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I've heard you mention the grind issue on other posts & I'm not sure what you expect from a PJ Alan. IMO this bass is about chunk & fat & thick & I can't see why you would even wish to get grind out of it.(round wounds not withstanding)
I have my own issue w/my own PJ4 on my recordings.(live w/amp may be another thing). When I blend in the J pup, I seem to lose the natural growl that the P pup has. With the preamp flat, the sound becomes "flatter" for lack of a better word & requires preamp tweaking which helps it SIT in a mix w/authority. It's like the sound isn't as frequency rich as the soloed P pup. It becomes thinner than full up P pup, but fits VERY well w/ certain songs. For those who play only a Sad' JJ, that P pup tone is a lot heavier than a J pup & "thinner" is NOT an adverse condition - but it's a bit "lighter", relative to the power of the soloed P pup. Personally I never play mine @ J favoured & feel the bridge pup should be utilized no more than @ detent. I think that one must be far more aware of how the pan pot is used EFFECTIVELY on this bass more so than a JJ. It will never handle what one would want from a JJ I feel. Perhaps NOLA could chime in on this w/his live experience w/both.
EDIT: I've ordered a 4 band fully parametric EQ unit to partner w/my ME-1NV preamp. Gonna try dialing in some stuff to kiss my Sad' with. (unloaded my U5 since it had become redundant)
On my PJ4 the J pup has lots of bark but I just can't use that bridge soloed tone myself. That's J bass territory I feel.
PLEASE don't give up on this bass until you really find it's voice in your gig. There's something special about a Sad' PJ if you think of it as an extension of a P & not a J bass w/a P pup. I can really appreciate your issue w/adjusting from the J bass grind & maybe part of the problem IS a side by side comparison since you're so into J grind. Have a GREAT weekend w/it bro! (leave the JJ at home for awhile
)B.
You're asking the wrong guy about that. I just know that there's a guy who knows a guy who grows that stuff "someplace" east of here where they fish a lot.
(But he has no memory of it).
B.
You don't wanna wash your car w/it BTW.
Chef
In Memoriam
I agree with that!
Leave the J at home: surely you jest!...
Leave the J at home: surely you jest!...
think of it as an extension of a P & not a J bass w/a P pup. I can really appreciate your issue w/adjusting from the J bass grind & maybe part of the problem IS a side by side comparison since you're so into J grind. Have a GREAT weekend w/it bro! (leave the JJ at home for awhile
B.
Man - I'm serious about dancing alone w/ the PJ for a night or two. You'll never let the PJ tone come to you if you're always reinforcing your JJ preference. Hey, I hear ya though. I couldn't do what you're doing. I'm anal when it come to P.I agree with that!
Leave the J at home: surely you jest!...
B.
Chef
In Memoriam
Maybe I could go as far as "leaving it in the car," but I don't know about leaving it at home.
I do take you point about the PJ "being more P than J."
It may well be true that my brain was looking for "J variant," and not "P variant."
The G&L SB2 is like that.
Thanks for kicking my brain!
I do take you point about the PJ "being more P than J."
It may well be true that my brain was looking for "J variant," and not "P variant."
The G&L SB2 is like that.
Thanks for kicking my brain!
Chef
In Memoriam
He's saying that you shouldn't leave your bass in your car. But, if you'd like to leave it my car, let me know. I'll send you the combo for my little door pad thingy.
FWIW, I had two PJ Sadowskys. I never warmed up to the Metro all that much. I did like the NYC, but it was a reverse P and really sounded, to my ear, more like a modern soapbar bass than a traditional P-styled bass. That, for me, was a good thing.
I could never get the Metro PJ to sit in the mix the way the modern or the JJ Sadowskys did. It was much easier to get covered up.
Chef
In Memoriam
Alright...I'll leave the JJ portabag behind my rig on stage then...
how about we take it out of the bag and just put it on a stand next to your rig just in case
Chef
In Memoriam
Well, then I'm not that committed to playing the PJ, if my JJ is an easy "hanging there grab," ya know?
How do you guys feel about Morado boards on the Metro's ?
Not a true rosewood, but a bit more snap and clarity.... any thoughts?
Not a true rosewood, but a bit more snap and clarity.... any thoughts?
I know - I want that PJ!
j/k, j/k - but on the real, if your not feeling it, don't force it.
this will be your 3rd PJ... this should be your last one (keeper or not) no?
Chef said:
I envy you the fact that you live in an area where the idea of leaving a bass in the car doesn't fill you with dread.
I came really late to both the P and the J, so I think that I'm separated enough from both that I see the PJ as a separate beast altogether. My first two basses were both PJs, though. That might be a factor.
By 'really late,' I mean that, after 25 years of playing bass, I bought my first Fender P in 2009 or 2010, and my Sadowsky is my first Jazz of any stripe. My two longest runs were with an old Gibson Thunderbird (which was hoooooot!), and a Washburn acoustic/electric (which was cool). Oh, and then there was the Godin A5 that I sold last year. So, not the kind of axes that give one any sort of preference either way when discussing Ps and Js.
Chef
In Memoriam
Wow, Roadkill, that's a long run without a P bass.
My first bass was a Univox-something.
My second bass was a 1960 Precision...this was waaaaay back when they weren't worth anything much.
I traded that for a 1974 Fender Jazz when it's neck twisted; the J weighed *a ton,* and got traded for a 1972P, which I still have.
My biggest issue with the Sadowsky PJ is that P pup is just huuuuuge and pillowy. Very un-J.
We'll see; ain't feelin' at the moment, but, we'll see....
My first bass was a Univox-something.
My second bass was a 1960 Precision...this was waaaaay back when they weren't worth anything much.
I traded that for a 1974 Fender Jazz when it's neck twisted; the J weighed *a ton,* and got traded for a 1972P, which I still have.
My biggest issue with the Sadowsky PJ is that P pup is just huuuuuge and pillowy. Very un-J.
We'll see; ain't feelin' at the moment, but, we'll see....
Could have been coincidence, but of the six I have owned, I tended to gravitate to the maples.
I did have true Brazilian RW on one. It was pretty special.
I can relate, and have both jj and pj. But the pj shines in a loud mix. I use it alot with my country gig on outdoor shows (fairs, festivals, etc) and it is always loud clear and present, whether its got rounds or flats. Its perfect for that. But when I'm with my duo or trio, particularly indoors, the jj is what always sounds best. In those "smaller" shows, the pj is just too vanilla, and not sweet enough, even with some of the j pup blended in. I'm real comfortable now that I've sorted it out, cause before, I was always grabbing for the other axe as soon as I got one on. It led me to think neither was "good enough" if you know what I mean, and led to further GAS which never was satisfying. Now I have a role for each, and I'm enjoying playing more, rather than trying to constantly tweak, switch, and obsess over tone. When that comfort level first settled in, I thought, "this wont last", but I have been very satisfied with this arrangement now for the last 3 years...no GAS, no lack of focus on the music, no constant switching between sets, etc. If you've been there, I'm sure you know what I'm saying. Its now all good!
I've grown to appreciate the P - I have a Fender Ash/Maple P (not P/J) and I see where it has its place. It's a fat, warm/pillowy sound that some tunes just beg for.
I've actaully seen where its changed the way I approach playing - less notes, more space and just pocket groovin. Its actaully great.
I do love my J's though - but I see a place for both.
