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5 string p/j?

T

travisferrell

Jun 16, 2011
22
33
#1
I was the local guitar shop and had occasion to play the new American p deluxe. Absolutely loved the tone and feel. Problem is I'm a 5 string player. Apparently the only way to get that bass in a 5 string version is the custom shop. Crazy 'cause they offer the p and the j in 5 string; but not a p/j. If they offered that bass in 5 string I would have walked out with it.

Who makes a 5 string p/j with the same tone and feel in the same price range? ($1500)?

I own several Carvins (which I love), but not the new p model. I'm familiar enough with the different tones on their models to know it isn't quite what I'm looking for. Am I wrong, and the new p model has the fender sound?

I've listened to some clips online, but I'm looking for hands on opinions.

Thanks,
 
#5
Jazz Ad said:
It is a difficult art to make proper 5 string P pickups.
You best bet is to get a 5 string Fender P, add a pickup and preamp and be done. Not a very expensive mod, especially since Fender parts and pickups are everywhere over eBay.
Click to expand...
This is an interesting perspective. Some love the Fender P 5-string; some complain about lack of clarity with regards to its B string. On TB, the Squier P 5 has received more consistently positive comments, IMO.

There are good aftermarket P5 pickups (Nordstrand comes to mind), and the Carvin may well be a good option for you. Adding a J pickup to a P5 is also a good option, but you might want to look at the Squier P5; if you like it, you may save a good bit of money.
 
#6
You can try a Squier VM Jaguar V Its a PJ and if you dont like the electronics you can change them out. I love my Jag,
thought I was gonna have to change the pups and electronics but I was more than satisfied with both (pups and electronics). If you're near a GC stop in and play one. They are a lot less $$ Good luck
 
#7
travisferrell said:
I was the local guitar shop and had occasion to play the new American p deluxe. Absolutely loved the tone and feel. Problem is I'm a 5 string player. Apparently the only way to get that bass in a 5 string version is the custom shop. Crazy 'cause they offer the p and the j in 5 string; but not a p/j. If they offered that bass in 5 string I would have walked out with it.

Who makes a 5 string p/j with the same tone and feel in the same price range? ($1500)?

I own several Carvins (which I love), but not the new p model. I'm familiar enough with the different tones on their models to know it isn't quite what I'm looking for. Am I wrong, and the new p model has the fender sound?

I've listened to some clips online, but I'm looking for hands on opinions.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

Does it have to be a Precision body? If not, it seems to me re-routing a Jazz into a P/J would be an easier feat. I did exactly that on my parts-bass project, using a Blacktop Jazz pickguard as a routing template on a Mighty Mite Jazz body. And even if the routing hadn't turned out 100% neat and clean, it'd be covered up by the guard. Plus, there's the added bonus of being able to change the pickup and guard over to get a J/J config anytime I feel like it.

EDIT: This just popped up on another thread.
I did exactly that on my parts-bass project, using a Blacktop Jazz pickguard as a routing template on a Mighty Mite Jazz body.

If this looks good, I'd recommend jumping on it soon. I, myself, was thinking about grabbing a Harley Benton Jazz due to the whole "Greece-Debt-Crisis" pushing the value of the Euro down a bit. (I'm such an opportunistic scav! :whistle:)
 
Last edited:
#8
Jazz Ad said:
It is a difficult art to make proper 5 string P pickups.
You best bet is to get a 5 string Fender P, add a pickup and preamp and be done. Not a very expensive mod, especially since Fender parts and pickups are everywhere over eBay.
Click to expand...

Agreed - this is the best option if you want a Fender 5-string PJ. You can even select the P-Bass, as there are many out there (which is not the case which PJ models).
I was looking into that option as well, when a Nordy PJ5 showed up...I went for this, without regrets...
 

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