Don't like PJ's?

[bikeplate]

got a few. love em. great on gigs

 

[noahw1]

My Valenti

 

[micguy]

If you wire a PJ like a P (use a switch so that, when the P pickup is soloed, the extra pot isn’t in the circuit, and you wire the volume control like a P (J’s wire the volume controls “backwards”)), you can make it sound like a P. With a VVT circuit, a PJ works differently than a pure P. I can hear it. It’s subtle at full volume, bit less subtle at reduced volume.

The spacing of the pickup halves, however, means the comb filtering for the G and D strings is different than it is on a J. They simply don’t work the same. If you prefer the sound of a PJ, or can’t hear the difference, I won’t argue with that. I can hear the difference, and prefer the comb filtering from straight J spacing.

 

[leonard]

Sorry Jimmy, I still don't like them!

PJ's are like wearing socks with sandals.

 

[Kro]

The spacing of the pickup halves, however, means the comb filtering for the G and D strings is different than it is on a J. They simply don’t work the same. If you prefer the sound of a PJ, or can’t hear the difference, I won’t argue with that. I can hear the difference, and prefer the comb filtering from straight J spacing.

Having just switched to a PJ for the first time, this is what I found the most jarring.

Since then I've gotten used to it a bit - half the fun of a P is that half of the pickup is in a different sensing position than the other and sounds a bit different, no? (Also the whole sensing overlap thing).

Regardless, I've found the combination that mine has specifically to sound good. Consistent? No, but that's not the goal for me. Also sounds great in a mix.

 

[noeinstein]

I suppose I should've provided photographic evidence. How remiss of me. All four basses on this stand are p/js (or, in the case of the red one, a p/j-alike, with emg cs35s in the p and j spots). And I own more than this.
View attachment 4356777

I like that stand

 

[2112]

Once I learned to appreciate PJ's based on their own merits and not so much as a spork, I have liked PJ's just fine. In fact, I fired together a PJ earlier this year that's become My Favorite Bass of All Time... and I'm in the process of pulling a duplicate of it together so I can gig them. Ash P body + maple J neck = hot hamburg sandwiches.

 

[Jek Porkins]

All these bass pics are turning me into Droolius Ceaser..... I wish I could post pics, but I have a Fender American Jaguar made a few years ago. It's got more switches and knobs than Darth Vader's toilet seat but I love that thing and yes.. It's good for metal or anything really.

 

[mickeyj4j]

#1. The Mustang is my new answer to back surgery, arthritis, and old.
View attachment 4356791

Hey have you thought of getting a Ubass or other bass ukulele.

 

[metron]

The spacing of the pickup halves, however, means the comb filtering for the G and D strings is different than it is on a J. They simply don’t work the same.

I absolutely agree with this.

 

[burgerdj]

I’ve had several PJs and currently really enjoy my ‘96 and ‘98 Warwick Streamers. However, I do secretly want a straight P and a straight J. But then I realize that nobody but me really appreciates the difference, so I enjoy what I have.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Going only on looks, I'm not a huge fan of PJ basses. I just don't find the P and J pickup combo to be aesthetically pleasing. But I won't let the looks stop me from playing and enjoying a PJ bass if it feels and sounds good. My Godin Shifter Classic 4 is a PJ and it is staying with me forever.

More about looks: I think I like the look of a J bass the best... but I typically don't find J bodies comfortable to play Maybe I'll find the right one some day.

 

[zon6c-f]

Here's why I do and don't care if you don't:

View attachment 4356771 View attachment 4356724 View attachment 4356726 View attachment 4356736


Actually, I just wanted an excuse to post some new glamour shots of some of my basses. But since we're here, I've noticed for the past few years that the venerable PJ combination has been slammed for being neither fish nor fowl, and I am here to say that it is, indeed, both fish and fowl.

Let's address the most common complaints:

---It doesn't sound as good when you solo the P pickup vs not having the J on a straight-up P Bass. 100% myth, poppycock, balderdash, and bovine waste products. If a $100 SX PJ with the P soloed can sound the same as a $100 SX P as long as they have the same strings, then there is no reason every bass in the world can't have PJ's that sound the same as a regular P when the P's soloed. I used to have sonic proof of this, but it got lost in a computer crash a few years ago.

---You don't get the best of both worlds with a PJ. OK, so let's assume the sound is so different that you'd rather stick with the J. Fine by me. But the sound is not completely different by any means. I've played plenty of Jazz basses and basses with J pickups in my day and I'm well familiar with what a typical Jazz sounds like. It's close enough for the few times that I go for a J sound that I'm not sweating what little difference there is in a good balanced set of PJ's. Throw pickups in there willy-nilly, sure, it probably won't sound all that great. Just might, though.

And to reverse the situation, a good J with the neck pickup soloed may not sound identical to a good P, but it will do a convincing job as well. I have a preference for a good split P pickup in that position, but I've heard plenty of convincing P sounds out of J's. The first Precisions are single coils, too, and I never heard anyone complain that they don't sound like P's.

---60 cycle hum or whatever frequency it is in your country. Can happen, but only on rare occasions is it an issue you can't do anything about. Many bass and guitar players use single coils with no hum problems all over the world. Granted, I prefer hum-cancelling pickups for both the P and the J, but to say that it can't work because the P's a humbucker and the J is single coil is myth.

So that's why I made PJ's my jam...preferring the split P neck pickup as my main sound, but needing a more scoopy J sound on occasion. And I get it, too, and any complaints that it doesn't sound like a real J are just nitpicking.

I don’t own a p/j but believe it’s “best of both”.

Now if anyone makes an affordable fretless P/J 5er
Lemme know !

 

[Paul New]

Don't have one, but wish I did. All basses is good!

 

[Cave Puppy]

No I sleep in the buff.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Hey have you thought of getting a Ubass or other bass ukulele.

No. I've considered double bass though, so I'd have something to lean on.

We all need! some thingy to lean on.

 

[BrentSimons]

Here's why I do and don't care if you don't:

View attachment 4356771 View attachment 4356724 View attachment 4356726 View attachment 4356736


Actually, I just wanted an excuse to post some new glamour shots of some of my basses. But since we're here, I've noticed for the past few years that the venerable PJ combination has been slammed for being neither fish nor fowl, and I am here to say that it is, indeed, both fish and fowl.

Let's address the most common complaints:

---It doesn't sound as good when you solo the P pickup vs not having the J on a straight-up P Bass. 100% myth, poppycock, balderdash, and bovine waste products. If a $100 SX PJ with the P soloed can sound the same as a $100 SX P as long as they have the same strings, then there is no reason every bass in the world can't have PJ's that sound the same as a regular P when the P's soloed. I used to have sonic proof of this, but it got lost in a computer crash a few years ago.

---You don't get the best of both worlds with a PJ. OK, so let's assume the sound is so different that you'd rather stick with the J. Fine by me. But the sound is not completely different by any means. I've played plenty of Jazz basses and basses with J pickups in my day and I'm well familiar with what a typical Jazz sounds like. It's close enough for the few times that I go for a J sound that I'm not sweating what little difference there is in a good balanced set of PJ's. Throw pickups in there willy-nilly, sure, it probably won't sound all that great. Just might, though.

And to reverse the situation, a good J with the neck pickup soloed may not sound identical to a good P, but it will do a convincing job as well. I have a preference for a good split P pickup in that position, but I've heard plenty of convincing P sounds out of J's. The first Precisions are single coils, too, and I never heard anyone complain that they don't sound like P's.

---60 cycle hum or whatever frequency it is in your country. Can happen, but only on rare occasions is it an issue you can't do anything about. Many bass and guitar players use single coils with no hum problems all over the world. Granted, I prefer hum-cancelling pickups for both the P and the J, but to say that it can't work because the P's a humbucker and the J is single coil is myth.

So that's why I made PJ's my jam...preferring the split P neck pickup as my main sound, but needing a more scoopy J sound on occasion. And I get it, too, and any complaints that it doesn't sound like a real J are just nitpicking.

Hi @JimmyM ,
I'm enjoying my Spector Euro 4LX. It's the only PJ I have. Does this count?

 

[Jefenator]

J/J is my personal favorite but P/J has this way of winding up as the workhorse.

 

[4andnomore]

Nothing against PJs, but I generally prefer the simplicity of a straight up P-Bass in terms of both appearance and function. Plus it's easier/cheaper to swap out pickups. 100% personal preference.

 

[2cooltoolz]

That Mustang...WOW! Is that a legit 60's model or does it have replacement lollipop tuners?

Nope. Not legit at all . New parts bass.