This thread is why I'm getting a Geezer Butler PJ set. The J is humbucking and designed to balance better with a P pickup.
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Adding a J pickup to a P bass!!!!!/
- Thread starter RedWizard777
- Start date
After speaking with Fralin's shop, I put a set of their P/J pickups, with a 5% overwound "split" J pup in my 1980's ESP 400 Series P/J. The hotter Jazz pickup is a good match for Fralin's standard P-pup, both in tone and volume, and if there's a loss of high end due to the hum-cancelling design, I can't hear it in the P/J mix. The controls are V/V/T, with push-pull knobs on the J-pickup volume and the tone.
Pulling up on the J volume knob completely removes the pickup from the circuit, leaving only the P-pickup, volume pot, and tone pot in-line. There's a very small difference in tone between removing the J-pup and just turning it down all the way, but it is there. In truth, however, you'd never notice it, unless the instrument was soloed and you A/B'ed the two sounds. I really just did the mod for fun, and to satisfy my own curiosity.
The push-pull on the tone knob switches between .047uF and .1uF capacitors for modern and "vintage" P-Bass tones. Standard (down) position is the .047 cap, which is where it stays most of the time. Again, it was more of a fun exercise than a really practical mod. If I played nothing but Flatwound Old School P-Bass, it would probably be a cool option to have, though.
Running both pickups wide open gives you the "scooped" sound that's common with passive two-pickup basses. However, I usually end up backing the Jazz pickup down just until the tone opens back up (maybe 80-90% on). Of course, having the straight "P" sound is nice, too.
I should mention, I used linear taper pots in the volume positions and an audio pot for the tone knob, so the controls on my bass may behave a little differently from those on other instruments.
If I used my J-pup soloed, or wanted a more specific tone from each pickup, I could see the benefit of selector switches or stacked tone controls, but I really just want P or P+, and the tone is usually full-up or full-down.
Pulling up on the J volume knob completely removes the pickup from the circuit, leaving only the P-pickup, volume pot, and tone pot in-line. There's a very small difference in tone between removing the J-pup and just turning it down all the way, but it is there. In truth, however, you'd never notice it, unless the instrument was soloed and you A/B'ed the two sounds. I really just did the mod for fun, and to satisfy my own curiosity.
The push-pull on the tone knob switches between .047uF and .1uF capacitors for modern and "vintage" P-Bass tones. Standard (down) position is the .047 cap, which is where it stays most of the time. Again, it was more of a fun exercise than a really practical mod. If I played nothing but Flatwound Old School P-Bass, it would probably be a cool option to have, though.
Running both pickups wide open gives you the "scooped" sound that's common with passive two-pickup basses. However, I usually end up backing the Jazz pickup down just until the tone opens back up (maybe 80-90% on). Of course, having the straight "P" sound is nice, too.
I should mention, I used linear taper pots in the volume positions and an audio pot for the tone knob, so the controls on my bass may behave a little differently from those on other instruments.
If I used my J-pup soloed, or wanted a more specific tone from each pickup, I could see the benefit of selector switches or stacked tone controls, but I really just want P or P+, and the tone is usually full-up or full-down.
Personally, I'd go with a balance pot. Looks nice, and its more adjustable. And its easier to have 1 vol. knob instead of 2
You can read my review of just the P in the thread about them starting on pg. 9.
Has anyone tried this fender Noiseless pickup in the bridge position, paired with a vintage style P? I have an opportunity to pick one up for cheap (NOT the N3 version).
I have these as a pair in my jazz and love them.
I have these as a pair in my jazz and love them.
I'm a big fan of these Kent Armstrong lipstick pups...
And you can never go wrong with the real Bill Lawrence pups:
And you can never go wrong with the real Bill Lawrence pups:
