does the JP Pickup combination suck?

[Deleted member 318172]

Do you know any iconic song? Has a bass with J pickup in the bridge and P in the neck ever made it into a studio? I love them personally but 90% seems to be either J Bass or P Bass (or stingray...). The only "mainstream successful" user of this combinition that came into my mind was tyler joseph from twentyone pilots. Why do we see so few bassists using this pickup combination?

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

This is and will be 101% speculation.

 

[4sight]

Almost any Guns n' Roses tune you could mention?

 

[RedJag]

Victor Wooten...

 

[4sight]

Robert DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots.

 

[Sid the Kid]

In the context of a mix you literally can not tell the difference between a straight up P bass and a PJ with the P pickup solo’d.

I’ll wager that Duck Dunn recorded a few tunes on a PJ. I’m sure Tony Franklin has as well.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

After listening to a lot of Tony Franklin, I started thinking that I may want to try a PJ setup...

 

[Element Zero]

Never heard of 21 pilots. The PJ combo deffinetly doesn’t “suck”.

 

[dBChad]

The OP is referring to a rare P pickup in the bridge and J pickup in the sweet spot. Most of the answers refer to the more traditional PJ bases and players.

I don't know why this setup never caught on because I can't think of any bases with this setup on the commercial market. BC Rich did a double P for a few of their basses that sounded huge, and the PJ setup is one of my favorites.

OP, could you post a picture of the bass you're playing with this configuration? It sounds really interesting, and may allow TBers with more experience to give you more pertinent answers.

 

[AdamR]

Anything recorded with a Spector NS2. Alice in Chains, Queensrych, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Skid Row, The Police for a few examples.

 

[AdamR]

The OP is referring to a rare P pickup in the bridge and J pickup in the sweet spot. Most of the answers refer to the more traditional PJ bases and players.

He wrote J in the bridge and P in the neck. Second sentence.

 

[dBChad]

He wrote J in the bridge and P in the neck. Second sentence.

Well then, I stand corrected.....and it's time for more coffee

 

[bolophonic]

Fact: this is a terrible premise for a discussion.

 

[Gasman]

Mine Dirnt recorded “Dookie” with one

 

[TNCreature]

Dennis Dunaway gets a monster tone from this combo. No way of knowing the blend between pickups.

 

[IronLung1986]

Surely you jest OP...

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I’d be interested to hear if anybody famous swears by the jp90 since it has an odd pickup placement and it’s reletively not sought after, anybody like them? I’ve always thought about getting on since they usually sell for Mexican fender money.

 

[ariwax]

Well it sucks in my hands. I’ve played quite a few and never found one I liked. The balance between the P and the J is never what I hope it will be, and I always end up soloing the P. And I hate having knobs and pickups I never use. So, it’s either a P or a J for me.

 

[Krizz]

I’d be interested to hear if anybody famous swears by the jp90 since it has an odd pickup placement and it’s reletively not sought after, anybody like them? I’ve always thought about getting on since they usually sell for Mexican fender money.

Not sure about players, but more JP 90 info here

Fender JP 90 club?

 

[BaltBass5]

I use PJ basses all the time...if you properly setup your pickup height it is amazing.