hot rod precision P-J pups

on1ne · #1 05-08-2008, 02:14 PM

I just scored a 99 Precision Hot Rod. It's a US made Passive P bass with an added passive J pup near the bridge. 1 volume control for each.

I've read that the P and J pups were specially designed to interact. I also read that the controls were installed incorrectly on some of this Hot Rod series. I find that when blending the 2 pups, bringing in more gain of one doesn't always increase the volume, sometimes stays the same or even drops slightly. Anyone know more about the "Hot Rod P" design and how it is supposed to work?

Thanks

Ach · #2 05-08-2008, 11:14 PM

in most two pickups basses you'll get small gain loss while both pickups on full, in compare with only one pickup on full, and another completely off.

on1ne · #3 05-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ach

in most two pickups basses you'll get small gain loss while both pickups on full, in compare with only one pickup on full,
and another completely off.

Thanks, I guess that's probably normal then. I'm tempted to swap the J pickup out in favor of another J type pup that is less prone to the typical single coil hum. I'm just wondering how that will affect the interaction with the P pup since the claim is that they were specifically designed to work with each other. Was hoping some people here would know about the P hot rod design. I may just experiment anyway.

4Mal · #4 05-09-2008, 02:05 PM

I believe that you'll find that to be more marketing hype than reality ... I've run through a number of PJ set's. The best yet for my uses (root's rock, blues, swing, country style - large, round, punchy, defined kinda bass sound) has been the Aero Type 1 set. Not cheap but damn good.

I'm about to evaluate a set from Vintage Vibe. From a construction stand point theylook beautiful - If they sound as good as they look - they'll be winners for sure.

To me the trick in a PJ set is finding a balanced PJ set. The J needs a little extra oomph to keep up with the P and at the same time it needs to retain it's essential J 'ness' - and not sound like some dark humbucking whatever ... Aero's do that. Lawrence's do to but with a more modern take on it. His pickups are real quiet and extremely good. True - you have to wait while they get built but for a little over a hun you get a boo-teak custom set - still so far my preference is the Aero. Maybe next week it will be Vintage Vibe...

on1ne · #5 05-09-2008, 02:16 PM

how about Nordstrand? Do they make a P/J set? They seem to be everyone's favorites.

What about putting in a single coil P pickup like the old 50's/ Tele bass type back where the J pup is now, I wonder how that would sound combining with the split coil in front. Anyone tried that?