Always said I hated PJs [NBD content]

[DuluthDank]

The key with a PJ bass is to get a hotter, high output J that can match the P output volume. Yamaha does this pretty well, the Tony Franklin is great because it uses a Dimarzio model J, etc. Most stock Fenders come with a useless low output J that doesn't match up well, so lots of people end up thinking they don't like PJs but in reality they just haven't had properly matched pickups.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I had a Charvel 2B with reversed PJ and it sounded pretty good compared to the standard PJ since there was more lows on the D and G. But then the E A sounded a little too bright. Guild Pilot has the best PB IMO since they just took the D and G coil and reversed that leaving the E A in its traditional spot.

 

[drumvsbass]

View attachment 5131876
A true PJ needs lots more J and just the right amount of P.

Let’s start with a sexy offset J body, and slim J neck. Add some blocks, but skip the binding. Super fatty J pickup close to the bridge, for that J burp. Stick with the chrome control plate. Move the Jack to the side.

Now drop a P pickup, right in the sweet spot. Go with 19mm P string spacing. A swanky pearloid J pickguard.

Volume, 4 position pickup selector, (b solo, b&n parallel, b&n series, and P tone solo. Two band Glockenlang pre.

Yeah, the frets came out wonky.

Space age PJ Dingwalls are great basses, they give me vertigo though.

 

[bigjames]

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

Agreed. I honestly love my PJ. It does all of what I need it to do and has never disappointed me.

 

[Isaac_James]

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

Well, a nice Sandberg is a good way to change someone's mind. I haven't had a chance to hold one in my hands yet but I think they look wonderful, and all the sound demos I've heard of them sound great too. As far as FSOs go Sandberg has one of my favorite takes on the Fender headstock shape. I like the sharp edge on the inside of the scroll, makes it look a bit like a hook. And well, cream and red tort, hard to go wrong with that combo.

I've got three basses, all PJ config, so clearly I am a fan. I am curious if yours has a means to switch between humbucker and single coil mode on that bridge pickup, and/or series/parallel. What are the four knobs for?

 

[jmlee]

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.

I’ll bet that top bass really cuts through the mix (as well as the firewood)!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I don’t care for most PJ’s either.
Yamaha BB’s and Ernie Ball MusicMan Caprice which is really a P/H are the exceptions .

 

[Bikeguy57]

I’ll bet that top bass really cuts through the mix (as well as the firewood)!

It does, although I'm not sure if hickory is an acceptable tone wood.

 

[Isaac_James]

It does, although I'm not sure if hickory is an acceptable tone wood.

No, hickory is what they use to make the magic smoke. Not the kind inside your amplifier... the other kind of magic smoke.

 

[Mike Vee]

Also even if you shut the J pickup, it's still loading the circuit a bit and it will never sound like a full plain P bass.

I've owned plain Ps for like 20 years, AVRI, AM OR, Standard, Professional, Special, etc., and I can guarantee that once I installed a PV63 in my PJ it sounds exactly like a regular P - in fact, better than most with this amazing pickup. I do understand that there is a scientific/electrical difference, but I don't hear it. And I am listening through very expensive/ accurate Neumann monitors with acoustic treatment and have been mixing music semi-professionally since 1990s. What I think changes the sound most of all, is the fact that people will alter their hand position with the jazz pickup present. I tend to anchor on the jazz even when playing just the P, and that thins out the sound. I have to force myself to hover over the P pickup like I would on a regular P.

 

[Mike Vee]

The key with a PJ bass is to get a hotter, high output J that can match the P output volume. Yamaha does this pretty well, the Tony Franklin is great because it uses a Dimarzio model J, etc. Most stock Fenders come with a useless low output J that doesn't match up well, so lots of people end up thinking they don't like PJs but in reality they just haven't had properly matched pickups.

100%, once I added a DiMarzio noiseless J pickup I was in business!

 

[FRoss6788]

but I don't hear it

...because you are correct, it sounds just like any other P with the pickup in the standard location.

 

[Isaac_James]

100%, once I added a DiMarzio noiseless J pickup I was in business!

Absolutely correct, it's frustrating that so many manufacturers throw in the bridge pickup in a PJ with little regard to how it balances with the neck pickup. You can correct for this somewhat by adjusting the height of the pickups so the bridge pickup is closer to the strings, but that won't do as much as having properly balanced pickups.

 

[Iofflight]

My Sandberg VM4 has become my #1 without dispute. I've been through probably 35 basses and kept 6 of them. It is - for me - the best bass I've ever had.

That said, like all instrument manufacturers not all of them are the same. I have found that I like the Sandberg pre and pickups better than the earlier Delano pickups. I also bought a Sandberg TT (jazz) because I loved the VM4 so much and I really didn't like the Sandberg TT. So as with all things, your mileage may vary.

Interesting, I just got the Sandberg TT in passive in a fretless configuration and I love it. But I knew the sound I was getting beforehand. My desired fretless sound is different than what I'd want on a more traditional Jazz bass and I didn't want the active option which I rarely use on most basses anyway sans the StingRay or a Wal. If I were buying a fretted Sandberg I would definitely go for the VM over the TT any day.

 

[Smith357]

Looks like a P-Ray to me.

 

[HHudson]

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

Nice lookin' VM5, congratulations!

I have always liked P/Js especially on passive basses. They allow you to quickly dial in some bite if needed or turn off the J bridge to just have a P. For those who worry about resistance values etc, you can use a push/pull to take the J-vol or blend pot & J-PU fully out of the circuit.... I do not bother.

They often come with thinner or Jazz necks which I prefer.

The added J-PU never bothered me visually (& I'm 60+), it's just a PU, but I also prefer the sleeker/lighter Sandberg P type bodies & the Fender 80-90's 22 fret (aka boner) J-basses, so no accounting for taste...

I find the Fender Gen4 J-Noisless PUs generally balance very well with most Ps (better than the Ultra-Jazz PUs which are often swapped in). I don't solo the bridge or strive to have a 100% SC Jazz bridge tone and do enjoy not having any 50-60Hz or EMI chainsaw accompaniment (we don't play J. Taylor's Little David)..... our gigs are also not at the Waldorf Astoria or of that ilk.

-Henry

 

[JIO]

The added J-PU never bothered me visually (& I'm 60+), it's just a PU, but I also prefer the sleeker/lighter Sandberg P type bodies & the Fender 80-90's 22 fret (aka boner) J-basses, so no accounting for taste...

I find the Fender Gen4 J-Noisless PUs generally balance very well with most Ps (better than the Ultra-Jazz PUs which are often swapped in). I don't solo the bridge or strive to have a 100% SC Jazz bridge tone and do enjoy not having any 50-60Hz or EMI chainsaw accompaniment (we don't play J. Taylor's Little David)..... our gigs are also not at the Waldorf Astoria or of that ilk.

-Henry

A bit modded, but a '93 American Standard J

A P/J is just another option -

 

[HHudson]

A bit modded, but a '93 American Standard J
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A P/J is just another option -
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Nice! Unfortunately TB does not have a multiple like button

 

[Yahboy]

The key with a PJ bass is to get a hotter, high output J that can match the P output volume. Yamaha does this pretty well, the Tony Franklin is great because it uses a Dimarzio model J, etc. Most stock Fenders come with a useless low output J that doesn't match up well, so lots of people end up thinking they don't like PJs but in reality they just haven't had properly matched pickups.

I bought an used Squier Vintage Modified PJ bass a week ago. Once i check the pickup output, the P pup read 12K ohm and the J pup nail 10.5K !

 

[JIO]

I bought an used Squier Vintage Modified PJ bass a week ago. Once i check the pickup output, the P pup read 12K ohm and the J pup nail 10.5K !

Well, that needs addressing. The B-pu (as you probably know) needs to be 'hotter' than the N-pu.