Does anyone else here dislike PJ basses?

[Sean775]

I’m starting to learn that I generally like basses with relatively simple controls and classic pickup settings. (ie: my Fender Jazz and Fender Precision).
I owned a PJ bass for awhile, but I was always just setting it to the isolated P pup, and using it as just a secondary P Bass. It sounded way to harsh with both pickups on.

 

[MMiller28]

I actually want one.

 

[bobyoung53]

I have an American vintage hot rod P bass and love it, the pickups blend perfectly to me but I do tend to favor the P pickup, I run the neck on full and vary the J pickup, the picture is from the web.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Nope. Love 'em, in fact.

They can be, and are, made in all types of knob configurations. You could even have one with no knobs at all, if you wanted.

 

[MordBass]

Theyre great.... but yea... i have a thing against em

 

[mbelue]

It's hard for me to generalize PJs as a group. There are so many possible pickups and combinations of them that a PJ could sound like anything.

A Sadowsky pj isn't really going to sound much like a Spector IMO.

It's all in specifics, what strings, what pickup?

Of course there are plenty of people that'll tell you pickup position is far more important than pickup type.

We all hear something different.

 

[Element Zero]

Sounded harsh with both pickups on? Interesting. Both of mine have a smoother less abrasive tone with both on.

 

[BassGH]

I’m starting to learn that I generally like basses with relatively simple controls and classic pickup settings. (ie: my Fender Jazz and Fender Precision).
I owned a PJ bass for awhile, but I was always just setting it to the isolated P pup, and using it as just a secondary P Bass. It sounded way to harsh with both pickups on.

Can't help you my friend--its my favorite bass format. For me its primarily a p, but I love blending in the J's bite for some songs. I just bought a Yamaha bb435, and I think the J pup by itself might actually have some utility. These are still pretty simple compared with a lot of basses folks play. But if I had to pick just one bass sound to work with for the rest of my life, i'd be right there with you with split coils in the middle of the body and nothing else.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

It sounded way to harsh with both pickups on.

In what way?
You're supposed to blend the bridge pickup in to taste.

I've owned too many & always sold them, because I couldn't get over the noisy bridge pickups.
Yes, there is a solution, but those pickups don't do it for me, the split-coils in a single-coil size.

That's the main reason I haven't tried "upgrading" the Big Singles in my Ibanez to the noiseless Big Splits, because I fear there will be a large loss in "character".

 

[Eric ER]

I have just three basses (and lots of guitars). One is a p bass and the other two are pjs.

My first was a 75 that someone had cut a jazz pickup route for at the bridge. I put in a Novak split J and loved the sound even though I originally had figured that I’d fill the route and refinish. I liked it so much that I built a lighter weight version of it with a vintage p pickup and a fralin split j.

My only pj experience is with split j bridge pickups that have more output and balance well with a p pickup. I ended up liking pjs more than jazz basses and are more versatile than a regular p bass (though I love mine).

 

[countrybass5]

I’m starting to learn that I generally like basses with relatively simple controls and classic pickup settings. (ie: my Fender Jazz and Fender Precision).
I owned a PJ bass for awhile, but I was always just setting it to the isolated P pup, and using it as just a secondary P Bass. It sounded way to harsh with both pickups on.

I am planning to order one in October...I hope it is a wise choice.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

My Power Jazz Bass Special is one of my favorite basses it’s got a reverse p in it which sounds awesome soloed or with both pickups on. I had a modern player Jaguar for a while and I didn’t really care for it all that much. Mostly just left the jazz pickup off. The reverse p pick gives it a little extra something that really makes it work well.

 

[Plectrum72]

Nope. P/J is my favorite Fender format.

 

[AaronVonRock]

I have a Yamaha BB1024 that is a P/J but with a toggle switch, so you can't blend the pickups to taste with knobs. I like it either in the P or J position, but not in the middle. Sounds kind of muddy to my ears in that position.

I used to have a Japanese Fender Aerodyne P/J that you could blend with knobs, but I realized I don't like the feel of Jazz bodies and I didn't like the bridge pickup on it.

I don't think I would buy another P/J again. I'll just stick with a P.

 

[Slevage]

I like em- don’t own one.

 

[chris_b]

I have a 4 string Fender PJ which I haven't played in years, but when I did I had the P pickup at 100% and the J at about 80%.

My 5 string (flats) Mike Lull PJ sounds so good on the P I usually turn the J off altogether. If I want a J sound I'll probably use my Jazz bass, but even with the J in use the PJ never sounds bad.

 

[Old Blastard]

Have a MIJ Jazz bass special I've gifted for 31 years and love the sound that comes out of it with both pickups on equally. Have a couple of Drakes with EMG p/j that give me that sound with more oomph.

Still like duo humbuckers, though.

Hell, I like em all.

 

[roller]

Certainly don't HATE the P/J... but when the P/MM and P/Hum offer so much more, it's very easy for me to FORGET the P/J.

Stronger, more capable bridge options, like Nordstrand's humbuckers, are just stinkin' beautiful in that position.

YMMV..

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I only have one PJ but it’s wonderful. I don’t find the pickup blending an issue - it’s a feature.

 

[India_Sierra]

ItsI impossible for me to make a sweeping statement or generalise over this pickup configuration, there are so many other variables to consider.