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Jazz bass with PJ pickups?

Doug4321

Doug4321

May 29, 2017
1,315
1,376
Oregon
#1
Hi people, long time, no see.

I’ve been eyeing the Fender Japan Jazz basses with PJ pickups. Seems like a great Entwistle-inspired solution. The fast neck and ergonomics I like of the Jazz, but with the P pickup for that great beefy sound.

The Japan basses tend a bit heavy and have the problematic hidden truss rod adjustment but maybe not a deal breaker. Not sure how these are in general, but probably good? (Or could just put an extra hot neck pickup in a normal Jazz?)

Anyone know of other sources of Fender Jazz with P pickups? I can’t seem to find.

Anyways here are some nice ones on Reverb:

https://reverb.com/item/90933773-fe...eadstock-limited-free-shipping?show_sold=true


https://reverb.com/item/85587032-fe...ith-rosewood-fb-in-vintage-natural-jd24009119
 
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#3
jeff62 said:
The Fender Aerodyne line is well-respected and is a PJ configuration. Lightweight too.
Click to expand...
Always a sensible choice…even if I am just a bit biased! :whistle:

ADoVAew.jpeg


So far, the best sound I've gotten out of mine is when I throw on a set of .100-gauge Chromes. Something about them just works on that platform!

@Doug4321; Another possibility is a Fender Reggie Hamilton Jazz. Sadly, they're discontinued, but I see them pop up every now and then. However, this leads to another suggestion, one that I undertook years ago and have never regretted; I took a J/J body and had it routed into a P/J using a Reggie-sig pickguard.

rYK1guO.jpeg


I've experimented with many different necks, pickups and wiring configurations on it. So far, the best combo I've landed on is an Aerodyne neck, a set of DiMarzio Sixties pickups and an Audere preamp, but that's just me. What's important is you can take just about any inexpensive Jazz bass that works in your hands, get a Reggie-style guard from WD Music and use it to make your own P/J Jazz.

Whatever pickups and electronics that go into it is up to you. Once you're "under the hood" though, I would recommend some kind of series/parallel switch or push-pull pot to squeeze that much more out of it.

With all that in mind, I ask you; is there a straight-up Jazz bass that works well in your own, two hands?
 
#4
Fender has had a few of them over the years. Aerodyne, Hybrid II, JB-62 PJ.

I'm guessing there were other manufacturers who made a version, but I remember Tokai having one in their catalogue and Rondo/SX also had a Jazz PJ.

Technically, the Sire U5 is a Jazz based P/J but it's a short scale.

Edit for eye candy.

JB62PJ.jpg
 
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#5
I love the way a jazz bass looks and the way a PJ sounds, so these are right up my alley. But FWIW, the P location on these is quite a bit closer to the neck than the P sweet spot. May be a plus, may be a minus. The Reggie Hamilton signature jazz bass gets the P pickup as close as it can be without redesigning the pickguard. It's also active, if you're into that.

You may want to look into the Sadowsky MetroExpress Hybrid PJ. PJ configuration on a jazz body with a jazz nut width. Not a Fender, but maybe better.
 
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#8
Sire has a few options and the QC on their basses is great. They’re also generally great basses.

The Sadowsky Metroline are also a good option, I haven’t played one but my buddy has one and loves it.

Neither of those options retain their value as well as a Fender, so both great options to buy used!
 
#10
JakobT said:
Be aware that many PJ’s with a jazz body (including the Aerodyne) have the P pickup slightly further forward than PJ’s with P bodies. This changes the sound - the P pickups sound warmer than on a standard P.
Click to expand...
That's a big reason why I really like the P-sound I get out of my Projekt Blue bass. When I moved the split-coil from the Fender Blacktop position to the Reggie spot, the sound found a much deeper, thumpier, classic Precision-esque space. (I pretty sure you've heard this story, already, Jakob. This is more for the OP and anyone else reading this in the future. ;))

(Projekt Blue right after getting Reggified…)
g5j1fSj.jpeg


JakobT said:
I like this a lot, but it may not be to everyone’s taste.
Click to expand...
I agree on both fronts. That could be why the Chromes work so well with the Aerodyne. It's quite possible the added girth they bring end up balancing the sound a bit more, but not at the cost of the...I dunno, high-mids or whatever you'd call it? 🤔
 
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#12
Doug4321 said:
Hi people, long time, no see.

I’ve been eyeing the Fender Japan Jazz basses with PJ pickups. Seems like a great Entwistle-inspired solution. The fast neck and ergonomics I like of the Jazz, but with the P pickup for that great beefy sound.

The Japan basses tend a bit heavy and have the problematic hidden truss rod adjustment but maybe not a deal breaker. Not sure how these are in general, but probably good? (Or could just put an extra hot neck pickup in a normal Jazz?)

Anyone know of other sources of Fender Jazz with P pickups? I can’t seem to find.

Anyways here are some nice ones on Reverb:

https://reverb.com/item/90933773-fe...eadstock-limited-free-shipping?show_sold=true


https://reverb.com/item/85587032-fe...ith-rosewood-fb-in-vintage-natural-jd24009119
Click to expand...
Check out Fender Aerodyne models, some are available in a PJ config, and occasionally sold here used
 
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#13
If it were me, i'd get a (non export, because they are cooler) Aerodyne PJ and upgrade the pickups. IMO the stock pickups on those were uninspiring.

there's one for sale at Ishibashi Japan here. Although shipping is pretty pricy from that shop.

[This invalid link has been removed]
 
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#14
CoughSyrup said:
I love the way a jazz bass looks and the way a PJ sounds, so these are right up my alley. But FWIW, the P location on these is quite a bit closer to the neck than the P sweet spot. May be a plus, may be a minus. The Reggie Hamilton signature jazz bass gets the P pickup as close as it can be without redesigning the pickguard. It's also active, if you're into that.

You may want to look into the Sadowsky MetroExpress Hybrid PJ. PJ configuration on a jazz body with a jazz nut width. Not a Fender, but maybe better.
Click to expand...
With my MIJ Sadowsky Metroline PJ (regular Sadowsky downsized Jazz body) the P pickup matches the Fender P position. AFAIK all Sadowskys are the same in that regard. In passive mode, P pu solo'd, sounds like a P.
 
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#15
Another one to consider is the Fender Jazz Bass Special aka Boxer. Originally made by Fender Japan in the mid 80's, they also came out with a reissue some years ago. You can find both the originals and the reissues on places like Reverb. What is cool about them is they are wired differently than most PJ Basses. The pickups are wired in series which gives a bit fatter tone than other PJ basses. The one I have is a reissue. And like most Fender Japan basses it is very well built. If you have never seen one before, yes they look like P-Basses (the body) but the neck is a Jazz profile. No clue why those nutty Japanese called it a Jazz Bass Special! LOL Low End Lobster did a great review of my actual bass, you should check it out.



Here is mine...
Boxer-PJ.jpg
 
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#17
Might need more info to give better inputs back to you.

I know prices/currency-exchange have changed since covid, but I still see those advertised prices as too high, maybe double what they should be (my opinion --> find a good used instrument for a good deal, modify to taste, make it your own).

There are interesting options in the Japan market (newer: more colors, etc, older: unique models)--with the build usually being decent, but I suggest MIJ and MIM are about the same among what I have. Also, I think of the pickups/EQ in this range as fair game to be modified, and with a pickguard involved, a P pickup can easily be an option in a J--if you have a good-deal used non-precious J, have no fear. Do you want such a project?

The Aerodynes are light, have passive electronics (last I saw), not a lot of room for larger-size electronics options (can remove wood and make space, though). Elsewhere in the MIJ used range there are other Fender PJs. E.g. older PJR's (basically JB Specials, thin neck about like an Aerodyne). In the PJR ballpark also check out the MIM Fender Zone PJ.

My main right now is a MIM PJ Deluxe, P body with a J neck, mods/etc... Within the collection here, also MIJ PJR and a JB, and MIM Zone--they receive attention too, but the MIM as #1 is because of how it's set up, origin hasn't mattered.

You mentioned John Entwistle and I had to look up his gear, looks like he played everything... perhaps it doesn't have to be a Fender J body or exactly a PJ? Could something like an Ibanez work (thin neck model)? Fishman Fluence Inez pickups for instance... PJ in a Soapbar outer shape.

Good luck in your hunt!
 
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