oldslapper Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 So looking to get a bridge pickup fitted to my P bass. Something simple, passive, just an additional volume pot. Fancied something humbucker-ish. Any recommendations, experiences? Thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I've used the Seymour Duncan Jazz Hot Stack in the bridge position on one of my P/J's and it was a good complimentary pairing with a vintage P pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 That said the additional tones a bridge pickup supplies is debatable over the costs of parts & labour vs what you get for the money. My recommendation is to try a P/J out first if you can... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I'd tent to agree with a J pup, as with the P pup in it's sweet spot it doesn't leave much usable space for a 'bucker (unless you want another P in there). The Sandbergs put a Musicman type pup in the bridge position while keeping the P in it's original spot but in the testing I've done (imho) it doesn't do much good in that spot - it's ok but hardly "sweet". The Pingray has it down for ultimate P/MM placement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Don't waste your time installing a PUP John, stick a P-Retro in there. It won't require any modification, it'll give you a range of tones way beyond what a passive P/J combination will give you, and it's easily reversible (and of course transferable to another bass). Appearance wise, you won't know it's there either. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks for the replies chaps. I've had a p bass special and an sb-2 and liked the 2 pup config. Never played a P/MM config tho. But you reckon the bucker' doesn't add much at the bridge? The J retro sounds interesting. I just find the P pickup a little limited, so what does the P retro offer tone wise? The bottom line is I've found a great P, changing the neck for a jazz, now want to add a bit.of tonal variation. I don't really want another 4 string, so was hoping to get what I need out of one bass. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='oldslapper' post='1252101' date='May 31 2011, 09:50 PM']Thanks for the replies chaps. I've had a p bass special and an sb-2 and liked the 2 pup config. Never played a P/MM config tho. But you reckon the bucker' doesn't add much at the bridge? The J retro sounds interesting. I just find the P pickup a little limited, so what does the P retro offer tone wise? The bottom line is I've found a great P, changing the neck for a jazz, now want to add a bit.of tonal variation. I don't really want another 4 string, so was hoping to get what I need out of one bass. John[/quote] The P-Retro is an extraordinarily versatile unit John, seriously, I cannot see why anyone would mod a Precision body now that there's a decent drop-in P-circuit out there. Tonally it does pretty much everything from the type of deep dub-like tones you'd get from a '70's Telebass through to Jazz- and Ray-like snarlyness. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 What the Beedster said. Its hard to get a good balance of P against J, even with a humbucker J. They weren't designed to go together. Best bet is something sold as a pair (Wizard....DiMarzio..Sadowsky) with a humbucking J. Even then, the combined sounds tend to be hollow and a bit feeble when compared to a P on its own. A good J bridge pickup needs a fair bit of bass boost to sound great. A good P pickup doesn't. So if you try to switch from solo J to solo P it doesn't work too well. I can do it on my Sadowsky PJ, but only combined with the active bass boost. I think you played it at the Dorset bash last year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Ok boys, you've convinced me. Just checked out John's web site, wonder if I'll get a discount having identical name? By the way what was the fretless of yours I played at the bash D? That had some nice pups in it. Reminds me, must get round to organising another this summer. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 That was a bitser - Fender neck ('74?) and Bravewood body, with DiMarzio model J humbuckers. In bits again now....must get it sorted out sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='oldslapper' post='1252123' date='May 31 2011, 10:12 PM']Ok boys, you've convinced me. Just checked out John's web site, wonder if I'll get a discount having identical name? By the way what was the fretless of yours I played at the bash D? That had some nice pups in it. Reminds me, must get round to organising another this summer. John.[/quote] You won't be disappointed. I think John gives a BC discount anyway, so make sure you mention this when ordering. [quote name='BassBod' post='1252131' date='May 31 2011, 10:17 PM']That was a bitser - Fender neck ('74?) and Bravewood body, with DiMarzio model J humbuckers. In bits again now....must get it sorted out sometime.[/quote] '73, and if you ever fancy selling me back that neck, let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I had a Jazz along with the P-Bass pu in my Yamaha. No matter what I did, it always sounded thin, and it never added anything to the P-Bass sound. The best combination I had was a Duncan Vintage P-Bass pickup and a quarter pounder Jazz. At least the volume was similar when I switched from one to the other. I decided to bite the bullet and put a Duncan Musicman humbucker in there and I'm very happy with the result. I get the Musicman "tone", although it needs a little bass boost used on its own compared with the P-Bass pu. The combination of P-Bass and MM is very nice too. Next time I'm up your way, John, I can pop in and you can try it. I know people rave about John East preamps, but it's only a tone control after all. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it does anything that a half decent graphic can't do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Thanks Stevie, might take you up on that. I love the P sound, but even with changes in finger position, I still want something like a bridge "burp" or combo to smooth tone out and I can't seem to do that with just a P pup. Bass player I use when I'm playing 6 string has a USA P with S1 switch, and that seems to give a bit of tonal variation. Seen a couple of you tube demos of P-retro and they do seem to offer a good tonal range. It looks like if you want equity of volume with bridge and neck, you have to go active? I've had a J-east pre in a MM and it was a beast. I'll probably give my name sake a call and have a chat. I'm in no hurry so we'll see. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='jonthebass' post='1251981' date='May 31 2011, 08:14 PM']I've used the Seymour Duncan Jazz Hot Stack in the bridge position on one of my P/J's and it was a good complimentary pairing with a vintage P pickup.[/quote] +1. I had changed the stock bridge J pickup in my old Aerodyne to one of these, and it was a great pickup. Instant Duff McKagan - as he uses one - but as its a hum-cancelling pickup, it also has all the benefits of the Jazz/bridge thing, but doesn`t irritate the hell out of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='oldslapper' post='1255279' date='Jun 3 2011, 12:01 PM']It looks like if you want equity of volume with bridge and neck, you have to go active?[/quote] Not really. As others have said, you just need a loud bridge pickup. Even the Musicman pickup is quieter than the P-Bass one when it's installed in the 'bridge' position. I found that wiring the MM in series makes for a more balanced pairing and IMO works better when the two pickups are used together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I've just bought a passive PJ bass. It has SD's but they are custom wound so that's not much help. I'm only using the J pickup to add a little extra depth to the P pickup sound. I think I'm using 80% P and 20% J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='stevie' post='1255411' date='Jun 3 2011, 01:26 PM']Not really. As others have said, you just need a loud bridge pickup. Even the Musicman pickup is quieter than the P-Bass one when it's installed in the 'bridge' position. I found that wiring the MM in series makes for a more balanced pairing and IMO works better when the two pickups are used together.[/quote] I've just fitted a Wizard 'Big P/J' pair, (which is the Thumper and the 84 Jazz), and it's the first time I've ever considered soloing the bridge pickup. I didn't actually do it of course, but I considered it The output from these pickups is up there with my Ray, if that's any indication. I'm fitting a pair to my Fortress, as I was massively caught out the other week playing live when I swapped basses and I thought the Fortress was broken Oh, and I've got them wired with a pull-switch series option, for those moments when a mid/punch boost is the only way to go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Stick another P p/up in there, it's a great sound and looks way cool IMO. Add the P Retro and you'll have an awesome sounding bass. My £0.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoker Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 how about another p-bass p/up. after all they are a form of humbucker and it would look different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Now[i] there's [/i] a plan...actually, I'm on it, although it's taking me forever to get my finger out - Ryder P-bass, MM neck, two Thumpers, Series pull-switch. Bam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I've owned many P/J basses, Fender Hot Rod, Sadowsky, Status, and have a lovely one now, a pimped VM Jag. I've also owned P/J sets by Wizard, Lollar, SD, and many more. Much as I've always wanted basses and PUPs to work, in the main they haven't delivered, and I always go back to the P-PUP for most of my playing. OK, I would possibly add the J-PUP into the mix to get a little more bite or top, but usually found that in the live or recording situation, it made little real difference to tone, certainly nothing like as much as a P-Retro or similar will make. I can't help thinking that, once again, Leo got it right; 1 x P-PUP, yes, 2 x J-PUP, yes, I x MM PUP, yes. Anything else. Mmmm, why? C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='Beedster' post='1255690' date='Jun 3 2011, 05:00 PM']....I can't help thinking that, once again, Leo got it right; 1 x P-PUP, yes, 2 x J-PUP, yes, I x MM PUP, yes. Anything else. Mmmm, why?....[/quote] Because they work. It depends who is building the instrument, but the Lakland J/MM is a very good combination and the 2 PJ's that I've owned sounded great. Guys like Alembic, Wal and Rob Allen have taken pickups and basses into areas Leo Fender would never comprehend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hadn't thought about P/P, seen that on Gareths P bass and it looks nice, not sure what that would sound like. Chris, you're right, Leo knew what he was doing, and I do wonder sometimes why I don't just get another Jazz bass! When it comes to tone, it does get subjective and I never "chased" a tone before joining BC, ignorance really is bliss and cheaper! I really need a 5'er so it could be I get a 5 string P bass body with Jazz neck and 2 J pups? .......or take up the triangle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' post='1255769' date='Jun 3 2011, 06:24 PM']Because they work. It depends who is building the instrument, but the Lakland J/MM is a very good combination and the 2 PJ's that I've owned sounded great. Guys like Alembic, Wal and Rob Allen have taken pickups and basses into areas Leo Fender would never comprehend.[/quote] Fair point, and yes, build is important. Lakland's excepted, you're talking pretty specialist/expensive basses there though, and having owned a couple, I wouldn't necessarily agree that they took PUPs to places Leo couldn't comprehend, more to place perhaps he chose not to go, as was the case with me and Wal [quote name='oldslapper' post='1255770' date='Jun 3 2011, 06:24 PM']Hadn't thought about P/P, seen that on Gareths P bass and it looks nice, not sure what that would sound like. Chris, you're right, Leo knew what he was doing, and I do wonder sometimes why I don't just get another Jazz bass! When it comes to tone, it does get subjective and I never "chased" a tone before joining BC, ignorance really is bliss and cheaper! I really need a 5'er so it could be I get a 5 string P bass body with Jazz neck and 2 J pups? .......or take up the triangle?[/quote] Sounds like you want more versatility than either a Jazz or a Precision offer John. I think once you start adding PUPs to perfectly good basses, that way madness lies. Perhaps play a few (perhaps the Lakkie Chris recommended above, and even an early 80's Precision with two P-PUPs). Add a P-PUP at the bridge to a decent MIJ Precision and spend £100-150 doing it (depending on PUP), and you'll probably eventually sell the bass for £100 less than before the mod C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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