Jazz Body, P/J Pickups and P Neck - Impossible?

BIGEJ2 · #1 08-31-2011, 08:05 AM

I dig the looks of a jazz body, like the tone and versitility of a P/J pickup setup and feel of a P neck. When talking with some big name builders, no one really seemed interested in doing this. The most common response I got was "the pickups will be out of phase".

I know that P/J pickup sets are a dime a dozen and there are plenty of P/J jazzes with with a J neck. What am I missing by simply changing the neck to a P or is there much more to it?

Reaper Man · #2 08-31-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGEJ2

I dig the looks of a jazz body, like the tone and versitility of a P/J pickup setup and feel of a P neck. When talking with some big name builders, no one really seemed interested in doing this. The most common response I got was "the pickups will be out of phase".

I know that P/J pickup sets are a dime a dozen and there are plenty of P/J jazzes with with a J neck. What am I missing by simply changing the neck to a P or is there much more to it?

afaik, as long as the neck bolts line up, you should be fine.

I'm pretty positive it's been done before and I'd imagine that something like warmoth could do it no problem

jumbodbassman · #3 08-31-2011, 08:56 AM

pretty easy to do. many out there. The pickups will not be out of phase. inbalance is biggest issue but most 2 pickup basses have some cancelation when both are on full. If that is what you like then go for it. PJ is my favorite setup but i tend to prefer p bodies and necks more..

BIGEJ2 · #4 08-31-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

pretty easy to do. many out there.

That's what I thought too. Fender and Sadowsky had a different take. To me it shouldn't be very difficult but having those guys studder on it makes me think there is more to it than I understand.

arsie · #5 08-31-2011, 09:48 AM

Lots of hum canceling J pickup options out there so it should not be a problem. I personally was very pleased with my PJ with Dimarzio Model P+J (DP126).

Since the P pickup will be over the pickguard area, you can rout the pickup cavity to your heart's content and cut a pickguard for it. If your routing is not great, it might actually be easier to do it to a J body than a routing a bridge J on a P body. Lots of people want P basses with J necks, I am sure you can even get a swap topped up in your favour if you want a J bass with a P neck.

aikidorat · #6 08-31-2011, 09:49 AM

Depending on what you want to spend, there are other builders that will make a bass like this for you (Atkinson, Wilkins come to mind, I'm sure there are others).. USA custom guitars sells all kinds of necks (different profiles).. A friend of mine just placed an order with Atkinson and specified the body, wood and neck profile he wanted (as well as pickups, etc).

I just picked up a used Pat Wilkins PJ bass from the forums, with a neck closer to a jazz than a P, but not quite a jazz, and absolutely love the tone, much more so than my fender jazz.

BIGEJ2 · #7 08-31-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aikidorat

Depending on what you want to spend, there are other builders that will make a bass like this for you

I was working with Fender's Custom Shop and Sadowsky. Not cheap basses by any means. What I don't understand is that why would they say the P/J config on a jazz body is different than a P/J on a P body? The only issue I would see is making sure the pups will work together and lining up the poles to the string spacing, which would probably affect tone. I just don't get it because its not like there have never been P/J jazz basses ever made - Fender offers the Hoppus and Hamilton models and have a couple of MIJ ones on the Japan website.

On a side note, Warmoth got back and said they make those types of basses all day long, however the P pickup is in kind of an odd spot with respects to the pickguard.

jrfrond · #8 08-31-2011, 11:36 AM

I have much respect for Sadowsky and the Fender Custom Shop, but P/J has been done a lot and it works. Yes, there are some phasing issues due to the asymmetry of the P pickup, and it has it's own sound which works for many others and could work for you. Personally, I like the sound, and both of my basses are P/J.

Look for an Aerodyne body on eBay, and a P-Bass neck while you are there. Heel and pocket dimensions, as well as screw centers match exactly, so there are no problems with this whatsoever.

My guess is that your request is a bit different, as many players want to ditch the P neck in favor of a J neck and add the J pickup, but no matter, it is doable. Practically, the J body balances better when standing. No neck dive.

I was pricing bodies at Warmoth recently, and a raw swamp ash or alder J body, with your choice of routing, is $205.

bassfunk329 · #9 08-31-2011, 11:49 AM

I did it with parts ltd vintage four neck p width. Jazz body and p j setup its sweet.

BIGEJ2 · #10 08-31-2011, 12:04 PM

Awesome - thanks guys!

The phasing issue - would it still happen if I used lets say a EMG PJX set or something similar?

BassZilla5 · #11 08-31-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGEJ2

...On a side note, Warmoth got back and said they make those types of basses all day long, however the P pickup is in kind of an odd spot with respects to the pickguard.

That, I get... Fine. But that's more of a cosmetic issue than anything else. What does that have to do with wiring the pickups?

FWIW: I have two 4-strings with EMG PJ sets. No problem with phasing because... well... ummm...they are wired correctly.

BIGEJ2 · #12 08-31-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassZilla5

That, I get... Fine. But that's more of a cosmetic issue than anything else. What does that have to do with wiring the pickups?

My point exactly. It just doesn't make sense to me and I feel like I'm missing someting.

spaz21387 · #13 08-31-2011, 12:49 PM

Try this just slap a fender p neck on it. I got a pickguard off warmoth. Used the pickguard as a template for the routing then got a p pickup and threw it in.

Fresh Eddie · #14 08-31-2011, 12:53 PM

One of my basses is one pickup rout away from being exactly what you describe. It is sort of a Frankenstein, but plays and sounds really well.

Thunder Pulse · #15 08-31-2011, 12:55 PM

Fender's Frank Bello bass:

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bassfunk329 · #16 08-31-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaz21387

Try this just slap a fender p neck on it. I got a pickguard off warmoth. Used the pickguard as a template for the routing then got a p pickup and threw it in.

Yeah i got my guard from warmoth too. And i picked up a prewired lp harness so it v/v/t/t 3 way toggle

SubSectorSucker · #17 08-31-2011, 01:09 PM

.......or get a Fender Mark Hoppus signature and add a J pup in the bridge position

Raven2k360 · #18 08-31-2011, 01:35 PM

I would think the necks would be interchangeable between the bodies. I've got a Squier Precision Special that has P/J pups and I think a Jazz-style neck...and that came factory. I can snap a pic when I get home tonight.

ghostdog93 · #19 08-31-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrfrond

Look for an Aerodyne body on eBay, and a P-Bass neck while you are there. Heel and pocket dimensions, as well as screw centers match exactly, so there are no problems with this whatsoever.

This is probably the easiest way to go. J body, P/J pups and a P neck...all you have to do is screw on the neck and set it up.