WHICH PICKUP DO YOU PREFER TO USE?

[fullrangebass]

I was talking to a fellow bass player and he mentioned that he only uses the brigde and only few times both pickups. On the other hand I use the neck on it's own and both (series if possible, please; thanks Sheldon ).

In a multi-pickup bass (that we approve both or all pickups soundwise), which pickup do you use:

1. Pickups
   neck
   both (series)
   both (parallel)
   bridge
   I ahve more than 2 p/ups and I use all
   Who really cares about it???

Multiple choices allowed (even though they sould be explained)

Does your choice of pickup combination is affected by the type of pickups used, and why? what is the sound you are after? (eg the neck pickup would be prefered in a MM/J bass unless it were a JJ that one would choose the bridge pickup; the idea is the honk in the sound). No "fitting in a band", or "the original sound was..." restraints.

 

[el_Kabong]

3 responses for a total of 150%??

<insert gag here about Americans and vote counting>

 

[Bill G.]

On my Jazz, I tend to prefer the neck pickup by itself, but I also run it with both pickups fully on.

 

[vindy500]

well on my p's i use the neck pickup and the bridge pickup at equal volume.. oh wait

on my cort usually even both, for slower deeper songs i move it into the neck soapbar and for the funk i put it in the bridge ( dont do that too often though)

 

[bassbengoa]

3 responses for a total of 150%??

<insert gag here about Americans and vote counting>

Yup

%s are messed up.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yeah, both in series gets most of my playing but occasionally I'll select the neck by itself for a P-Bass vibe.

 

[Yvon]

I use the neck pick up alone 90% of the times, maybe even more then that.
I should have go with my first idea and order my Lecompte with only the neck pick up!

 

[fullrangebass]

3 responses for a total of 150%??

<insert gag here about Americans and vote counting>

I have allowed for multiple choices in the poll

 

[klocwerk]

all of the above!

 

[Baryonyx]

On my Hohner I favour the bridge pickup soloed, on my Kubicki I like to run boh pickups at full volume (Great a slap tone with plenty of beef and sizzle!).

On jazz bass, I like to run the bridge pickup alone. You all know why.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Fretted Bongo: Both pickups plus piezo bridge (everything at 100%).

Fretless Bongo: 60% piezos - 40% magnetic pickups => 70% bridge - 30% neck (approximate values, of course).

Rickenbacker 4003: Both pickups full. Just the neck pickup slightly rolled off.

None of my basses has the series/parallel option.

 

[fullrangebass]

I have just realized that in all my MM/J's basses and J basses I just use the brigde pickup or both (with the exception of my Villex equipped Warrior MM/J that is).

In the rest of my basses I go for the neck or both (preferably in series) , Warrior included. Anyone out there that uses the neck J pickup? If so, what is it that you like in that sound?

 

[Phat Ham]

on my jazz bass I have everything dimed pretty much all the time.

 

[Halftooth]

I think this thread would be better of in the Pick-up and Electronics section.

 

[Dash Rantic]

On my MIA Jazz, I like the neck pup full on and the bridge about halfway. Seems to be a (minor) volume cut when both are full on. But this way I get plenty of delicious growl from the neck pup, and my playing over the bridge pup gives a bit of extra brightness as well.

-Dash

 

[silky smoove]

On my jazz bass I have both pickups wired directly to the output jack... i.e. no onboard controls at all. I play with both pickups on by default

On top of that, I have the neck wired in parallel, and the bridge wired in series... You didn't have that option, so I thought I'd mention it.

 

[fretless Bob]

i use the bridge pickup only on most of the basses i have apart from my geddy lee which i find too thin on the bridge, but maybe after i get some new pickups in there that will be sorted and i will just use the bridge.

i was even thinking about getting one dual coil pickup fitted in the bridge but then im gonna have a big gap where the from pickup used to be.


Dave

 

[tplyons]

Depends on the bass.

Jazzes I tend to favor the bridge pickup, a little bit. Bridge on 10, neck on 8 probably.

Flatwound strung jazz... exact opposite. More thump from the neck pickup.

P-bass, only one pickup.

12 string: both on full, maybe a bit favoring the bridge for a bit of shimmer.

 

[fullrangebass]

On top of that, I have the neck wired in parallel, and the bridge wired in series... You didn't have that option, so I thought I'd mention it.

Funny you mentioned!!!
In couple of my basses I like the 2 pickups in parallel between them (the bridge being in parallel and the neck being in series).

If I included all 12 possible pickup options amongst the 4 coils present in the 2 pickups of 2 of my basses, many people would think that I am really a very, very technical person (but not down to earth)

 

[fullrangebass]

So far I can see that most people hardly (if any) use the neck pickup alone, if the neck pickup is a J. Is it just my idea?

So this leads me to another question. Why the MM/J basses? they are somewhat popular, but does anyone use the neck pickup on it's own?