Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

[darkshadow54321]

For a rock band, which of the two types of pickups would be best?

I like the bass tone to cut through, but be very defined (not fuzzy at all), fat and precise.

Which would be better for my needs?

[Byakhee00]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

I'd personally argue that the musicman sound is just a variation of the p bass sound. I've played both, and never had a problem with a lack of definition.

As for which would be better for your needs, IMO, is entirly up to you. To my ears, MM pups sound more punchy, and since they *usually* have active EQ, are a little more tonally versitile. However, with pretty much any active system, you can tweak your sound to get what you're looking for. However p bass pups, especially hot and QP don't get fuzzy, and have no problems cutting through the mix. Really what it comes down to is how do you want your bass to sound in the mix? how do you play? (finger style, pick, slap/pop) try out both, and go with what sounds the best for your needs.

[Norman_T]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

The MM does give you more (tonal) variation than the Precisions but that is not suprising that they are active.

Depends on your bass rig but if you want pure rock/blues sound then it is hard to go against the Precision because it does have that extra low grunt which the MM does lack - this is something that I find when I use my Precisions (I will turn to them if I am doing any rock/blues gigs because I know what they will give me). I have found that Precisions are just that bit fatter and may just lose out to the MM in definition but it is very close.

[kaknight]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

I've had a P-bass,and now have a MM. I think that the MM is much more of a "bassist's bass". You cut through much more in the mix. It has some advantages if you like playing a very active style (walking basslines, or slap), but will also take away from the rest of the band. So if you like to play like Flea and your band doesn't have three guitarists fighting for the same frequencies as your slapping top end, I'd say go that way. If you have a more traditional thumpa thumpa thumpa style of bass playing or there isn't room in the mix for your tone, stay with a P-bass. It's warmer in general (the pickup is located farther from the bridge) than the MM. On a side note, the MM's neck is IMHO far superior to the P-bass. Unfinished (well wax/oil finished) feels sooooooo nice

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

I'm the kinda person that loves it when the bass does all kinds of funky riffs and is a really essential part of the music. Thus, Flea is my hero.

Just a question... does a p pickup work with the eq system that is sold with the musicman pups?

[Tom M]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

Any bass pickup will work with a preamp. Extreme output passive pickups like the QP will probably distort the preamp, so the volume has to be way down on the bass. EMG makes P-pickups specifically designed for active preamps.

There's absolutely no reason a P-bass can't be an active bassists' bass.... that's what I use. It just fills a slightly different range. Where the MM has that clanky, cutting sound, the P-bass will have a thicker, thumpy sound.

[nuntius]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

can't comment on tone because i tested each through different rigs but the MM feels a lot better to play.

could you not have both in one guitar? the MM is at the bridge and the P bass pup is nearer the middle, so would it not work out?

[Tom M]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

Actually when both pickups are in their "sweet spots," there's something like 1/4" to 1/2" of overlap.

[nuntius]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

ah well, it was just an idea

[kaknight]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

I'm the kinda person that loves it when the bass does all kinds of funky riffs and is a really essential part of the music. Thus, Flea is my hero.

Just a question... does a p pickup work with the eq system that is sold with the musicman pups?

I'm not sure but I doubt it. The MM system is active all the way through, and I don't know that how well it would work with a p-pickup. But i have heard several p-basses that had active preamp/eq's and they sounded great.

[Byakhee00]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

You could always try the MM pup in the bridge, and go with say, a single coil p bass pup (i'd use a stack, so i don't get hum, but that's me).

[nickhayball]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

could you not have both in one guitar? the MM is at the bridge and the P bass pup is nearer the middle, so would it not work out?

I have a great bass with a SD MM pickupup in the bridge and a SJB Jazz in the neck position. Only reason I didn't go for a P-bass pup - it's a 5-string! Both pickups are passive but I have a STC tone circuit in there, gives me 3 bands of EQ, blend and volume, and a slap switch.

I find worrying about the sweet spot isn't so important in a 2-pickup bass, unless you tend to use either pickup at 100% and the other at 0. By moving my blend to about 80/20 either direction I get amazing tones. It's also possible to play with your blend pot so it doesn't go 100/0 in either direction- 2 resistors will do the trick.
Go to my website below, check out custom instruments/Artemis bass to see my baby. Questions/comments welcome

[20thCenturyAnalogBoy]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

could you not have both in one guitar? the MM is at the bridge and the P bass pup is nearer the middle, so would it not work out?

That's precisely what I have. Although I have the MusicMan passive, and wired in series; a push-pull converts it to the more typical parallel mode, but I never use it. Both puckups are fat and aggressive, so it's just a matter of which tone is appropriate for which song (or part of a song, since I have a 3-way selector switch as well).

By the way, the passive MM still has a slightly higher output than the P, so I doubt the P-bass pickup would overload the preamp....

[Thurisarz]

Re: Bass - P versus Musicman Pickups

I'm voting for P-bass, but i like the MM better