'51 vs Split Coil P-Bass?

Those are two very different beast. The P bass has that Motown Thump, while the 50's single coil is more of a ZZ Top type sound.
You might want to listen to some recordings and see which suits you best.

 

The split Precision bass pickup is the one of the two on most classic recordings going back decades. Leo designed it to improve on the original pickup, which was a sort-of bass version of the Tele pickup. I think he got it even better the second time, as do thousands of bass players, and millions of music fans.

Not everyone realizes this, but the split pickup is actually a humbucker, because the two coils have reverse winds and reverse magnetic polarity.

 

the last 3 guitars I've made have been T style basses...and apart from the lefty, I have played both rightys in our trio...

the single coil pu thumps as good as the P bass types..... in the 2 pu bass both pu's are of a similar volume when played individually, they balance well output wise....the tones have a different character, not by much though... the single a bit livelier and the split coil smoother, maybe...

I tend to play the cream/single pu at home and the woody one when I play out... same single coil in both of them..

there's probably more Pbass replacement pickups to try though.....

 

Are you ambidextrous? You seem to have left and right-handed basses.

 

the lefty was for a friend's son.... I liked the look of it so I made one for myself....

 

I don't know what pickup is in the new Squier, but the older version I had greatly benefited from a pickup and control upgrade. After that I found the sound to be as equally pleasing in it's own way as the split pickup. I do like the added height adjustment of the splits and that they have plastic covers though.

 

Early ZZ Top albums, like Rio Grande Mud, Tres Hombres, and Fandango. The "live" side of Fandango will give you best out front sound of the bass.

 

I meant the early design was different sounding but just as pleasing to my ears. There is a good treble presence with full but defined bottom and an overall rasp. I think the rasp can lead one to think that under hard string attack there will be lots of distortion but I found not much difference than any other pickup once height adjustment was dialed in. So this is all just my opinion and experience but coming from a series of P Basses with aftermarket pickups then switching to the old style (also aftermarket) pickup, I was impressed with how nice the old style can sound. I wish I had kept that bass but it was really heavy. Can't comment on the sound if the treble is backed off more than a tad, and it should be noted that I had Rotosound rounds on my basses then. Oh yeah, the pickup I liked so much was a Rio Grande with the larger poles; Muy Grande I think it was called.

 

+1 - Dusty uses that single P coil bass on most of those recordings.

 

I have a Classic 70s Precision that I love, and recently got the Squier CV 50s Precision. I’m in love with the CV 50s!! My bandmates have all said they feel it is a better sounding bass. It really sits well in the mix and can thump when needed!