Decent passive P/J combo recommendation?

AlexD · #1 02-11-2010, 01:11 PM

Putting new pickups into a Frankenbass and I'm trying to figure out what a good passive P/J combo would be. I was thinking the SD Antiquities would be pretty sweet, but just wanted to doublecheck with the geniuses here.

89JazzMan · #2 02-11-2010, 05:04 PM

Dude me too. I am going to build a warmoth and I want passive p/j but I don't know if I should just go with Fender or what. Let me know if you find anything!!!

J. Crawford · #3 02-11-2010, 05:05 PM

I have EMGs in mine and am looking at probably going passive. So, Im subscribed.

engedi1 · #4 02-11-2010, 05:09 PM

Great topic, I am considering ordering an Atkinson (basically a luthier who will assemble and setup a warmoth, but who offer's Nitro finishes) and he likes Dimarzio and SD pups. However, I am a total Sadowsky Nut, and on a Sadowsky PJ bass, they use Nordstrand. I am thinking that if I ever get the scratch together for my Atkinson, I will order some Nordy's for him to install.
Also, at Corner music in nashville, I was checking out Mike Lull with a Lindy Fralin PJ, and I was totally unimpressed. I know that many love their Fralins, but they are too modern sounding for me

cdginger · #5 02-11-2010, 05:10 PM

i actually jammed with a dude who put alembic p/j pickups in a tony franklin fretless i believe. It was a great sound but its probably a little over budget.
http://alembic.com/prod/pickups.html

akmusicfreak · #6 02-11-2010, 05:27 PM

Just did a passive PJ. I used Diamarzio Split P and Diamarzio Area J for bridge. Sounds great together. P is a bit louder then the J but it sounds real sweet, almost perfect blend when both pickups are at full.

very vintage-ish sound for a set of humbuckers, loud clean and warm. I suggest putting bridge in 70's reposition spot, you'll get less phase cancellation between pickups. if not you get a little bit of mid scoop sound.

walterw · #7 02-11-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akmusicfreak

Just did a passive PJ. I used Diamarzio Split P and Diamarzio Area J for bridge.

now that's a wacky combo! loud "high tech" P + hum-canceling "vintage" J.

i've had good luck with vintage-type P pickups from fender or duncan and the ultra jazz. they balance a little better, and of course there's no hum like there would be with a single coil J. this kind of combo also sounds really good with a preamp.

i haven't yet installed the more vintage-sounding area J with a classic P-type pickup, but i suspect that this might also work really well.

89JazzMan · #8 02-11-2010, 08:21 PM

I think I have settled on Bartolini P/J Passive set. Or...just fender. It all depends on budget. I know Barts are great but Fender is Fender and I know what they sound like

akmusicfreak · #9 02-11-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

now that's a wacky combo! loud "high tech" P + hum-canceling "vintage" J.

i've had good luck with vintage-type P pickups from fender or duncan and the ultra jazz. they balance a little better, and of course there's no hum like there would be with a single coil J. this kind of combo also sounds really good with a preamp.

i haven't yet installed the more vintage-sounding area J with a classic P-type pickup, but i suspect that this might also work really well.

Sounds wacky, but for some reason it works for me. I had set this PJ bass with 3 way toggle instead of 2 volumes and in the N+B position gave me the perfect blend of the 2 pickups. Ratio was roughly 65% P 35% Jazz. volume wise.

I did some have some extra model J's lying around so if it sounded horrible I had a second option

On a side note the Split P IME has more out put than the Model P, but a more rounded, tubby (in a good way) Standard P tone with more bottom and a hair more treble

thmsjordan · #10 03-01-2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engedi1

Great topic, I am considering ordering an Atkinson (basically a luthier who will assemble and setup a warmoth, but who offer's Nitro finishes) and he likes Dimarzio and SD pups. However, I am a total Sadowsky Nut, and on a Sadowsky PJ bass, they use Nordstrand. I am thinking that if I ever get the scratch together for my Atkinson, I will order some Nordy's for him to install.
Also, at Corner music in nashville, I was checking out Mike Lull with a Lindy Fralin PJ, and I was totally unimpressed. I know that many love their Fralins, but they are too modern sounding for me

I thought Roger Sadowsky used a modified version of the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz. I recently had a conversation with Roger when I was in his shop, but I didn't ask him exactly who made his pickups. He did mention his distaste for Bartolini pickups but I think I read somewhere that he uses Dimarzio and has them make him a pickup to his specs. Maybe someone who knows for certain could chime in.

Arvin · #11 03-01-2010, 06:32 AM

I've got a P/J with Duncan SPB-1 Vintage P-bass and SJB-3 Quarter Pounder for J-bass pickups in it, and it sounds great. It's got a nice range of tones -- very versatile. The beefiness of the QP J-bass pickup balances really nicely with the P-bass pickup, too.

sheepdog · #12 03-01-2010, 09:41 AM

try a SCPB with a Jazz as a PJ combination (vs a standard split P). I have liked what I have heard from others trying that combo.

FunkMetalBass · #13 03-01-2010, 09:53 AM

I'd probably go with a set of Nordy's or SD's.

Jefenator · #14 03-01-2010, 10:00 AM

I've got kind of a mongrel boutique setup, with a Fralin P and Nordstrand split J by the bridge. IME phase cancellation can really bite me with this bass. (Before soldering in a new pickup, I'll hold the leads in place and check - if the signal virtually disappears w/ both p/us on, I reverse the leads.)

Those pickups play together okay. Next time I'll hold out for a matched set from the same maker.

Sometimes I like to raise the bridge pickup closer to the strings to give it a more distinct presence when I blend it in.

Joebone · #15 03-01-2010, 10:21 AM

Nordstrand, Nordstrand, Nordstrand.

Off ebay I copped - for $750, a PJ that is a Fender Custom Shop P/J from the early '90's, with a 22-fret ebony board with small frets - the axe had a lot of life experience, but sounds incredibly sweet with flats, playing almost like a fretless. It came with EMG's and a battery wedged into the cavity, but I replaced these with a vintage-style Nordstrand P, and the Norstrand J that is hum-cancelling but wired to emulate vintage split-coil sound. This is one very happy passive combination, set up V/V/T, and it really brings out the best in this bass - and I love the tonal flexibility of the P/J setup.

I could swear reading on the Pedulla website that Pedulla thinks P/J combinations do the best job of bringing out the character of the wood in a given bass. My main axe is a Sadowsky Metro with soapbars, but they are the least soapbar-like soapbars I've ever experienced, and I've come to thinking that P, P/J and J basses (ok, and also a good MM) just sound right. Maybe because that's the sound we've all heard most over the years, but after several years of trying out a succession of boutique axes, most with soapbars, I'm pretty much sold on the Leo Fender designs as special (although I've never found long-term love with G&L L-2000, despite several attempts - I think it's the ceramic pole pieces in those pickups).

bebop1 · #16 03-01-2010, 10:29 AM

I use my Fender Jazz Aerodyne more than my USA J or P (and they are wonderful axes) when I am gigging. The Aerodyne is just soooo comfortable (body and neck) to play. Very light and looks smashing, too. And it is sonically more responsive inder my fingers than my USA models. In the studio, I reach for my classic J or P.

Priced between the MIM and MIA standards.

Sam N · #17 03-01-2010, 10:41 AM

US Precision and Jazz. Jazz pickup is in 70's position (closer to the bridge). If you haven't routed yet for bridge pickup you might want to consider this placement. Best of both worlds: Traditional P or 70's J. Two volumes, no tone control.

peterwsmith · #18 03-01-2010, 10:46 AM

I have the DiMarzio Model P & J in my PJ. I like the way the J sounds, but the P just doesn't quite do it for me. I just picked up an SX PJ that I'd like to try a Quarter Pounder for the P, and a Ultra Jazz for the J.

Nedmundo · #19 03-01-2010, 12:31 PM

I'd go with Lindy Fralin's P with the hum-canceling Split Jazz at the bridge. I don't use these together on a P/J, but have them separately on my Precision and Jazz basses, and they are phenomenal pickups. If you want lots of punch and grit with your vintage goodness, these will do it.