Why 2 Coils? What are P-Bass Pickups? | Too Afraid To Ask

The split coil pickup in a P-Bass have been around since 1957 and has been responsible for many of the greatest bass lines in recording history, but what makes the design so successful?

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Timecodes :
Introduction & sponsor - 0:00
P-Bass history - 1:12
P Pickup Science - 2:22
Sound Samples - 7:10
Tone Analysis - 11:00
Conclusion - 12:25

This video contains paid product promotion from Donner
#sponsor #donner #pbass

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[ScienceofLoud]

The split coil pickup in a P-Bass have been around since 1957 and has been responsible for many of the greatest bass lines in recording history, but what makes the design so successful?

Get your own Donner DPB-510S -

Timecodes :
Introduction & sponsor - 0:00
P-Bass history - 1:12
P Pickup Science - 2:22
Sound Samples - 7:10
Tone Analysis - 11:00
Conclusion - 12:25

This video contains paid product promotion from Donner
#sponsor #donner #pbass

More from CSGuitars:

[tomaslundstrom]

Just to clarify: The "precision" part alluded to the fact that the PB actually had frets, thus you could play with "precision". Anyone who has tried to play a double bass or any other fretless instrument can attest to the fact that it takes a lot of practice to hit clean notes.

[NutsTesticles]

in short - yes, Leo Fender was a fucking genius.

[bimscutney]

Not too bad of a bassist. I’d let you stand at the back of the stage and not be noticed in my band any day. That’s if I had a band. Or friends.

[AMTunLimited]

Fun fact: the bass for Good Vibrations was played by Carol Kaye (who's dope as hell and if you don't know who she is you absolutely should) who always plays with picks!

[corymull]

G&L makes a strat style guitar loaded with split coils. It’s pretty strange when you see one, which just goes to show how iconic the splits are for the P-bass.

[ibalrog]

The instrument sounds pretty damn good, the playing was solid, and the SCIENCE! portion of the video was the clearest and most approachable I've seen yet on this subject.

[vinnyhydeswt]

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate how pairfect his guitar skills are.

[timmotel]

3/2023: Excellent. I've been a drummer since 1964 and I thoroughly enjoyed the playing and detail of this video. Thanks

[cwinkels]

Colin: "I'm a garbage bassist."
Also Colin: [proceeds to play far better than I do]

[skaman]

Great choice with The Prisoner and Fall Back Down to show case the P bass.

[RJRonquillo]

Brilliant video as always. This makes me want to try the G&L Z-coil pickups for guitar.

[klaymeister]

I have never heard this explanation before. Sure I knew it was 2 coils in series, but this explains why it has more definition than most humbuckers and more volume and bass end than single coils.

[Gordonhermederme]

It's insane that this is free. Insight like this was hard to come by 10+ years ago unless you personally knew a good bass player. Thank you!

[WilliamHaisch]

This is the best explanation of humbucking I have ever heard! Thank you!

[JDODify]

I mostly use a Jazz bass (mostly for punk and metal). After watching this I've just realised why it was a weird number of pole pieces.

[honkytonkinson]

Great explanation!

Been playing for almost 30 years and never heard anyone explain the p bass pickup this well! Technical and entertaining!

[kirkbolas]

I agree that the bass sounds good as is. Perhaps as an academic exercise you could change out the bridge and pickup to ascertain if there is any improvement to the tone of the bass.

[meisenhut]

Your bass playing ain't half bad. It's a different beast and requires a different kind of finesse than guitar, keep it up.

[danbance]

Thank you! I just got my kid a bass and this told me everything I needed and wanted to know about the pickups.