Does anyone else here dislike PJ basses?

[IronLung1986]

P/J configuration is slightly annoying in an OCD kind of way because it's a compromise between two designs rather than a commitment to one. Part of me feels that it lacks conviction and is kind of a fan reaction to not being able to choose between P or J. That being said, my main bass is a P/J Pedulla which I love dearly and sounds awesome. And I always keep the pickup knob right at the detent since that's always what sounds best to me. So I guess it must be a pretty good configuration if you can dislike it on principle and still love it in practice.

 

[KeepItMoving]

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".

I don't want to hijack the conversation, and should probably start a separate thread on this, but wanted to follow up on your comment. I've had one of the Ibanez SR650 P/Js with the CND pickups for a couple of months now, and at first figured I'd definitely swap in the Big Split...I hope to do a fair amount of recording with the bass, and down the road maybe play in situations that are less amenable to a bit of amp grunge than a bar/club might be, so quietness would be good.

BUT, as I've played and experimented, I find that I really like how a touch of the original single-coil bridge PU adds some pleasing edge/snarl to the tone and I'd hate to lose that. Sounds like you're thinking along similar lines?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Exactly, Nordstrand themselves give the Big Split less "character" on their own rating for the pickup than the Big Single.
I would like to have more mids, but not at the loss of "character". I didn't even know what character was TBH until I heard the Big Singles.

 

[Toolmybass]

Never tried one
Never needed to try one
Why?
Because this kicks A$$

 

[selowitch]

View attachment 3095717

Sweet mother of ... that is such an amazing bass!! I want one in a five-string.

 

[Toolmybass]

Sweet mother of ... that is such an amazing bass!! I want one in a five-string.

Not sure if they made one in a 5
If they do...i’ll take 2!

2006 60th Anniversary PBass Deluxe is the one i posted above
Ordered it straight from Fender back then

 

[NOVAX]

I hate the way the split pickup looks, not the way it sounds.

"Does not compute.
Form always follows function."

 

[ghostinthemach]

Never tried one
Never needed to try one
Why?
Because this kicks A$$

View attachment 3095717

That’s actually what I had in mind when I bought this American made deluxe in 2011. I was in the mood for new and it was the 60th anniversary model.

I really wasn’t that impressed with the idea of a p/j.

I’ve considered changing the bridge p/u (N3) but I’m holding out for a vintage Bartolini find to match the 70’s High-A split-p I installed in it almost immediately upon receipt.

We’ll see.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

No, I like mine. It always has fresh roundwound strings and run it with all controls completely open. I run my rig with some tonal modification, including boosting the low mids 2 150hz and that’s it. The feed to the PA is unaltered out of the DI is pre-effects. Sound engineers love it and rejoice in the fact that they have no mud and or low end bleed in the vocal mikes to deal with. For me it sits in the mix very well and I have zero problems hearing it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 3094212
The best of both worlds. P/J

Wow, that Acoustic 371 rig looks like showroom new. The one I had back in the 70s didn’t look that pristine afte a few years on the road...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I love PJ basses with a jazz body. Like this
View attachment 3094386
Hate PJ basses the P bodies. Like this
View attachment 3094387

I just can't get past the fish hook looking pick guard of the P body. Also any PJ has to have the pearloid block inlays on the fretboard.

No doubt the Jazz body is visually more appealing that a PB. Keep in mind, the Jazz was Fender bass version 3. The Broadcaster, the P, then the Jazz, each better looking than the one before.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Wow, that Acoustic 371 rig looks like showroom new. The one I had back in the 70s didn’t look that pristine afte a few years on the road...

Thanks, I bought it new in ‘73 or so...with a cover.
I gigged some with it, probably not as much as most.
My story...
NCD NAD Vintage Acoustic 371 Got “MY” speaker cab back!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Thanks, I bought it new in ‘73 or so...with a cover.
I gigged some with it, probably not as much as most.
My story...
NCD NAD Vintage Acoustic 371 Got “MY” speaker cab back!

Great story!!! Thanks for posting the link.

 

[JIO]

Never tried one
Never needed to try one
Why?
Because this kicks A$$

View attachment 3095717

I have to agree - that combo is what should be "the standard" for a two pu bass. Best of both worlds.

 

[JimmyM]

Even though I mostly keep it on full P, I love having the option of blending the J in when I want a more scoopy sound. I think the success of the PJ depends greatly on the pickups. Some combinations really suck. Others are fantastic. My PJs mostly have EMG geezers. Love them!

 

[retslock]

Love the P/J configuration!
If I were going to list my least favorite combo it would be humbucker in bridge with a jazz in the middle.
A la....View attachment 3094349

Great body shape. What is it?

 

[retslock]

So

I love my P/J for everything but the jazz pickup, I personally cant stand the sound of any jazz pickup. Since I would never utilize the jazz pickup I routered the cavity to fit a Thunderbird neck pickup into place. Now that is a tonal option you need to hear.
View attachment 3094654

So when do we get to hear it? I’m intrigued.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Not sure how this is relevant to my disliking a noisy bridge pickup.
I've posted many times that I don't "play out", but that doesn't mean I never have taken a bass out to play with others.

Single coils are noisy...inherently. they do have noiseless ones now, but traditionally, they buzz like hell. On a jazz, the two pickups actually buck eachother. On most PJs, they don't. The split bucks itself, and the J buzzes away. But it's far less when blended, then when soloing the bridge. It's not a big deal to me though. In a live setting, it's hardly noticeable. In your room, it's annoying as poop.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Great body shape. What is it?

That’s a Schecter 004 I believe

 

[toprekoms]

Not me.