Don't like PJ's?

[GIBrat51]

No, I don't like PJ basses all that much. But, I don't exactly hate them, either. It's just that the few that I've messed with, over the years, have left me feeling... Meh. There's always been 2 or 3 things - besides never finding a lefty to mess around on - that put me off the thing. Jazz bass body? They don't fit me very well; they feel... weird. P-Bass body and the typical P-Bass neck? Body, yes; neck? No thank you. My P-Bass has the old "A" style neck; very nice... Other body styles? Yeah, I know they're out there, but leftys aren't usually looking at a wall of basses for the body style; we're looking for controls on the lower left of the body. If the body was different, it never caught my eye... Bridge pickup so close to the bridge, there's little/no output? Thanks, but I have a couple of Ricks and Danos for that already... The only PJ I ever found that ticked all the boxes, was an '82 MIJ Kramer Forum III, with Spector pickups. It came from the factory as a passive bass (IIRC, most were active). I don't care much for the Hair Band, hockey stick headstock, but it was the '80s; what're ya gonna do? Both pickups are close enough to the sweet spot to be useful, and the neck is pretty nice, too. It was kind of trashed when I got it, but it played just fine. And, sounded even better. I took it apart to rebuild it (and boy, does it need it), but Life intervened; and it just never got done. Now that I'm an Official Retired Old Person, I suppose I need to get busy...

 

[JimmyM]

No, I don't like PJ basses all that much. But, I don't exactly hate them, either. It's just that the few that I've messed with, over the years, have left me feeling... Meh. There's always been 2 or 3 things - besides never finding a lefty to mess around on - that put me off the thing. Jazz bass body? They don't fit me very well; they feel... weird. P-Bass body and the typical P-Bass neck? Body, yes; neck? No thank you. My P-Bass has the old "A" style neck; very nice... Other body styles? Yeah, I know they're out there, but leftys aren't usually looking at a wall of basses for the body style; we're looking for controls on the lower left of the body. If the body was different, it never caught my eye... Bridge pickup so close to the bridge, there's little/no output? Thanks, but I have a couple of Ricks and Danos for that already... The only PJ I ever found that ticked all the boxes, was an '82 MIJ Kramer Forum III, with Spector pickups. It came from the factory as a passive bass (IIRC, most were active). I don't care much for the Hair Band, hockey stick headstock, but it was the '80s; what're ya gonna do? Both pickups are close enough to the sweet spot to be useful, and the neck is pretty nice, too. It was kind of trashed when I got it, but it played just fine. And, sounded even better. I took it apart to rebuild it (and boy, does it need it), but Life intervened; and it just never got done. Now that I'm an Official Retired Old Person, I suppose I need to get busy...

LOL! Well hey...probably won't take you too long. But even though it probably won't interest you in particular, you can get PJ's with the J pickup in standard J position, you can also get PJ sets specially made to combat volume imbalance issues, and then slap a neck you like on it and you're done.

 

[bigtone23]

I smell a3-way switch thread brewing!
View attachment 4358912
I posted this earlier. The switch may not be obvious. Black just above volume. A rare Wilkins P/J. May be the only one with the 3 way. I keep it centered mostly - Classic P with some rich, full extra grindy, woody seasoning. Solo P is very P. Solo J is actually useful....not as thin as usual.
In this bass's case, the P stands for Perfection, the J for Jammin'!

I really like the location of the bridge pickup. Being that much further from the bridge must make it much more useful sounding if soloed.
3 way switches work out great for me, too. I'm usually in the middle, sometimes neck soloed. I have a couple basses with bridge pickups located like yours, so those get some bridge soloed, too.

 

[Outbush]

I have a 2016-ish Ibanez SR755NTF which was deliberately made to sound like the Fender P & Js. The P is a reverse and the pickups are Nordstrand & wired specifically for that purpose. I replaced the single-coil bridge with a split coil that Nordstrand supply & it gave the bass a bit more depth and is slightly darker. I like being able to carry just 1 bass (but I have spare strings in the case). It is more than close enough for me. I’m another with a secret yearning for P though.

 

[JimmyM]

I have a 2016-ish Ibanez SR755NTF which was deliberately made to sound like the Fender P & Js. The P is a reverse and the pickups are Nordstrand & wired specifically for that purpose. I replaced the single-coil bridge with a split coil that Nordstrand supply & it gave the bass a bit more depth and is slightly darker. I like being able to carry just 1 bass (but I have spare strings in the case). It is more than close enough for me. I’m another with a secret yearning for P though.

Ya, I'll bet it sounds really cool. That's the secret to having a good PJ combo, I've discovered...sets that are made for it.

 

[KJMO]

I've got a question! Where do most position their right hand on a pj? I play mostly a jazz bass, and find myself over the back pickup (or close), but I don't think that sounds good with a pj (hard habit to break). Probably most play like it's just a p-bass (thumb anchored on the p pickup)?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I've got a question! Where do most position their right hand on a pj? I play mostly a jazz bass, and find myself over the back pickup (or close), but I don't think that sounds good with a pj (hard habit to break). Probably most play like it's just a p-bass (thumb anchored on the p pickup)?

Here's one possible location (of many).

Full disclosure: Those are Rickenbacker knobs.

 

[JimmyM]

I've got a question! Where do most position their right hand on a pj? I play mostly a jazz bass, and find myself over the back pickup (or close), but I don't think that sounds good with a pj (hard habit to break). Probably most play like it's just a p-bass (thumb anchored on the p pickup)?

I play it wherever I think it needs to be played to accomplish what sound I want the easiest. Up by the neck for a bassier sound, down by the bridge for a brighter sound or when I'm playing faster than usual (not the fastest bassist in the world but I have my tricks ), and anything in between.

That all changes with a pick. I never go past the P pickup with a pick because I start getting pain in my hand 10 seconds after I do. I'm a firm believer in playing closer to the neck with a pick on a bass like Carol Kaye recommends, but I use lighter strings than she does so I have a little more leeway.

 

[KJMO]

I would say my home spot is a bit in front of the rear pickup, and I move over the bridge for something like "rio" and toward the P for something like "keep me hangin' on". I'm going to try playing further toward the neck when I use a pick, as Jimmy suggests. I might have to exercise some restraint though ;-)

 

[Snakeman1066]

Lol...can't stand the damn things... <------- (Sarcasm)

what's not to like they sound like a P bass but with more note definition and articulation...best of both worlds AFAIC...

 

[lomo]

I really like JJ but always blend the pups. I love the P sound and when playing P/J I lean on the neck pup.....I never use a soloed bridge J pup......and recently I discovered my fave pup combo is MM/P(or reverse P):

 

[jeffb28451]

I've got a Sugi Jazz, a Sadowsky Jazz, and have had a poo-ton of "real" Fender Jazz and PJ and non-Fender Jazz and PJ (Spector, et al) products over the years. I admit that my acquaintance with PJ config is limited to mostly Fender products including Elite P. That bass was a good effort, in my opinion and still, a near miss, maybe hampered by Fenders dogged insistence on using their own pickup and preamps in the Elite line.

HOWEVER, I just got a Low End PJ and it has am convinced a PJ can be done properly. Maybe it's just that "new bass day" honeymoon, but this PJ may become my favorite and most versatile bass.

It's not everything to everyone, I'm sure: it's "too clean" and demands attention and respect or it'll show in the mix. It goes "precisiony" , but I doubt it will thump and no, I will not put on flats to try that out.

It has changed my opinion on PJ basses. I previously, for the past few years, wound not even pick up a PJ bass to try it, since my experience has shown that, for some reason, what should work, has not had a history of meeting its promise.
I may even try another Spector PJ, since they're so sexy and comfortable. But please, no Tonepump preamps.

YMMV. Ain't that great.

 

[TomB]

Ya, I'll bet it sounds really cool. That's the secret to having a good PJ combo, I've discovered...sets that are made for it.

Yeah. I might have disagreed until I recently owned a Valenti 5 with an Aguilar 60’s PJ set. They had solved every objection I’ve had to a PJ configuration - noiseless, punchy single coil sound from the stacked bridge, and very even balance. Excellent!

 

[EmaTheMirror]

I know it's down to personal preference, but overally, do "you" (meaning you all reading/writing) prefer the PJ blend with the J in 60s or 70s spot? Correct me from wrong, but IIRC the ones coming stock from Fender are all in 60s, right? Obviously, aftermarket mods have happened either way.

@JimmyM I know you addressed about the hum resulting from the J which doesn't get cancelled in the blend, but what do you think about matching Ps at the neck with a split or stacked J at the bridge? Do you think the tonal difference is a worse trade-off than putting up with some hum, for your taste? I honestly don't have much experience of comparing true single coils vs humbucking/Fender Noiseless Js.
Fender went for a Noiseless for its (sigh) short-lived PJ Am. St. Jaguar Bass, AFAIK.

Re. the matter of "a PJ can't sound like a P": I currently don't have any PJs at the moment, but I wouldn't be surprised if it also comes from people who tried a PJ with a "sunken-in-the-body P and way higher J" and felt the tone was anemic when the next P was soloed, lol

 

[SteveCS]

I retired my P/J about 5 years ago and made a switch to StingRays, but I do break out the P/J at home from timd to time. I guess I'm in the opposite camp to most in that I really don't jive with the pure P tone. So if the P doesn't sound like a P then that's a win. As it happens, that vintage OBL sounds great, pure P or not. But I probably use solo J 90% of the time, blending the P in a bit to create some low-end resonance when required.

In saying that, it is perhaps worth observing that the J on my P/J is closer to the MM position than any FSO J or P/J I've played, so it already has rather more heft than most 'bridge' J pickups.

 

[GIBrat51]

LOL! Well hey...probably won't take you too long. But even though it probably won't interest you in particular, you can get PJ's with the J pickup in standard J position, you can also get PJ sets specially made to combat volume imbalance issues, and then slap a neck you like on it and you're done.

I took the Kramer to my new favorite luthier (Alex Ryker, @ G&A Music in South Bend) today. He's done really good work for me since I moved here last year; seems pretty jazzed about the project, too. As for the pickup positions on the Forum III? I did play it a little when I first got it; weak output is not that Spector Jazz pickup's problem. It's in a very good spot for output; if anything, it's a little too close to the split-soil P pickup - for the way I like to play. But, that's nothing I can't deal with... Oh, by the way; Forum I and Forum III's are neck-thrus; II and IV are bolt-necks...

 

[JimmyM]

I know it's down to personal preference, but overally, do "you" (meaning you all reading/writing) prefer the PJ blend with the J in 60s or 70s spot? Correct me from wrong, but IIRC the ones coming stock from Fender are all in 60s, right? Obviously, aftermarket mods have happened either way.

@JimmyM I know you addressed about the hum resulting from the J which doesn't get cancelled in the blend, but what do you think about matching Ps at the neck with a split or stacked J at the bridge? Do you think the tonal difference is a worse trade-off than putting up with some hum, for your taste? I honestly don't have much experience of comparing true single coils vs humbucking/Fender Noiseless Js.
Fender went for a Noiseless for its (sigh) short-lived PJ Am. St. Jaguar Bass, AFAIK.

The J's in my Fender/FSO PJ's except for my latest addition, a Yamaha BB235, have Geezer humbucking J's. I've done the PJ thing with single coils, though, and while I prefer humbuckers, I get why people don't want to use humbucker J's. They do seem to cut down on high end a bit. But that's OK by me since it's not what I'm looking for.

 

[BlueTalon]

Here's one possible location (of many).

View attachment 4360287
Full disclosure: Those are Rickenbacker knobs.

There is soooo much room on that bass for another pickup...

 

[BlueTalon]

I've done the PJ thing with single coils, though, and while I prefer humbuckers, I get why people don't want to use humbucker J's. They do seem to cut down on high end a bit. But that's OK by me since it's not what I'm looking for.

I don't get this. Maybe I've been spoiled by Fender Super 55 split coil pickups, but I can't imagine hearing them and thinking they don't sound as good as single coil pickups because they don't have as much high end. They have loads of high end.

 

[Jeff Scott]

There is soooo much room on that bass for another pickup...

Tempting, eh?

I sold that bass to, get this..................a drummer years ago!