Always said I hated PJs [NBD content]

[Heisenbass]

Couldn‘t stand them optically. Thought they were a lame compromise for those who couldn‘t decide between P and J. But then…

View attachment 5131201
View attachment 5131202

Every rule needs an exception. Can‘t get any better than glossy cream white and tort!

 

[bassdog]

Yes and your opinion of them is mis-informed. Rock on.

 

[Mike Vee]

That's not even a PJ, heh. It's a PM, if anything.

If you look at the P/J as 50/50 Precision/Jazz, you're wrong, and it will disappoint in that regard. It's an enhanced Precision, not a Precision/Jazz hybrid. There is NOTHING Jazz about a P/J except it happens to have the same bridge pickup as a Jazz bass. Nothing else is the same. You get 100% precision tone (yes, you do) and then you get some jazz-LIKE tones in addition. Everything full on sounds great, and way different than a P bass alone, so it's cool to have.

I do agree that the Jazz pickup makes it less attractive than a regular P, but certain colors make it blend in a bit better. I love my sunburst Performer PJ:

 

[Iofflight]

That's not even a PJ, heh. It's a PM, if anything

Ha, I was going to say the same thing. The VM is a very interesting-sounding bass. I'm not partial to PJs at all. I bought one and quickly sold it not for the optics but the sound didn't work for me. I want a Jazz with the neck pickup emphasised and the P for a P so the PJ config just doesn't get me what I want but the Sandberg VMs on the other hand really pique my interest.

How much does yours weigh @Heisenbass?

 

[jdjk7]

Couldn‘t stand them optically. Thought they were a lame compromise for those who couldn‘t decide between P and J. But then…

View attachment 5131201
View attachment 5131202

Every rule needs an exception. Can‘t get any better than glossy cream white and tort!

I never liked the sound of PJs until I tried one with the P pickup reversed like that. Suddenly, it sounded amazing to me. I've played a couple of Ibanez and Warwick basses like that, and I consistently just love that tone. I've had plans to try to build a clone of the Yamaha BB2000, which to me is sort of the prototypical example of that idea.

 

[Iofflight]

I love reverse configuration P basses. I have one 32" birdsong p bass with the reverse config. I wish that it was a more common option.

 

[Tubehed]

I actually like the look of a PJ in most cases. I like the extra tonal options, too. I also appreciate the simplicity and elegance of a regular P Bass. Nice to have options. Okay to like both. There are few bass designs I actually don't like, to be honest.

 

[JRA]

Every rule needs an exception.

sure thing! that's a sweet looking ax to help you break your own rules --- congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[Iofflight]

There are few bass designs I actually don't like, to be honest.

I feel the same, most basses hold some appeal for me. There are very few where I think 'gawdno'. The EB Bongo and boutique basses with the attached upper horn don't do anything for me, but I'm glad there is something for everyone.

 

[micguy]

I like the idea of a PJ, until you combine the pickups. Then I don't like the sound. I had a PJ for a while that I played all the time, but I never used the bridge pickup. Just not a sound that I get along with.

 

[Iofflight]

That was my experience too. There might be some that sound better as jdjk7 said but it's not been something I sought out after I sold mine off.

 

[Mike Vee]

I like the idea of a PJ, until you combine the pickups. Then I don't like the sound. I had a PJ for a while that I played all the time, but I never used the bridge pickup. Just not a sound that I get along with.

It comes close to a Jazz all the way open but not exactly. It depends a LOT on the strings you use. On my PJ, I use dead sounding flats. So, the P alone sounds amazing, like a P should, then I can turn on the J for a different EQ curve. The tone barely changes, but the signal becomes more mid heave and focused. That's basically the one feature of a PJ, to me. Both tones sound super good with a mute and with tone rolled off, too.

I have no interest in bridge only Jazz tones and if you are expecting a whole jazz bass and a whole P bass, and everything in between, forget it.

I had 2 PJs before that I didn't like, but they had a noisy bridge pickup and were just stock setup. On the guy above I have a PV63 and an Area J noiseless plus a vintage style cloth / CTS wiring harness. Sounds amazing.

 

[micguy]

It comes close to a Jazz all the way open but not exactly. It depends a LOT on the strings you use.

My objection to the sound of a PJ has nothing to do with strings - it's the particular comb filtering that occurs on the G/D side due to the pickups being too close together. Flipping the P pickup loses low end on the lower strings (which I can't abide), and moves the problem - it doesn't fix it. A P alone is fine, and two J's are fine, but a P and a J together - just not my thing. If you moved the P closer to the neck, I might be OK with it, but in the normal position, nope.

 

[Cleezmo]

Congrats, rock that thing!

I recently played a couple Sandbergs for the first time, and thought they were fantastic instruments.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

…..If you look at the P/J as 50/50 Precision/Jazz, you're wrong, and it will disappoint in that regard. It's an enhanced Precision, not a Precision/Jazz hybrid. There is NOTHING Jazz about a P/J except it happens to have the same bridge pickup as a Jazz bass. Nothing else is the same. You get 100% precision tone (yes, you do) and then you get some jazz-LIKE tones in addition. Everything full on sounds great, and way different than a P bass alone, so it's cool to have.
View attachment 5131334

I agree.

For me, a PJ setup is essentially a Precision Bass that has added definition from having a J pickup in its bridge position.

I rarely, if ever solo the J pickup on my PJs, (which are Spector Euros.)

I also like the reverse P that is a Spector feature.

 

[FearNoEvil65]

Couldn‘t stand them optically. Thought they were a lame compromise for those who couldn‘t decide between P and J. But then…

View attachment 5131201
View attachment 5131202

Every rule needs an exception. Can‘t get any better than glossy cream white and tort!

Congrats, never even played a Sandberg but I watch videos of them, they seem very good quality. Nice !!

 

[JakobT]

I think PJ’s both sound and look fine, but we must all find happiness the best way we can.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Felt the same way until I built the seafoam guy on the left.

Lollar p, Fralin splt coil J, and 70's spacing. Has a three way switch and Sunbeam strings. Sounds magic in all three positions! I'm a convert.

 

[J-Mags]

You're gonna like the PJ. It won't get a two-pickup J sound, but you can mix in bits of bridge pickup to tailor your mids. If you love a P, but want more control over your mids, PJ will do the trick.

 

[Iridescentone]

Felt the same way until I built the seafoam guy on the left.View attachment 5131708 Lollar p, Fralin splt coil J, and 70's spacing. Has a three way switch and Sunbeam strings. Sounds magic in all three positions! I'm a convert.

Like it.