Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

[MaxOnBass]

Hello Forum, I've got a few questions you guys might be able to help me out with.. I'm getting a custom built bass soon, it's gonna be a maple/maple neck with an ash body (bolt on), 34" five string with an MM pickup in bridge and a J pickup in the neck position. Now, for the bridge I've picked out SD Basslines SMB-5A MusicMan style pickup (heard it, played it, liked it) but then two questions came into my mind.. the more important one is which J pickup would you recommend me to compliment the MM I mentioned? I'm looking for a relatively modern full funky sound.. the second question would be about the possibility of wiring these two pickups in a vol - bal - tone - tone - S/P/S switch (for MM) setup?
Any help and suggestions would be welcome, thanks in advance

 

[dg27]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

I'm looking for a relatively modern full funky sound.. the second question would be about the possibility of wiring these two pickups in a vol - bal - tone - tone - S/P/S switch (for MM) setup

Though I cannot recommend what would work best with the MM pickup, I have a DPDT pot for S-P switching on my MIJ Squier Jazz. When I was planning a Warmoth Custom I wanted to duplicate this setup. I was told that one pickup must be reverse wound/reverse polarity in order for this to work and be hum cancelling. This build isn't finished yet. Hope this helps.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Personally, I would avoid the balance pot and mode switch set up. Instead, I would follow EBMM's idea of a pickup selector switch. Everything depends upon how quickly you expect to be able to flip between sounds.

As for the choice of Jazz pickup, there is an argument for a stacked coil, noise-cancelling design to use by itself. There is also an argument for choosing a single coil pickup that would balance well with one coil of the Stingray style pickup. I can think of no one pickup that fully answers this brief.

I would take care of electrical phase relationship issues by the order in which the Stingray pickup output conductor wires get connected.

In an ideal world, I would have separate Stingray and Jazz instruments.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

A five position super switch could handle most of your switching options, or a mini-switch plus a three or four way.

With the five way, you could do
1 both MM coils parallel
2 both MM coils series
3 MM coil + J
4 other MM coil + J
5 J standalone

Or a miniswitch could handle the MM state (series/split/parallel) with a three or four way handling how the J pup gets brought in (MM solo/both/J solo, or MM solo/both series/both parallel/J solo).

The sky's the limit really.

As for which J? I'd probably run with a QuarterPounder of appropriate output...

 

[MaxOnBass]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Thanks for the input, guys
Yeah, I'm leaning towards the switch more, the more I think about it (MM ser/ MM para + J/ MM coil + J/ J solo, that's the plan).. so the only problem is the pickup choice.. I'll take a listen to the QP, I've had the QP P pickup on one bass and it was a bit too aggressive, I don't know how is the J :/

 

[dg27]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

I've had the QP P pickup on one bass and it was a bit too aggressive, I don't know how is the J :/

I have QPs for J on my Squier Jazz and love it. It's growly, but to my ear not overly aggressive.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Consider the size of the magnet poles in the MM: not small. It'll have a bit of bite to it as well - you'll need to maintain that character so that the neck J doesn't sound *too* smooth.

Also, you could do the fourway switch controlling the MM pickup (para/ser/coil 1/coil 2), and use a mini to switch in the J (MM solo, MM + J, J solo)...

Seriously, you could go anywhere with this.

 

[MaxOnBass]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Great, I think I'm gonna go with the QP in the neck.. on YouBoob vids it sounds okay to me.. what the hell! And definitely gonna do something cool with the electronics.. Thanks again, I'll keep you guys posted on the progress!

 

[jtougas]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Pics. There must be pics.

 

[MaxOnBass]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

Ooooh yes. Pics of every phase, don't worry

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: Pickup choice for MM/J configuration

I second the QP advice.