Reverse P pickup configuration

[Lozz196]

5 minutes ago, Minininjarob said:

This one. I use a Cali 76 too. Not sure how it all works so well but I’m super pleased with the tone. I use a GK 400rb amp into any cab, I plugged into a ratty old Ampeg cab (maybe 2x12 or 4x10) and it all sounded glorious. 

Thanks, so going through this evens out the balance between E/A & D/G. Hmmm, def something to think about.

[NancyJohnson]

On 20/01/2026 at 14:47, SteveXFR said:

What does a reverse P configuration achieve compared to the standard Fender configuration?

Ive got a bass with each type of P pickup but they're so different in terms of preamp and pickup position and bridge setup that I can't tell what reversing them has done.

 

For me it just offers a slightly phatter tonal output on the D&G strings.  It's not much, but (to my ears) enough that all the strings sound similar, rather the E&A booming and the D&G twangy.

 

Pickup here is a Tonerider unit.

 

[ead]

The configuration certainly works well on my Lee Sklar copy.

 

Edited yesterday at 17:22 by ead

[deepbass5]

I made my shuker build course on the assumption the Bass strings would be more piano like /less boomy and the high string less tinny sounding. But who knows. wrong positioning and you could mess up the sweet spot?  

 

 

[Maude]

Left, BB1024x (standard P).

Right, BB424x (reverse P) 

 

Couldn't compare the two due to different pickups, strings and bridge, but the 424's G string definitely sounded more meaty after the conversion. I quite often feel a P bass's G string sounds a little thin (it's probably just me) and I definitely think a reverse P sorts this out (for me). 

 

The 1024 has gone, I still have the 424.