PJ that works

[Needenaneden]

What company makes a PJ that works like it should? One that covers the Precision thump and the Jazz growl and gets a great tone combing the two pickups? Does it exist?

[Denny Coon]

Spector baby! All tha way!

[Dan Knowlton]

Sadowsky!

And I was impressed with the one Alleva Coppolo PJ-5 that I played.

Dan K.

[temmrich]

Sandberg. Even though they flip the P it still sounds the best (to me).

[Luckydog]

Originally Posted by Dan Knowlton

Sadowsky!

And I was impressed with the one Alleva Coppolo PJ-5 that I played.

Dan K.

Sadowsky has it figured out. It works.

[bikeplate]

Sadowsky metro hybrid pj

[johndough247]

big +1 to Sadowsky...I have the reverse PJ though, but it still does all the things you asked about and does it quite well.

[JimmyM]

I made one out of my 76 Precision with a Fender 62 CS pickup from the late 90's and a DiMarzio Ultrajazz.

[DWBass]

Anything with EMG's or Bartolini's.

[millsbass5]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I made one out of my 76 Precision with a Fender 62 CS pickup from the late 90's and a DiMarzio Ultrajazz.

+1
I've realized if the Jazz pup is a little hotter than the P pup, it sounds more "balanced" with both volume full-on, or the pup blend knob at 50/50.

[Baird6869]

Spector and Sadowsky for sure!

I tried many over the years and both nail it IMO...

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Needenaneden

What company makes a PJ that works like it should? One that covers the Precision thump and the Jazz growl and gets a great tone combing the two pickups? Does it exist?

I don't know of a passive other than the pricey Fender Tony Franklin, because it alone does what you ask without trying to mix the pickups -- which simply doesn't work worth squat in V/V/T due to its inherent electronic problems.

[Folmeister]

Originally Posted by bikeplate

Sadowsky metro hybrid pj

Go to go with Bikeplate on this one!

[halfjackson]

From my understanding, Mike Lull makes a great PJ. And ulike traditional P basses, it has a 21st fret.

[nostatic]

Nordstrand, Sadowsky, Lull, Fodera all work just fine.

[darkside 88]

G&L and Yamaha make some great P/Js.

[superdick2112]

Another vote for Spector.
Of my 4 Spectors, 3 have the P/J pups, and one of them is a USA NS-2, purchased just today - used - for about 1/2 the price of a new one. The USA is the gold stain finish, the white one is a Euro LX, and the plum one is an older Euro CRFM with the solid flame maple wings. The 2-band active EQ & pickup blend knob allows for a wide range of tones, all very musical & usable. Add the neck-thru design, classic Spector carved & contoured body and easy access to all 24 frets, and you have a well built, highly versatile & ergonomic instrument.

[petrus61]

There is not a two pickup passive bass currently available that will sound like either of its respective forebears, IME. Get one, the other, or both but don't expect a PJ to be able to fully do what just a J or P can in the tone dept. I have never played an example whose pickups character has not been affected by the presence of another. I'm one of a million voices, so take it with a grain.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

+1
I've realized if the Jazz pup is a little hotter than the P pup, it sounds more "balanced" with both volume full-on, or the pup blend knob at 50/50.

Ya, kind of my thinking, too. I've tried it with a vintage style J and it didn't work out so well.

[jimc]

I've had a number of PJs both in 4 and 5 string versions. I've never wanted to emulate the sound of a P or J exactly and I agree that they don't do that. What they do is bring a variation on the P and J sound which sounds wonderful to my ears. 100% P + 90% J or vice versa is the sound I dig. Don't think of it as replacement for a Precision or Jazz, think of it as it's own unique voice.