'51 Precision (Single Coil) vs Modern Precision (Split Pickup)

[TheTransient]

Just out of curiosity, is there much of a difference sound-wise?
Obviously that is a massive generalization as each bass guitar is different. But I wonder if anyone has AB'd two models that fall under this catagory.
What were the models? Did you notice a difference?

I personally have a CIJ '51 Reissue in Sunburst. It is the bass I always wanted, and I lucked out a few years back and managed to get a new one for only $700. That is unheard of here! A new MIM Precisions cost about a grand here... and that is on a good day!

Is flawless! The fit and finish is great, the neck plays like butter and I have never had it professionally set up. The stock pickup sounds wonderful. It has a lot of punch, but is still really articulate. All a man could ask for

I have played both versions of the "traditional" Precision Bass, but have never had a good chance to AB the two. They both sound great to me, which I guess is really all that matters. But I feel like asking questions

[winny pooh]

I have not AB'ed but a split pickup sounds more growly to me, more a classic rock tone and the 51 is cleaner and twangier with less of a low mid hump.

[martini]

I've owned or had access to P Basses ranging from a 1960, then an original L series through to a couple of 70's P's and then a brace of JV squiers.
Ironically, the "newest" P Bass I've owned was a MIJ Sting Signature (based on his 1955/6 "transitional" Bass).
For that instantly recognisable Precision tone, all the Basses were great but the 1960 and the L series stood out, with the L series shading it for me.
The MIJ had its own sound...somewhere between classic P and the neck pickup on a Jazz Bass pickup. It definitely growled more than the split hunbucker to my ears.
They were all great though.

[Chris S.]

I've owned a number of different P basses over the last 40 years, and a few years ago I lucked into a mint MIJ 51 Reissue. Compared to the split pickups, the 51 sounded much weaker and thinner to my ears. It wasn't bad on its own, but in a band situation I wasn't getting the growl and low end I wanted. I wound up replacing it with a GFS Strat guitar pickup, the Lil Puncher -- perfect size, drop-in replacement -- and I was VERY happy with the change. Plenty of definition and low end, with a much hotter signal. Really brought the 51 RI to life. And it actually looked kinda cool, too. Just FWIW, and all IME/IMO. -- CS

[TheTransient]

Originally Posted by Chris S.

I've owned a number of different P basses over the last 40 years, and a few years ago I lucked into a mint MIJ 51 Reissue. Compared to the split pickups, the 51 sounded much weaker and thinner to my ears. It wasn't bad on its own, but in a band situation I wasn't getting the growl and low end I wanted. I wound up replacing it with a GFS Strat guitar pickup, the Lil Puncher -- perfect size, drop-in replacement -- and I was VERY happy with the change. Plenty of definition and low end, with a much hotter signal. Really brought the 51 RI to life. And it actually looked kinda cool, too. Just FWIW, and all IME/IMO. -- CS

I haven't had the opportunity to play my 51P in a band situation. As it stands I don't even have a bass amp, I just play it through my HRD at lower volumes in my room.

Do you have any pics or vids of your 51P with the lil puncher in action?
It sounds interesting :)

[frakenstrat]

the split p is definitely "the" sound. the 51 type sounds cool, it has its own tone. both are valid, but i think the split p tone is the one most people want to hear.

[Tele295]

SCPB has more punch. Split coil sound is more polite, but has more output and, of course, no hum.

[Rich_S]

I'm no expert on P-Bass tone, just that I generally like the lower-mid honk of a split-coil P. On the other hand, Sting's bass tone on the Certifiable DVD/CD from the 2007 tour is one of the best I've ever heard. Kinda grunty, but it fits into and fills out the Police's generally top-heavy tone perfectly. That's a CS re-creation of his original, I think. I believe I read somewhere recently that he has a Duncan pickup in it - a QP perhaps? Need to research that further.

[Anchoret]

I have both, in some combinations, and with flats I couldn't tell any difference if my life depended on it.

The single-coil with single-pole magnets has sharper transient peaks, which Leo Fender believed were responsible for blowing speakers on his early amps.

The "Sting," BTW, is nothing but FJ's somewhat interpretive domestic-market '54 RI with that stupid inlay added.

[zook]

I had an Early Telecaster Bass from 1968 in the early 70's. It was my main bass since that was what my main instrument was at the time. I found it to lack bottom end. I have been usinga Precision for years and find it to be the perfect all around bass. It has battom end and can be a s punch as I need.

Winnie

[billirwin43]

I built up a couple Ash Basses with split-coil pickup in the normal position and a single coil in the neck position. 2 volume pots and a single tone pot. The blend of the 2 pickups sounded great. Unfortunately I sold both. I did a recent swamp ash build of a '51 and put in a Rio Grande Muy Grande single coil pickup. Awesome, especially with Rotosound flats. If you use a powerful enough single coil, there's no problem cutting through the clutter.