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p-bass pickup on a jazz bass
- Thread starter Sarley
- Start date
It's funny how putting a J Bridge Pickup on a P is pretty much cool, but there's just something that feels wrong about putting a P Pickup on a Jazz. 
If you're willing to forfeit a decent amount of the resale value, and know exactly what tone you're going for and going to get, and most importantly, what tone you're giving up, then go for it. But if you're the least bit unsure, I wouldn't do it.
If you're willing to forfeit a decent amount of the resale value, and know exactly what tone you're going for and going to get, and most importantly, what tone you're giving up, then go for it. But if you're the least bit unsure, I wouldn't do it.
You'd be better selling the deluxe J and getting a deluxe P instead.
Although, I do love a PJ setup on a jazz body. It should be done more often!
Although, I do love a PJ setup on a jazz body. It should be done more often!
I posted a similar thread awhile back, and several people advised against it. I cannot cite the specifics, but everyone kept saying that a standard Jazz pup wasn`t really compatable with a P pup. Something about the phasing, I think; that I would have to replace the j pup with one made specifically for use in conjunction with a P. I looked into it, and there are plenty of P / J pup sets out there. I was on a tight budget, therefore replacing both pups was not in the cards for me. Someone recommended a Reggie Hamilton Jazz, if a P / J Jazz was what I wanted. I found one locally after much searching, and it was awesome. I didn`t have the $$$ for it at the time, though, and have been gassing ever since. They don`t come up anywhere for resale much - I guess people stick with `em.
intersting and i like the body style of the jazz with a p bass pickup....mark hoppus's signature fender is this way except for the extra jazz in the bridge. very cool looking
My bass started out like this:
Then I added a P pickup and preamp:
It's definitely a significantly more difficult process than adding a J pickup to a P bass, but I'm happy with it.
im loving evrything about this but the fretless..not my thing but id def rock this bass....loving the selector on it too.
I did this on my Squier 70's VM and love it (i realize i have less to loose than you give the respective cost of your bass vs mine) ,but I saved the original pickups and the pickguard, so i can always convert it back if i want.
If you do add a P, you will most likely need to add a PJ set, as most PJ sets have a J that is overwound to help complement the P (or so i understand). I went with a Dimarzio PJ set and I love them.
Good Luck.
You can get more info. on the p j set by calling becky lawrence at bill lawrence pickups. or bass talk.
Agreed about selling(or trading) your bass for an American Deluxe Precision. If you route your current bass for a P pickup in the neck your resale value is going to drop very significantly. That, and its not something you can do on your own unless you have experience. There should be zero issue with using the stock J pickup with a Precision pickup.
