Dumb question about P v J v PJ

[Pastafarian]

Had no hope of finding the answers through a search, so here goes with a really amateurish question:

PJ basses seem a whole lot more versatile to me in terms of achieving a greater variety of sounds. So there are two things I'm wondering:

- Why do Fender only make P or J, not PJs? I'd have thought there'd be a big market for a bass like that.

- Obviously, everyone will have a preference for one or t'other, but what's the usual rationale behind committing to having just one of them, and thereby losing the versatility that having the other would provide? To my beginner's mind, it seems to me that adding one doesn't harm the other, if that makes sense, but my first guess would be that a proper P bass has a better P sound than can be achieved from a PJ bass.

I'm sure I'll cringe if I re-read this a few months down the line, but in my time of ignorance, help much appreciated.

 

[rappa29]

Fender makes a PJ. It's called the Precision Deluxe. It's active and made in Mexico. I'm not sure they make an American version but I've seen another version with a humbucking J pickup.

I have 2002 Mexican, passive PJ. I like it for the following reasons:

1.) Jazz neck.
2.) I can get the classic P tone with the P pickup soloed and\or add some bite\definition dialing in the J pickup. I usually play it with both full on and tone all the way up.

I prefer the PJ over the P because I'm not comfortable with the wide P neck.
I prefer my Jazz over my PJ because overall it plays smoother and I prefer it's tone more.

If I had to commit to just one, bone stock, I'd pick the Jazz.

But I like the PJ, it sounds good (with the help of a set of Lindy Fralins), just doesn't play as smooth as my Jazz. Although in all fairness I should say my Jazz is MIA so there's a definite difference in wood, construction and components. I'm still tweaking my PJ and in the past have gotten it playing like butter.

YMMV

 

[Bob C]

Fender used to have a PJ model called the Hot Rodded Precision (I think that's the right name). Also, the Stu Hamm signature model has 2 J's and 1 P. I think there have been other models in the past. You're right though - Fender should offer more of them.

 

[line6man]

As long as a PJ setup has a 3 way switch to eliminate the Jazz pickup's volume pot when the P is soloed, and the P pickup is positioned in it's traditional location, it is exactly the same as a regular P bass. The only change that comes to mind would be a bit of extra string pull from the Jazz pickup.

A PJ is basically the entire functionality of a P bass, plus half a Jazz bass.

"Why do Fender only make P or J, not PJs? I'd have thought there'd be a big market for a bass like that."

To be honest with you, i wouldn't dick around with anything Fender anymore... Seeing as Fender has gone to hell in recent days, i buy my basses from Warmoth, which is every bit as good, and in many cases better. They can make you a bass any way you want. If you want a PJ, they will do that on either a Jazz or a Precision body for no extra charge.

Edit: Some PJ basses have underwound P pickups and overwound J pickups to balance out the output.
They will sound good together, but they will not sound "right" alone.
You have to pretty much choose whether you want to use the pickups together, or use them alone, because you really can't do both unless you want compromises.

 

[Craig_S]

P/Js are not the best of both worlds. I never solo the J (DiMarzio Ultra). I only use it to affect the overall sound of the bass. The P pickup is louder than the J. My P/J has been my most recent "go to" bass. It growls like none of my others

 

[René_Julien]

Tony Franklin signature is also a P/J configuration. (both fretless and fretted.)

I don't like the combined sound of a P and J pickup. In my experience the sound was a bit too muddy. I rather have a single P or a J/J.
Some people like the P/J combo. To each their own.

I have a Tony Franklin fretless, and I removed the J pickup (and the pickup switch).

Why?
I didn't use the J pickup at all, not soloed, not combined with the P.

Couldn't you have left it there and just not used it?
Yes, I could have.

Then.... why did you removed it?
Statement that I only use the P.

You are crazy for doing that to an expensive instrument.
I have OCD. (Also, I talk to myself.)

And the empty cavity, that doesn't bother you?
In fact the opposite, I think it looks kinda "punk". Like I put my personal stamp on the bass I love.

Show it.
Okay.

Plus the myth of a non used J pickup magneticly killing your buzz when you have the P soloed is also true. But in all fairness it's only noticable when you are A/B-ing it and pay very close attention.

I tested it before I removed the J.
It has impact on the sustain. But you need to pull up a graphic to see the slight difference.

 

[Bygde]

Tony Franklin signature is also a P/J configuration. (both fretless and fretted.)

I don't like the combined sound of a P and J pickup. In my experience the sound was a bit too muddy. I rather have a single P or a J/J.
Some people like the P/J combo. To each their own.

I have a Tony Franklin fretless, and I removed the J pickup (and the pickup switch)

May I be rude and ask why you didn't buy an American Precision instead of basically making it into one?

 

[walterw]

what's the usual rationale behind committing to having just one of them, and thereby losing the versatility that having the other would provide?

P+Js are cheating

to me, the P+J sound isn't as much "versatile" as "generic". sure you can solo the P pickup and get a real P sound, and solo the J and get that barky jaco thing (for whatever reason), but the blended sound, while "good" and usable, just doesn't have any identity or character to me. it's just a "bass" sound at that point.

there's something about embracing a coherent, unified design that appeals, which is why i also don't care for strats with humbuckers jammed into them.

 

[Craig_S]

I guess it depends on several factors... Everyone loves the sound of my Franken P/J. I just slapped her together from available parts. She growls like a beast. Not muddy AT ALL; clean and clear. Sounds more like a P than a J. Some say it sounds a lot like a Ric, too, but that depends on the pickup blend, I guess. Definitely a rock bass. I wouldn't call it "versatile". I would call it a good sounding bass.

Listen to April Wine's I Like To Rock. That's what my P/J sounds (almost exactly) like, strung with Slinkys and with a bit of highs rolled off.

 

[René_Julien]

May I be rude and ask why you didn't buy an American Precision instead of basically making it into one?

Fretless ebony fingerboard.

I rather swap out pickups then defret or replace the neck.

I can easily install the pickups back and the Tony Franklin is original again.

Having a fretless precision made to my specs by someone like Valenti would be another dream.

 

[Pastafarian]

Cheers everyone - am quite a bit more enlightened now (and glad to see it wasn't a hopelessly stupid question).

 

[Darkstrike]

Why do Fender only make P or J, not PJs? I'd have thought there'd be a big market for a bass like that.

They actually do make a fair amount of P/J's.

Fender P/J's,
Duff Sig,
Tony Franklin Sig(fretless optional),
Frank Bello Sig,
Reggie Hamilton Sig(fretless optional),
MIM Active P Special,
Stu Hamm Urge(kinda),
Aerodyne Jazz,
Areodyne P,

 

[Bygde]

Fretless ebony fingerboard.

I rather swap out pickups then defret or replace the neck.

I can easily install the pickups back and the Tony Franklin is original again.

Having a fretless precision made to my specs by someone like Valenti would be another dream.

Okay! I thought that the P-basses were fretless as an option, but now that I've read into it a bit more, I can't find a non-sig fretless P from 2009, and definately not one with an ebony-board. In that case, I understand why you bought the Franklin-sig.

 

[René_Julien]

Okay! I thought that the P-basses were fretless as an option, but now that I've read into it a bit more, I can't find a non-sig fretless P from 2009, and definately not one with an ebony-board. In that case, I understand why you bought the Franklin-sig.

Yeah, it's a shame Fender doesn't offer a cheaper fretless Precision.

Guess it has something to do with demand for it.
I assume the Tony Franklin doesn't sell in high numbers either.

But I am very happy with the TF.

 

[Vallejo]

Why do Fender only make P or J, not PJs? I'd have thought there'd be a big market for a bass like that.

I love my J+P but it needed a lot of money and an Aguilar OBP-3 before it sounded thumpy.

I think my next Fender will be one of those Stu Hamm Urge II basses. I love the idea of having 2 J's and 1 P

 

[line6man]

Fretless ebony fingerboard.

I rather swap out pickups then defret or replace the neck.

I can easily install the pickups back and the Tony Franklin is original again.

Having a fretless precision made to my specs by someone like Valenti would be another dream.

Well then why not swap out the body for a regular P body?

Or you could have done a Warmoth for several hundred dollars cheaper.

 

[René_Julien]

Well then why not swap out the body for a regular P body?

Or you could have done a Warmoth for several hundred dollars cheaper.

Also valid options.

But I like it this way. I still has one of the best build qualities this way.
I'm happy with it.


I am thinking of maybe having a fretless P bass built by a local Luthier.

A Warmoth would be cool, but I am not a good guy to build it.

 

[gustavosal]

Interesting thread. Makes me think a Sadowsky Metro PJ would be the ticket for me in the PJ world, or the Franklin fretted.

 

[Darkstrike]

Or you could have done a Warmoth for several hundred dollars cheaper.

Warmoth wouldn't work out so cheap, shipping to Belgium, and import tax pile on quite a bit.

I am thinking of maybe having a fretless P bass built by a local Luthier.

That would be sweet, exactly as you want it.

A Warmoth would be cool, but I am not a good guy to build it.

You don't bould Warmoths, as much as assemble them, they only get tricky if yo buy 'em unpainted, or if you're not handy with a soldering iron, which, IIRC you are, to do the Duncan mod.

 

[Stefan B]

Fender makes a PJ. It's called the Precision Deluxe. It's active and made in Mexico. I'm not sure they make an American version but I've seen another version with a humbucking J pickup.
YMMV

The American Deluxe Precision has a dual-coil humbucker instead of the single-coil Jazz PU. I've never tried an American Deluxe Precision, but I've heard that it should be an excellent all-round bass. It also has a three-band active EQ.

I think, the Jazz Bass PU is playing at a lower volume because of its placement. The further to the bridge you place a Pick-up the more treble and less bass will get through it. And since a bass guitar usually plays bass, it will sound like it puts out a lower volume.