Mornats Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Hey, I've got a Dean Hillsboro SIngle bass that has a single MM style humbucker in the usual MM position. I'm not keen on the sound as I much prefer a P/J configuration but I do really like the bass. It's currently up for sale but if it doesn't sell I may change the pup in it and see if I can love it again. So can you recommend an MM style pickup that could do the P/J type of sound? I know that the EMG MMTW lets you coil tap the pickup which may be what I want but I'd like to explore other options or even be told that I'm crazy for wanting to get a P/J sound out of an MM pickup! The P/J sound I'm after is the sound you get when you centre pan the pickups so you get a bit of a scooped sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Don't try and get a cat to bark or a dog to purr. If you want P/J then get a bass with those pickups. Edited August 30, 2014 by Machines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1409410247' post='2539464'] Don't try and get a cat to bark or a dog to purr. If you want P/J then get a bass with those pickups. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Just get one that splits, I see no reason why it wont sound like a regular j pup, that said without the p it wont well, sound like a p. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Can't help but agree with the above. I have PJs but I also liked the sound of a Wishbass i had that had a Kent Armstrong MM style humbucker. What I liked about the Kent Armstrong tone was the sound was more of a bass growl than you normally get from a MM. IMHO the MM is too metallic. WD Music sell the Kent Armstrongs: http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/musicman-bass-pickup-2765-p.asp Not bad for £51. There are 3 wires from the pup, so you can control them separately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Can't help with the mm pickup but the best Pj I ever played is my Bb1024, so versatile. It'll do a nice woody P sound or a twangy J if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 The lakland 55-94 and now the new 55-14 appeal to me with the mm and J neck pickups but with a pan front the neck and split rear/front/MM selector for the humbucker makes it a proper versatile machine imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Cheers guys, that's what I thought - if I want a P/J I'll have to stick with my P/Js! Incidentally, my SB320 is a P/J with a lovely tone. However I'm very interested in a Kent Armstrong MM now - thanks Grangur, a more growly MM style could be just what I need. I could add a push/pull on the volume know to swap between the coils which would give me some versatility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 [quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1409408103' post='2539431'] Hey, I've got a Dean Hillsboro SIngle bass that has a single MM style humbucker in the usual MM position. I'm not keen on the sound as I much prefer a P/J configuration but I do really like the bass. It's currently up for sale but if it doesn't sell I may change the pup in it and see if I can love it again. So can you recommend an MM style pickup that could do the P/J type of sound? I know that the EMG MMTW lets you coil tap the pickup which may be what I want but I'd like to explore other options or even be told that I'm crazy for wanting to get a P/J sound out of an MM pickup! The P/J sound I'm after is the sound you get when you centre pan the pickups so you get a bit of a scooped sound. [/quote] The sound you're after is in large part due to the position of the P and J pickups. You won't get that with a single MM pickup regardless where it's placed, and especially at the usual Stingray position. It just won't happen. You either put pickups at the P/J positions, or learn to love the bass as it is... or sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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