Single Pickup Basses: P vs MM

[Jeremiah]

I own 1 bass at the moment, a Washburn 5-string, but I've got the idea of building a basic stripped down rock machine: 4 strings, 1 pickup, no fancy active electronics.

I'm thinking of a Dinky P body, alder or poplar, (maybe swamp ash,) and a maple/pau ferro neck.

What are everyone's thoughts on the advantages of the MM pickup in the 'sweet spot' vs the split P pickup in the traditional position? My first ever bass had a single P pickup and I remember it being a bit muddier than I liked, but then it was a very cheap bass with the stock pickup.

I think the original MusicMan basses with the MM pickup had active EQ, so is the pickup only designed to sound good with it, or does it sound good with passive too?

 

[tubby.twins]

Generally speaking, MM pickups in the "sweet spot" will have more clarity and punch, while "P" pickups will have more fundamentals.  But it really depends on the pickup.  Modern pickup makers such as Delano and Villex can make pickups in either shape which have very different tonal characteristics.  You're not necessarily tied to the MM tone if you use a particular pickup in the MM shape.  And most of these pickups sound GREAT in passive basses, so don't feel obligated to buy an onboard pre-amp unless you really need it.

 

[hachikid]

if you had to have a single pickup'd bass for good clarity with punch and definition, I would go with a swamp ash body, bloodwood neck, Nordstrand Musicman pickup (http://www.blueberryhillbass.com/NordstrandPickups.htm#modern) in he sweet spot with 3 way selector or toggle switch for series/parallel/single coil. it would be plenty bright, have lots of punchy bottom end, and have tone for days. also, throw some ultra lights and a d tuner on the headstock, and a string through Bad Ass III for the bridge. body style is up to you (a '72 P-Bass body sounds pretty sweet), but that combination screams a rock workhorse.

 

[whyachi]

For variety you can even get Nordstrand's quad-coil pickup and wire a switch or a push-pull knob in so you can get single coil mode too, and still just have two knobs.

 

[Wyliee]

If I had to pick between a P and MM, I think I'd go with the P.  It's that 'classic' bass sound.  Slap on a set of flatwounds and thud away.  Alternately, roundwounds and play with a pick.  Lots of options to choose from.  I have a Rio Grande Muy Grande P in my PJ and it has quite a bit of top end.  No problems with mud.

 

[line6man]

If I had to pick between a P and MM, I think I'd go with the P.  It's that 'classic' bass sound.  Slap on a set of flatwounds and thud away. 

Uh! I absolutely cannot stand that sound. :sad: Makes me want to stab eardrums out to end the torture! :tard:
Definitely roundwounds and as bright as possible for a single P equipped bass!

OTOH though, I'm a solo player, so I can't really say what makes a good "rock machine." :blob7:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have a five string bass with the Nordstrand five string quad coil.  I have mine in the neck spot or where the P bass pick up is.  It is not muddy, but I can see how you might want the "sweet" spot placement.  The series single parallel switching is amazingly versatile for a large number of sounds.  The "single" in the quad coil is very similar in design to a P pickup, two coils, just in the MM pickup shape, right on top of each other.  I think it is a great design for versatility, and it sounds really good to me.
Patrick

 

[whyachi]

I own 1 bass at the moment, a Washburn 5-string, but I've got the idea of building a basic stripped down rock machine: 4 strings, 1 pickup, no fancy active electronics.

I'm thinking of a Dinky P body, alder or poplar, (maybe swamp ash,) and a maple/pau ferro neck.

What are everyone's thoughts on the advantages of the MM pickup in the 'sweet spot' vs the split P pickup in the traditional position? My first ever bass had a single P pickup and I remember it being a bit muddier than I liked, but then it was a very cheap bass with the stock pickup.

I think the original MusicMan basses with the MM pickup had active EQ, so is the pickup only designed to sound good with it, or does it sound good with passive too?

Or split the difference maybe?