I'm not a fan of the sound of pickups in the bridge position so I only like a PJ where I can completely switch out the bridge pickup such as on my Mustang PJ. On other PJ's I've owned I've disconnected the J pickup and bypassed it's voume control. I also did that on a Jazz bass I have that has a Fender linear humbucker in the middle position...that one really cooks.
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in defense of PJs
- Thread starter JRA
- Start date
Just got my first PJ and I love it! To me the 50/50 blended pickup sound is great
I got 2 fretted, and 1 fretless. I like them, though am not crazy about them either. They're fine.
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
My best sounding and playing bass was my PJ. LOVE that bass.
Covered everything I needed to play.
Covered everything I needed to play.
thank you, @JRAthoughts?(also: feel free to post pics, from your stable, of your favorite PJ, or otherwise, your two-pickup axes.)
, but i'm with the group who thinks PJs don't really need to be defended in the first place. that said, i can see how others might need to know about PJ goodness --- or P/MM, or other two-pickup options --- anything but a P-bass with tort and flats, right? 
my current PJs:
per the OP: i voted "i like 'em all." but PJs are special to me: i like PJs because they aren't Ps or Js! duh!
i always start there and most of the time i stay there! it's a sweet sound.
Moons over My Hammy will never be quite the same now when I order it from Dennys.
well, good --- look for you at the iHOP!
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When I had my Guild Pilot with the reverse P it had vintage EMGS. Bottom end with so much clarity but not in a bad way. My sound was simple, everything on full it was awesome. When I get the spare cash and a reason for a second 4 string it will be another Pilot.
There's this weird convention with PJ basses that it's normal for the J pickup to be overpowered and useless. I imagine this comes from the early days where they were all modded P basses with a random J stuck on. Basically any off the shelf Fender will be this way, the much loved EMG GZR PJ set is this way, and so many more. The weird thing is that this is totally optional, and all you need is a higher output J. I was always disappointed by PJ basses until I got one that actually had a nicely matched set.
The two I have owned that are good: Tony Franklin PJ, Yamaha BB424X. Notice that both of these have higher output ceramic (if that matters) bridge pickups.
The Bad: Fender Aerodyne, Fender MIM passive special (the one at Guitar Center with block inlays), EMG GZR PJ. You may as well never touch the J pickup volume knob.
I love PJ's, but not the ones with the feet in them.
Seriously, I have two - a G&L and a Jackson.
Seriously, I have two - a G&L and a Jackson.
I ordered a cheap rogue 5 string from a MF magazine in the 90s (1st 5 string). I'm pretty sure it was a P/J. I didn't know (or care) what any of that meant back then and I can't really remember what it sounded like. It was too long ago and I think I only had it for maybe a year.
Now that I'm trying to build a few basses and paying a lot more attention to details, I've realized that I'm not that crazy about the split P pups. Or the J singles with the screw ears on the sides. There's no practical reason for it, it's just aesthetics. I like a smooth soap bar pup. I also like the stingray double coil style pup, but not crazy about the ears at either end. I s'pose the practical side would be how easy and clean the pup routs are on a soap bar with no ears. But it's mostly looks.
Now that I'm trying to build a few basses and paying a lot more attention to details, I've realized that I'm not that crazy about the split P pups. Or the J singles with the screw ears on the sides. There's no practical reason for it, it's just aesthetics. I like a smooth soap bar pup. I also like the stingray double coil style pup, but not crazy about the ears at either end. I s'pose the practical side would be how easy and clean the pup routs are on a soap bar with no ears. But it's mostly looks.
To the OP: I thing you're overthinking the whole "expectations" thing. PJ's are a pickup configuration - as such, they can and should be evaluated on whether or not you can get tones you like out that configuration - it doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. For some, the answer will be yes - they can get what they want out of that configuration. For me, nope.
For a while, my #1 was a "PJ". But the "J" pickup was a Nordstrand Zenblade (didn't hum, which is a major benefit for what I do). Then again, I never used the bridge pickup - the G/D side of a PJ just doesn't sound good to me with both pickups on. I'm also someone who wants as much articulation as I can get most of the time, and the 3rd pot on a VVT setup robs some of that (and uses the volume controls backwards, which messes with the tone at less than full volume), so...my "PJ" had a mode switch - one mode was both pickups, the other was neck only - where it stayed. So, the way I used it, it was a P - one volume (hooked up the right way) and one tone. It was a great P. Then I moved to 5 strings....
If a PJ is your thing, great. For me, there are other pickup configurations that work much better.
For a while, my #1 was a "PJ". But the "J" pickup was a Nordstrand Zenblade (didn't hum, which is a major benefit for what I do). Then again, I never used the bridge pickup - the G/D side of a PJ just doesn't sound good to me with both pickups on. I'm also someone who wants as much articulation as I can get most of the time, and the 3rd pot on a VVT setup robs some of that (and uses the volume controls backwards, which messes with the tone at less than full volume), so...my "PJ" had a mode switch - one mode was both pickups, the other was neck only - where it stayed. So, the way I used it, it was a P - one volume (hooked up the right way) and one tone. It was a great P. Then I moved to 5 strings....
If a PJ is your thing, great. For me, there are other pickup configurations that work much better.
I love these basses! I don't play 4-string anymore, but will never sell my BB2000 fretless.
All three of my Fender PJ's have pickguards that will interchange with either of my Fender P's, aside from knob count and jack location on one. The P pickup is in exactly the same location on all five instruments.
