Earliest Known P/J?

[Tanner5382]

Why are all these non-PJ basses being brought up?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I can't contribute, but will say this is fascinating yet oddly something I never thought about even though I play P/J basses.
Thank you Doc for coming up with a not beaten to powder topic !

I ordered a Mustang PJ that I will pick up some time this month, and I totally fell off n love with Music Man's Caprice. I also think that the Ibanez TMB 605 is a gem that is currently under the radar.
Except for the BB2000, I have never had much use for PJs, but that is clearly changing.

I started thinking about the origin of PJs because it was clearly an ida that started with players, not engineers, but was later adapted because it had great commercial appeal despite its inherent shortcomings like pickup balance and noise.

I know one, these posts of old catalogs is letting me know that I need to improve my internet searching skills!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

For the record ... just seen the Running with the Devil official video (1978) where Micheal Anthony plays what seems to be a sunburst Fender precision in a seemingly factory made PJ configuration ... this was before he switched on to the BB2000 ...

 

[chadds]

1967 Monterey Pop Festival you can see Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady playing his Fender Jazz with additional P pickup.
Check out the film.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I will also mention the Fender Reggie Hamilton Jazz as another really great PJ bass. It, along with a BB2000, is a discontinued PJ that I would love to own.

 

[wagdog]

I think Jack Casady is currently holding the verified in-the-wild PJ record, by far! I wonder what Jack would have to say about this?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think Jack Casady is currently holding the verified in-the-wild PJ record, by far! I wonder what Jack would have to say about this?

If he has a website or social media presence, we can ask him.

 

[Axstar]

I saw an America concert for German TV from the early-mid 70's some time ago and the bass player had a Fender P/J. I can't seem to find it anymore.

I found it! America live on Musikladen, in 1975. The bassist is Calvin Samuels. Looks like a J pickup in there, as well as a fair number of additional switches.

 

[hangman]

I think Jack Casady is currently holding the verified in-the-wild PJ record, by far! I wonder what Jack would have to say about this?

Talks very briefly about it here.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I found it! America live on Musikladen, in 1975. The bassist is Calvin Samuels. Looks like a J pickup in there, as well as a fair number of additional switches.

Nice ... I always liked America although I felt a little sorry for the poor Calvin who seems to me a little isolated from the rest of the band (also the drummer) .. nice bass however and Levi's jacket too !

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Thank's Axstar, for a moment i thought i was having a senior moment.
I second the comment about Calvin, he looked a bit bored too!

 

[The Chuck]

not germaine to this discussion, but posting anyway because i like it. notice how new it looks!

The Germans have got nothing to do with this.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Tony Visconti & his highly modified Precision.

 

[ultra60]

For the record ... just seen the Running with the Devil official video (1978) where Micheal Anthony plays what seems to be a sunburst Fender precision in a seemingly factory made PJ configuration ... this was before he switched on to the BB2000 ...

I think that bass is a Schecter.. or maybe a Charvel.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I think that bass is a Schecter.

Perhaps ... the headstock has got a Fender shape but I couldn't read the writings on it ... did Schecter make a PJ bass in that period ?

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Technically a "Jazz Bass Special" the Duff bass, is NOT the first FENDER production PJ bass. The first production PJ bass from Fender looked identical but had no 3 way switch and the logo ONLY said "Fender PJ Bass" thats exactly what the logo read. They came out in late 1983 early 1984. I have one of the first, absolute mint with original case and paperwork. Keeper.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Perhaps ... the headstock has got a Fender shape but I couldn't read the writings on it ... did Schecter make a PJ bass in that period ?

Schecter made some of the highest quality Fender clones during the late Seventies and early Eighties. They were American made too.

 

[ultra60]

MA, from VH2 photos. I don't have the album but pretty sure this is the same bass, seen above.... and somebody with the album might be able to make out the headstock logo.

 

[Mechayoshi]

Technically a "Jazz Bass Special" the Duff bass, is NOT the first FENDER production PJ bass. The first production PJ bass from Fender looked identical but had no 3 way switch and the logo ONLY said "Fender PJ Bass" thats exactly what the logo read. They came out in late 1983 early 1984. I have one of the first, absolute mint with original case and paperwork. Keeper.

Okay but, why aren't you showing us pics???

 

[wagdog]

Talks very briefly about it here.

Very interesting! According to Jack the one he's using in the 1967 picture posted above is his second PJ. His first, based on a 1960 concentric Jazz, was stolen in 1965.