Coil P (optionally with humbucking pickup)?

 

[GIBrat51]

Personally, I'm perfectly happy with my lefty '78 P-Bass; which has it's original split-coil pickup. Of course, there are lots of people who are perfectly happy with the original P-Bass' single coil; but, my impression (emphasis on the my) is that those are teetering on the edge of "niche" bass membership. The sound that pretty much everyone identifies with a P-Bass is the split-coil sound. So, sorry; only you can decide whether you want to be part of "everybody", or look down your nose at us from your "niche" bass perch...
And, for what it's worth; the split-coil is a humbucker pickup; just doesn't look like a Gibson-style soapbar (Leo didn't like paying royalties..).

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I prefer the single-cool P sound over the split-coil P, but both are awesome sounds in their own right.

 

[TDR1138]

I like both for tone, but for cool builds, I really like the single coil aesthetic.

 

[mbell75]

Split

 

[bholder]

I voted single coil, but I really mean hum cancelling single coil. That's what I'm working on (well, not actively, actually, another half finished project).

 

[Mechayoshi]

Single will be more unique but split gives more options and IMHO look and sound better.

 

[Dave W]

Only one? Split. Then I'd turn it into a PJ

 

[spiritbass]

Split. I tried to like the true single and hum-bucking single, but they don't 'work' for me.

 

[Boristhespyder]

One that is not at 3:00 AM and I have to get out of my warm bed.

 

[azapistagyerek]

The black one.

 

[LinusKarlsson]

Split, because I prefer the sound.

 

[bassliner50]

I prefer the Sp....lit pups.

 

[39-Bassist]

Both have their own sound but I prefer Split.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

Both are good.

When Leo came up with the split,
he wanted to avoid the hum from the single coils.
However, there was another reason for the design.
The large single pole pieces gave more attack,
which some of us may well like, now,
but at the time that was destroying the speakers available back then.

Now that we can have speakers that can live with the original design,
we can have the sound he first intended.
Even moreso with the option of them being humbucking.
Or we can have the less agressive splitcoils that we have
all come to expect.

There really is no wrong answer.

 

[PunkNerve]

Split coil.

 

[Nev375]

I'm in the same conundrum as the OP.

I know I want a vintage 2 saddle string-thru bridge, flats and a tort guard... but that's all i'm certain of at this point.

 

[Pedal2DaMeddle]

Can't believe I'm the first to say this, but I
vote carrots.

 

[Pedal2DaMeddle]

I'm in the same conundrum as the OP.

I know I want a vintage 2 saddle string-thru bridge, flats and a tort guard... but that's all i'm certain of at this point.

For that build, do you want to go full on '51 specs? Down to the pickup and wiring?

 

[DavC]

you can get the Split in the single coil Tele look .. ! i have a Nord Split neck in my 51P/J 5ver mutant