Does anyone else here dislike PJ basses?

[dennis james]

I've never liked the PJ basses either. love both P's & J's, but don't want them combined. also a big fan of simplicity on both basses and amps. the less knobs, switches, micro-switches, sliders, and buttons the better.

 

[CayGee]

Had a Pedulla P/J MVP that I bought new in 1980, darn thing played itself. Came with Bartolini pickups. Thought they were a little clanky. Went with EMG's after awhile and the difference was astounding; always ran with both pickups full-on, and just moved my right hand into different positions over the pickups to get the sound I wanted. Shoulda kept that bass...
I'm playing it in my profile pic, "Finally Wally's" dive bar Waterville Maine circa 1983. (shoulda kept that bass...the guy I sold it to had Pedulla do a new paint job and he ended up dropping it and broke the neck.)

 

[oranje]

Yes, me

 

[Josh Kneisel]

nope. I dig mine

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I leave both pups on full 99 percent of the time and let my right hand position do the rest, great bass

 

[BobKos]

I too am not a fan of P/J.

 

[Mr.Ace]

I like a p/mm

 

[twinjet]

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've only tried a few and was never blown away. But the early millennial US Fender Deluxes looked cool. I think it could be neat to have a dual coil in the bridge position.

 

[twinjet]

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".

Slight derail, but if I recall correctly, you did electrical work in the army right?

 

[NOVAX]

I want to dislike them but they're everywhere (5) in my collection (20+) I need a side by side or over and under humbucking J pickup though.
The Dimarzio ultrajazz plays well with lots of split coil p pickups. I love EMG pj sets. I know exactly how to get what I want from them. you could mod up that bad boy for small money.

 

[NOVAX]

I've never liked the PJ basses either. love both P's & J's, but don't want them combined. also a big fan of simplicity on both basses and amps. the less knobs, switches, micro-switches, sliders, and buttons the better.

You can delete one of your double posts. I wouldn't let it sit there, but that's just me.

 

[bassliner50]

About PJ's. No need for J. Just adds noise and complications.

 

[dennis james]

You can delete one of your double posts. I wouldn't let it sit there, but that's just me.

how do you delete? i'm new at this.

 

[wyleeboxer]

My Yamaha BB2024x toggle gives it a very usable p/j tone, every selection is distinct in its own right without the ability to be dialed in with a blend control which can be a problem on most vvt p/j basses. Also helps that the 2024x bridge pup is huge sounding making it killer on its own.
My other PJ’s are very very different sounding with there vvt controls but you can dial it up eventually and if pickup heights are done accurately.

 

[dennis james]

You can delete one of your double posts. I wouldn't let it sit there, but that's just me.

disregard, answered my own question

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

That Ric!!! drool

It’s got a really nice slimmer neck too, it’s an 85 so it’s got the split pickgaurd but has the newer style trussrod nuts. It’s sounds better than it looks! I have yet to play another that sounds like this one. It was almost untouched when I bought it a few years ago, shows some evidence of use now

 

[amper]

Something about that split pickup bugs the heck out of me. I prefer J-J or MM. I'll never buy a P or P-J.

 

[Modest_Moose]

I love my P/J and my Jazz. I sold my P bass because of the PJ. If I need that P bass I have it, but I love being able to add in that jazz pick up for flavor and articulation. I prefer the sound of a Jazz bass over a P or P/J any day but I love being able to have that P bass and be able to add a little more to it.

 

[mbelue]

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

Funny enough that's pretty cool from where I sit. Looks like lots of fun.

 

[Turnaround]

Never met one I liked. To me, instead of being the best of both worlds, it's the worst of both. But I'm probably in the minority. Usually am.