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Does anyone else here dislike PJ basses?

#41
I have played/owned them, but really don't care for them. I really don't like anything with a P pickup. (Maybe dual P's, but never played one). The Jazz or MM configuration makes me much happier.
 
#42
skidmarkbass said:
I really like PJs. For me the key is to really dial in the J pickup so that it sounds like a J, by getting the height correct.
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This is key. You will always have a full P bass tone available on one end of the blend pot. One might as well have the J pickup cranking so every little turn back to the center detente is a different tone. Try it out.

Plus the J pickup makes for a very nice thumb rest for faster passages.

Ooh, also check out Wilkins Road Tested PJ basses. The look is a bit odd with the J pickup snugged close to the pickguard but the sound is 100% USDA Choice beef.
 
#48
SaucyJackBass said:
I would love one in a short scale, since that is what I've moved to, but I don't know of anyone that makes one.
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I had one but sold it, picture not my bass.
Jaguar.
Might be medium scale.
AAE1FB45-BCEB-40B5-97AC-639F48E17A28.jpeg
 
#49
Erik herman said:
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. View attachment 3094155
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I had two of those!! Loved em. Just couldn't get used to the small 1.5" nut width.
 
#50
I love P/Js. The reason is my two favorite tones are the Pbass tone and the J bridge tone. I also like to roll my tone knob off a lot and I find that the middle position with both pickups on really sounds nice and focused.

Another thing I love to do is groove with the neck pickup on and then add in both when I take a solo. It’s a quick flick and I have a great tone for both situations.

I think it matters what P/J you have. Some have too many knobs and maybe the J pickup is not adding enough to the equation. They need to be set up right so the pickups sound even through all 3 combinations. I like real simple setups, volume, blend, tone is perfect for me. If I don’t have a tone roll off, I’m not interested.
 
#51
I don't own any basses with just a single split coil pickup, but I have 2 PJs. It is hard to get the balance right with that jazz, or get the bridge pickup to sound like it would on a jazz-style bass. They can have too much honk if they aren't placed properly. I rarely use the bridge by its self, but I like the bite of a PJ. Several of my favorite bass tones from the 80s were on PJ basses.
 
#53
Sean775 said:
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.
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I actually find myself doing this with my Jazz... turning the neck pup up all the way and leaving the bridge pup off... that's how much I like the P sound.
 
#54
I have a PJ parts bass. It's a Squier JV p body that someone added a bridge pickup to, as well as a fretless neck that was made custom for the previous owner. EMG pickups and a poorly applied fender decal on the headstock. The only things disappointing about it are said decal and the fact that I don't have a fretted neck that fits it nicely (I like to change things up).

It's a pretty sweet bass considering what I paid. The PJ setup sounds great and is dead silent. Excellent workhorse axe.
 
#56
I've been eyeing a MusicMan Caprice for awhile and was actually ready to get one a few months ago, but their insanely high price bump completely turned me off. Since my enthusiasm has cooled, the rational adult side of me has decided to wait until a great deal comes along. I don't really need another bass.
 
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#57
maxschrek said:
Strongly dislike p/j except in a first gen Hamer Cruise.
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It's great to see some Hamer-love in this parish. I've a 1st Gen Hamer Cruise Bass myself. Recently had to replace the original Dimarzio Jazz Bass Pickup in the instrument but the beast is still going strong. And the pickups blend really well together. I tend to think of the Jazz Bass option as an 'add bite' feature to the instrument.
 
#58
I've a Yamaha BB735A that is essentially a PJ. I just can't get enough of it. Blend knob is usually in the center detent position...so, both pickups on full.
I've two Fender Precisions that I don't touch anymore as I just can't get the sound I want out of them. I'm considering installing a "J" pickup in each.

The only bass that gets more use than the Yamaha is my big old upright.
 
#60
In most cases, comparing a single split pickup P to a split pickup PJ (assuming the J pickup is not the larger musicman size, and the split P nrck pickup is not the reverse P) you have a basic trade off, hence the polarization of this thread; is what the J pickup brings to the table worth sacrificing the P "sweet spot" configuration. Most commercial builders will locate the P on a PJ bass a little north of said sweet spot.

I like having a passive VVT PJ adding a little J just to puts the cherry on top the sundae. I'll sacrifice the sweet spot for that flexibility every day and twice on Sunday (see what i did there...?)
 
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