Make a J Cut like a P

[plankspanker13]

Quarter Pounders in a J might be your thing. I know that some reviewers think that they lack clarity, but your style and needs may be different. To me, they make a G&L JB-2 sound like a P with a spice rack. I can favor the bridge pickup, and nail the tone for Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know," and go back to favoring the neck pickup to punch through with authority. The slap tone with all 3 knobs dimed is downright lethal.

 

[BrBss]

So I've found the general consensus is that P basses are generally more present in the mix that J basses. I do not want to start a war, and I'm dearly attached to my custom J, but what could you do to make a J cut more through the mix? I have Model J pups in it, wired in series, with 500k pots. Currently running Rotosound 45 - 105 rounds. I love how P's sound, but how J's look and feel. Any ideas?

A Model J in series, neck pickup soloed, is REAL close to a P.

 

[LucienBel]

A Model J in series, neck pickup soloed, is REAL close to a P.

This.

I also find that J's tend to cut through the mix better than P's in my personal opinion. To each their own though. The neck pick up in the J on its own will get pretty close, it'll be a bit quieter than an actual P though so turn the amp up.

 

[Down_Low]

Most people agree nothing cuts like a 'ray. You won't get that sound out of a Jazz, but you can get it to cut more. Try a set of Delano JMVC 4 FE/M2's, and an aggressive pre that you can bump the mids on.

 

[Lackey]

Wow. I've had the opposite problem. I've played my buddies custom Fender P a few times live, that hollow P thump is hard to hear with a loud band. My old jazz bass though, just dial up the bridge pickup and BAM. Right there.

 

[iunno]

How about defining "sit" and "cut" in the mix?

Cut: Treble
Sit: Bass

 

[dougjwray]

Wow. I've had the opposite problem. I've played my buddies custom Fender P a few times live, that hollow P thump is hard to hear with a loud band. My old jazz bass though, just dial up the bridge pickup and BAM. Right there.

This is where the definitions come in handy.
You're using the "Jaco sound" in order to be audible, but a lot of players find that sound to lack bottom, even though it does cut through. And without sufficient bottom, the sound is unusable for folks of that persuasion.

 

[dubstylee]

I play in a reggae band and I use both a J and a P - it depends on how I'm feeling.

When using the J, the neck p/u is at 100%, and I bring the bridge to about 40-50%. The pickups interact just right and it provides a nice fat sound (Tone control is almost off at this point).

When using the P, I keep the tone control just above off (about 10%). I can achieve a similar sound with both basses.

The P bass does provide a bit more in the mids and low mids, however, it seems to me that the J provides a clearer and lower fundamental, which is absolutely fantastic for reggae music.