krispn

If you're across in Edinburgh your welcome to try my Lakland jO5 and basswitch preamp and see what the sounds like bring your current bass too and try with the Basswitch if you fancy. I don't have any MTD's though

What about some of the Klon clones out there? Would that dual signal path vibe be useful as you could add gain to the clean signal to a progressively more dirty tone? My understanding is that with the drive all the way off your getting a clean signal and turning up the drive adds 'blends in the dirt while removing the clean' kinda thing? Arc effects have Klone V2 which has a bass boost feature. I think it sounds interesting for bass - not a clean blend as such but a useful feature.

Have you considered something like the Aguilar Tone Hammer pre amp or a similar outboard unit such as a Basswitch? These might offer the sound without changing weapon - unless you just wanna get a new bass in the arsenal

Ahh the P bass - if it ain't broke don't fix it! Like many I've owned a few usually Fender or Lakland. Mike Dirnt, MIM, USA '08, a '79 (which was bought by a guitar store back home who were commissioned to mock it up and use it for the Phil Lynott statue in Dublin - a true honour!) I now have a '89 Jap P which is a delight to play. I think coming back to if from a 5 string jazz made the neck feel 'small' but totally right at the same time - just feels super fast and effortless to play. I have put a Bart pick up in it and it sounds great in the mix - no fuss, no hassle just plug in turn up the volume and play.

I've pimped a couple of basses and got them to my spec - usually a bridge change and pick up change but for a bass which you essentially like then as suggested maybe an outboard preamp would give you the tonal variation you seek. I'm using a Basswitch which is pretty versatile with its EQ options and fx routing. They have a series of single pedal which include classic boosts. Link below and all look for Ed Friedland reviews on you tube. I've no affiliation and there are other great preamps out there. I'm just digging these guys and what they do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHdikC4jgqo http://www.rmi.lu/products

I've a Bartolini Classic Bass in my P and its really good - i believe its voiced to have a bit more in the low mids. Playing a Lakland JO5 and then going back to the P bass makes me realise that I just love the P tone and certainly more so this pick up than the stock pick up I replaced. The bart sits well in the mix and responds well to tone knob changes.

Ki0gon is the man for such things

Simple ideas eh!