P Bass with Split Coil AND 51 Coil - Examples

[Dood]

Following on from BassApprentice's thread,

I would like to hear (and see) examples of basses that have both a split coil and a '51 coil'. The arrangement would be having the Split in the usual place and the '51' nearer the neck - oh yes! I'm not sure about placement at the moment - think of it as either half of the Sheehan Neck Humbucker - it will either go up against the neck or up against the split coil. - I've spotted a Shuker bass that had a neck positioned pickup and that I understand had been upgraded to the Dimarzio DP Humbucker.

One of my students has a Yamaha BB714BS and I think that also sounds great - especially with those huge rails on the neck pickup.

It's a theory I want to investigate. Anyone done it? Can I hear please?

[Grangur]

Hmmm... now isn't that a real case of "when old meets new" ?

Maybe, if someone has a body with a swimming pool rout you could borrow it and try it out?

Dood, is this an arbitrary thought, or do you have a bass actually waiting for a router if it ticks the boxes?

[Dood]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472746785' post='3123891']
Hmmm... now isn't that a real case of "when old meets new" ?

Maybe, if someone has a body with a swimming pool rout you could borrow it and try it out?

Dood, is this an arbitrary thought, or do you have a bass actually waiting for a router if it ticks the boxes?
[/quote]


You got it! I really like the idea of melding the two 'famous' P sounds, but at the same time I also thought about the neck humbucker + Split coil tone, but not taking up *all* of the area between split coil and neck with a massive pickup. Reason being is that a little room to get in to slap might be necessary. I'm thinking something like the Yamaha BB714BS or similar.

Well, the bass itself doesn't exist yet, but I guess it might be possible to knock something up to try it if no one else has!

[Grangur]

It's for things like this I sometimes get tempted to go and do drain test routs on a bass I've picked up cheap.

Right now I have an old Encore. It's a P with a roadworn body. It's dinged and has stickers etc. The neck has the TR adjustment at the heel. It cost peanuts. I could afford to really lay into it with a router...

But it's got Mojo!! It's ok. There's nothing wrong with it. Why wreck a perfectly healthy bass?

[PlungerModerno]

Have a listen to this chap playing this bass:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RERGJWtT5Y"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RERGJWtT5Y[/url]

[Dood]

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1472835819' post='3124684']
Have a listen to this chap playing this bass:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RERGJWtT5Y[/media]
[/quote]

You sir are a diamond - now that was very interesting!

[Dood]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472824942' post='3124567']
It's for things like this I sometimes get tempted to go and do drain test routs on a bass I've picked up cheap.

Right now I have an old Encore. It's a P with a roadworn body. It's dinged and has stickers etc. The neck has the TR adjustment at the heel. It cost peanuts. I could afford to really lay into it with a router...

But it's got Mojo!! It's ok. There's nothing wrong with it. Why wreck a perfectly healthy bass?
[/quote]

Similarly I have two basses sat here, that I *could* grab a cheap body for some abuse to test the theory, but I'm thinking, having played the BB714 and heard this review video (below) I might not need to. I think the plan could well work!!

[Grangur]

Video not there.

You mean the BB714BS; with the split, then the humbucker at the neck as Billy Sheen? That's not as you described though.

Funny how you're after the added punch from a big bridge pup presence. I'm trying to sell a Thumb as the bridge pup punch isn't what I look for. But then again I, regrettably, don't gig. I don't have cutting through the mix to worry about. I digress.

Edited September 2, 2016 by Grangur

[PlungerModerno]

Here's the link to the video of BassJaymi's: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RERGJWtT5Y[/media]

P.S. Count the number of frets on the Blacklund . . .

I count 22 - If you put the pickup up against the end of the fingerboard on a regular fender style 20 fret it'll sound different than if its beside the 22nd fret. Also the rounded heel will limit how close the pickup will be on a typical P or J style neck.

Check out some more of his vids, as coincidently they provide some useful comparisons (not the same pickup being moved but worth a gander!).

here's some with neck pickup clips:
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ojKyMjXuA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ojKyMjXuA[/url]
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE93_FCyvJA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE93_FCyvJA[/url]
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pRXbUWeL74"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pRXbUWeL74[/url]
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qszmESwYTc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qszmESwYTc[/url]
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT_5JNUEtw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT_5JNUEtw[/url]

Edited September 3, 2016 by PlungerModerno

[Dood]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472856190' post='3124930']
Video not there.

You mean the BB714BS; with the split, then the humbucker at the neck as Billy Sheen? That's not as you described though.

Funny how you're after the added punch from a big bridge pup presence. I'm trying to sell a Thumb as the bridge pup punch isn't what I look for. But then again I, regrettably, don't gig. I don't have cutting through the mix to worry about. I digress.
[/quote]

I don't follow you I'm afraid! I *am* talking about and describing having a pickup in the neck position in front of the split-coil and not bridge position (or sound). I want to explore having a 51 pickup and a split-coil and to hear what happens when you combine them. BB714BS does actually do that but with a full size humbucker and all that it brings tonally, but it is all the way up against the 21st fret. My plans to test the 51 position or near to is to allow some finger space for some slap abuse.

[Grangur]

Sorry, don't know what I was thinking of there.

[Dood]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472940578' post='3125531']
Sorry, don't know what I was thinking of there.
[/quote]

He he!! - My girlfriend found the instant coffee in the fridge the other day. I've no idea how I managed to put it in there!!

[Grangur]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472984375' post='3125715']


He he!! - My girlfriend found the instant coffee in the fridge the other day. I've no idea how I managed to put it in there!!
[/quote]

Well it's less problematic than the wife finding the girlfriend in the bed.
One's a senior moment, the other is less easily explained away. Not that I've been there.

[Grangur]

Back on topic... If you don't mind!

Just looking on ebay just now i found a 51p pup for less than £55 posted. It's a hand-made "Baytone" from John Anthony guitars.
That could be worth looking into.

[Dood]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472998852' post='3125873']
Back on topic... If you don't mind!

Just looking on ebay just now i found a 51p pup for less than £55 posted. It's a hand-made "Baytone" from John Anthony guitars.
That could be worth looking into.
[/quote]

Heh heh heh, yes - back on topic then. No bruises to remember the incident then...

Excellent, I'll take a look at the pickup later! Thank you for that!

[LZD56]

Wow, just looked at those Backlund basses & they start at $3750 before any added options! Blimey!! Think I'll go for a Jow bass 😉

[Grangur]

[quote name='LZD56' timestamp='1476121095' post='3151536']
Wow, just looked at those Backlund basses & they start at $3750 before any added options! Blimey!! Think I'll go for a Jow bass
[/quote]

Yes, but do Jow come in pink?