richardjmorgan Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 … are they kind of the wrong way round? I've just been doing a bit of rough recording with my Encore P, having not played it properly in aaaages, and the note definition on the bottom two strings, compared to the top two, is pretty awful (yeah, I know it's not a great piece of kit, but bear with me). In comparison, my Aria also has a split coil pickup, but with the coils reversed (i.e. the coil for the bottom 2 strings nearer the bridge). Given the tendency of the upper strings on basses to be a bit snappier in my experience, all things being equal, the latter ("wrong" way round) seems to make more sense, and give a more balanced attack across the four strings. So is this just me being weird in terms of personal preference, is there a valid reason for the "normal" way round, or did Leo just get it wrong to begin with and it stuck like that? Being more of a guitarist than a bassist, I'd be interested to hear some input from those more knowledgeable than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 I`ve never played a bass with Precision pickups "the wrong way round" but this has always puzzled me as well. Doing it this way would add more lows to the thinner strings, which as you say, would give a bit more even-ness across all 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 You've identified the problem, Get a better bass and all will be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Warwick (...well Spector) get it the right way around. [IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/100_1933.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/100_2247.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Yep. Leo Fender didn't know what he was doing. I'm away to throw my Precisions in the bucket. Goodness knows why anyone would want to play one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1361472198' post='1986316'] Yep. Leo Fender didn't know what he was doing. I'm away to throw my Precisions in the bucket. Goodness knows why anyone would want to play one. [/quote] I'll have them if you don't want them because my Precision sounds fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1361472198' post='1986316'] Yep. Leo Fender didn't know what he was doing. I'm away to throw my Precisions in the bucket. Goodness knows why anyone would want to play one. [/quote] Hussah, sense at last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Oddly enough I know someone who took a Warwick Streamer Stage I and had the P+J pup routes filled and then just fitted the P in the 'wrong way around' (i.e. as per Leo)... and this guy is a bit of a Warwick fan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1361472506' post='1986326'] Oddly enough I know someone who took a Warwick Streamer Stage I and had the P+J pup routes filled and then just fitted the P in the 'wrong way around' (i.e. as per Leo)... and this guy is a bit of a Warwick fan! [/quote] ... with a good ear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardjmorgan Posted February 21, 2013 Author Share Posted February 21, 2013 So is there an actual justification for putting it the Fender way round (bass side further from the bridge), or is it just that it was done that way originally and most people aren't bothered enough by it for it to be worth changing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1361472947' post='1986336'] So is there an actual justification for putting it the Fender way round (bass side further from the bridge), or is it just that it was done that way originally and most people aren't bothered enough by it for it to be worth changing? [/quote] Other things, like pick or fingers, playing by neck or by bridge, kind of strings, age of strings, EQ, etc., all make more difference than an inch in pickup position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 I recall a thread on here about it where a luthier pitched in, I'll try and find it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardjmorgan Posted February 21, 2013 Author Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1361473265' post='1986341'] I recall a thread on here about it where a luthier pitched in, I'll try and find it [/quote]Would be interested to see that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 In Leo we trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 (edited) I had a Yamaha BB300 with the reverse P pickup. It sounded really nice. Because I didn't hear the pickup aligned the other way round, I can't say whether or not its "reverseness" was the reason why. My current Yamaha is a BB450, and its P pickup is the Fender way round. It sounds really nice. It sounds like a nice theory but don't get too defensive, Fenderheads! Ultimately a bass either sounds good or it doesn't and there isn't a "right" and "wrong" in this. Edited February 21, 2013 by neepheid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1361475197' post='1986382'] ... Ultimately a bass either sounds good or it doesn't and there isn't a "right" and "wrong" in this. [/quote] Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardjmorgan Posted February 21, 2013 Author Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1361475197' post='1986382'] Ultimately a bass either sounds good or it doesn't and there isn't a "right" and "wrong" in this. [/quote] Yeah, I totally wasn't suggesting there was - I assumed the fact I phrased my original post predominantly as a question would've been enough to convey this. Seems I've stirred up a bit of Fender rage though, which absolutely wasn't my intention! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1361475617' post='1986396'] Yeah, I totally wasn't suggesting there was - I assumed the fact I phrased my original post predominantly as a question would've been enough to convey this. Seems I've stirred up a bit of Fender rage though, which absolutely wasn't my intention! [/quote] I know you were merely being curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SignsOfDelirium_bassist Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Main thing for me was that whenever I play a P my fingers always hit the pickup when I'm playing on the upper strings. Only real reason why I'd want to have them reversed is to avoid this! Granted I could, and probably should, change my playstyle instead, but I don't want too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazy_olie Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 I notice it on my Aerodyne but that is a PJ and the P pickup is closer to the neck than normal. For that setup at least I think it benefits from being reversed because the top strings have their pickup points close together, can sound nasally sometimes. I think string tensions were generally tighter back in the day so perhaps less of an issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Oooof. Can of worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardjmorgan Posted February 22, 2013 Author Share Posted February 22, 2013 [quote name='cocco' timestamp='1361531209' post='1986970'] Oooof. Can of worms. [/quote] I'm beginning to see that! [size=4] I can assure you though, it was borne out of genuine curiosity, not an attempt at trolly can-opening! [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 It's a well known fact that P-Bass players only use the E and A strings on the first 5 frets, so it doesn't really matter which way around the pickup for the D and G strings is. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361540767' post='1987204'] It's a well known fact that P-Bass players only use the E and A strings on the first 5 frets, so it doesn't really matter which way around the pickup for the D and G strings is. :-) [/quote] Very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 (edited) [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361540767' post='1987204'] It's a well known fact that P-Bass players only use the E and A strings on the first 5 frets, so it doesn't really matter which way around the pickup for the D and G strings is. :-) [/quote] Yep. Another valid point. In fact, I sawed straight up the middle of my fretboards and removed the portion that has the D and G strings on it. Not only do I not need that bit it also takes away from the huge weight that is the Fender Precision Bass. Edited February 22, 2013 by Hutton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.