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10-20-2011, 07:21 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seattle, WA. | | | Question about Fender P/Js (passive)
Could someone tell me what Fender P/ Js have been made, or currently in production that are passive? Are they mostly MIM or are there some MIA models I should be looking for? I know there are MIAs from the 60's and 70s that are P/J passive, but I am not sure when the more current models were made in the U.S.
I wish they would make a current MIA P/J that rocks passive electronics. |
10-20-2011, 08:41 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seattle, WA. | | Also if you have pictures to share that would be great.
I am looking at something like this: Fender precision bass, deluxe special
To me this looks like it is passive, just going off the controls. I very well may be wrong. Does this look like a MIM version? |
10-20-2011, 08:59 PM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs, Jule Amps | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: los angeles, CA | | | The current AmDlxP has an active/passive switch. The Tony Franklin is a passive PJ.
Why do you want passive? Frankly I think the PJ config screams out for a preamp.
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10-20-2011, 09:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Washington, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by nostatic The current AmDlxP has an active/passive switch. The Tony Franklin is a passive PJ.
Why do you want passive? Frankly I think the PJ config screams out for a preamp. | IIRC, the Aerodyne is also. |
10-20-2011, 10:21 PM
|  | Neo Maxi Zoom Dweebie | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SATX by way of NOLA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by nostatic The current AmDlxP has an active/passive switch. The Tony Franklin is a passive PJ.
Why do you want passive? Frankly I think the PJ config screams out for a preamp. | There's a ton of folks who don't dig preamps.
To the OP. you could always just buy a P and have a J routed. That's how they did it in the olden days.
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10-20-2011, 10:24 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Parke County, Indiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostdog93 IIRC, the Aerodyne is also. | The Aerodyne is a great get - MIJ and have been selling on the used market for some great prices. I really like mine
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10-20-2011, 10:56 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs, Jule Amps | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: los angeles, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by StrangerDanger There's a ton of folks who don't dig preamps. | And I've never really understood that if you're playing live. Invariably you're pushing the signal around one way or another - be it with a pedal or the front end of the amp. I'd personally rather have some of that control at my fingertips rather than having to step on a pedal or try to fiddle with the amp. Plus with a PJ the pups often don't mate well and a preamp can help deal with that.
But to each their own.
__________________ music | light | gear Quote:
Originally Posted by R Baer Regardless of what you see in the magazines, you just can't argue toast physics. | |
10-20-2011, 11:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Missouri | | Quote:
Originally Posted by nostatic And I've never really understood that if you're playing live. Invariably you're pushing the signal around one way or another - be it with a pedal or the front end of the amp. I'd personally rather have some of that control at my fingertips rather than having to step on a pedal or try to fiddle with the amp. Plus with a PJ the pups often don't mate well and a preamp can help deal with that.
But to each their own. | A friend of mine was looking to replace his bass recently and I was trying to sell one of my good old passive ones that I had kept at the studio. He decided to buy a brand new active bass instead and debuted it at a cd release showcase at the studio.
Well, halfway through the set his battery died and I had to loan him my passive one to complete the set....(which a few people commented to me sounded better)
I didn't say anything to him as he was already having a bad night, but this is the main reason I keep my signal chain as simple as possible. Less potential for problems and troubleshooting is way quicker if there is a problem! |
10-20-2011, 11:51 PM
|  | **** | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: west coast | | | If you choose to play a purely active bass you get used to the extra bit of maintenance involved with the batteries. The "active/passive" set-up is cool because you can do either whether it be out of necessity or not.
Most Japanese built Fender/Squier PJ's are a good bet if you can find them, many of them have rear-access control cavities so you can choose different electronics. As mentioned earlier finding a good Precision and adding a Jazz pickup can be an good route as well.(npi)
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10-20-2011, 11:57 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Atlanta, Ga. | | | I really enjoy my Precision California Special and it has a comfy maple neck too. Passive P and J but only made for a couple of years. It says Made in America but I believe they were made from American parts and assembled in Mexico....or vice versa! Still, a good bass with great tone. It's the black and gold one in my sig.
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Last edited by Atlanta Dave : 10-20-2011 at 11:58 PM.
Reason: Photo
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10-21-2011, 12:02 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs, Jule Amps | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: los angeles, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Nev375 A friend of mine was looking to replace his bass recently and I was trying to sell one of my good old passive ones that I had kept at the studio. He decided to buy a brand new active bass instead and debuted it at a cd release showcase at the studio.
Well, halfway through the set his battery died and I had to loan him my passive one to complete the set....(which a few people commented to me sounded better)
I didn't say anything to him as he was already having a bad night, but this is the main reason I keep my signal chain as simple as possible. Less potential for problems and troubleshooting is way quicker if there is a problem! | This frankly is not a factor if one pays attention. Plus if you have an active/passive switch it really is a non-issue. I gladly change a 9V battery once a year in exchange for the ability to instantly make eq changes.
But we're in religious territory here. There are those that swear by passive instruments. I'm not one of them. During the 100+ live gigs I've done this year I ran a passive bass a handful of times and each time I wanted a bit more control over my tone. You can make the argument that I am just used to active (guilty), but I just never have felt the advantage of passive sound outside of the bedroom or studio. I still think that a PJ setup is more usable active. I've owned multiple versions and in fact love the PJ. But only with a preamp. However, ymmv. People should play what moves them.
__________________ music | light | gear Quote:
Originally Posted by R Baer Regardless of what you see in the magazines, you just can't argue toast physics. | |
10-21-2011, 12:15 AM
| | | | My old US J plus is not a p/j but it is active and it can make even a crappy amp sound better than it ever would with a passive bass, and it makes a good amp sound great.
It's got 2 active and a passive setting so if the battery does quit mid set (it never has) salvation is just a switch flip away.
I've had other active basses and to be honest, it would take some serious inattention to let one completely kill a battery while playing. Every active bass I've ever owned started acting funny long before it went dead. Bad enough to know it was time to change the battery, but not bad enough that a set couldn't be completed, albeit with a tone that might be less than desirable, but the image of a bass just suddenly quitting in mid song is misleading at least and disingenuous at worst. At least in my experience.
I had an opportunity to play a Deluxe P for a couple days earlier this year and if I could have gotten past the P body shape i would have bought it. It had much more of what makes a P than a passive P, plus it had the j pup in the bridge to add a little extra if you wanted it.
Another Fender with a p/j is the Reggie Hamilton sig. It's an active j bass with an active/passive switch, p/j pup config, and a hipshot D tuner in addition to the usual J setup.
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Last edited by fhm555 : 10-21-2011 at 12:22 AM.
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10-21-2011, 01:54 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seattle, WA. | | | How would you describe the difference in tone between a straight Jazz bass and a P/J bass. Can the P/J get close to the characteristic growly tone of a jazz, or does the bridge PU get eclipsed by the split coil? |
10-21-2011, 01:58 AM
|  | Endorsing nothing, recommending much | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Milton Keynes, UK | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Road Bull How would you describe the difference in tone between a straight Jazz bass and a P/J bass. Can the P/J get close to the characteristic growly tone of a jazz, or does the bridge PU get eclipsed by the split coil? | From my (passive non-Fender) P-J experience, when the two pickups are blended together it's like a P with extra bite. The bridge pickup is evident, and can of course be solo'd if you just want that Jazz growl. I think it's a very versatile pickup arrangement.
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10-21-2011, 02:51 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Florida | | |
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10-21-2011, 03:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Seattle, WA. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by cassanova | I guess I am trying to find out more about past basses rather than the current line up. The California Deluxe Special looks cool. Were some of these made in both Mexico and the U.S.? I have seen special deluxe headstocks with both "made in U.S.A" and "made in Mexico" stamps. I am just unclear as to what the differences are between the two. |
10-21-2011, 05:14 AM
| | | | I have the Reggie Hamilton standard jazz bass, PJ with active/passive switch. The passive mode sounds great, but it doesn't have a passive tone switch. The EQ is also good, useful and versatile. |
10-21-2011, 05:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cayce, SC | | | What you want is an old Jazz Bass Special from the mid-'80s. I have an '87 and love it. You can find them online all over the place for not much. Get one that has a natural finish on the back of the neck, not the painted version. They are made in Japan and are about as good as an American series, no kidding.
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10-21-2011, 06:10 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: St. Louis | | | I would try to find (and did) a Fender Japanese Jazz Bass Special. It's what Duff from G&R uses and Fender has a signature model. They were made both passive and active (Power Jazz I think the active model was called). I found my '87 model for $400 used a the local Guitar Center. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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