P bass vs PJ bass

[Kashofa]

OP is asking two questions.
1. P or PJ? I say PJ. That's what I play with a rock band now: a Fender Jaguar bass. I replaced the single coil J with a quieter and beefier split coil. It balances the P pickup better and the single coil was a humming monster that was not worth the pain.
2. Two basses: one P and one J? Yes. And make the P bass one with a PJ configuration For jazz I play a Fender Jazz bass. I'm sure I could use the Jaguar, but I prefer the Jazz.

Deciding what's right for you is mostly about trying different things. For me this is what's working well for now.

 

[micguy]

The PJ setup is preferred by some as you combine that beefier sound of the PBass pickup with the bright sound of the JBass pickup back towards the bridge. It's the ticket for guys who like a PBass but wish they had a little more articulation in the highs and mids

If you like a P bass, but want more articulation, the real "ticket" is wiring it in parallel, and then loading it capacitively to the amount of articulation you want. With a switch, you can give yourself options - on mine, one option loads it to the same sound as stock P, and the other position on the switch has more articulation - it's sonically the same thing as changing pickups, but without a change in level.

 

[bigtone23]

If you like a P bass, but want more articulation, the real "ticket" is wiring it in parallel, and then loading it capacitively to the amount of articulation you want. With a switch, you can give yourself options - on mine, one option loads it to the same sound as stock P, and the other position on the switch has more articulation - it's sonically the same thing as changing pickups, but without a change in level.

I have wired every P bass I have owned with a simple series/parallel switch and used it plenty. It's not a popular mod here on TB, as it seems most P purists prefer that series tonality. Plus, it seems these same P purists prefer their J type basses with the pickups in series. Whatever... the parallel tonality on a P is great, especially for getting some instant clarity. Parallel mode makes a P/J have more versatility--more closely approaching that funny myth of 'best of both worlds' in that J emulations just got a lot better.
Parallel doesn't perfectly match up to series in volume, but the loading suggestion above can achieve that, if so desired. I use parallel to clean up and drop the levels dynamically in softer passages. When this mod is on a push/pull pot, it's there if needed with no visible change to the control area of the bass. It's a win-win in my book.

 

[micguy]

26757861[/URL], member: 271263"]I have wired every P bass I have owned with a simple series/parallel switch and used it plenty. It's not a popular mod here on TB, as it seems most P purists prefer that series tonality.

That exact tonality is available with a parallel wired pickup, if you pick the right load capacitor - you can have a switch that selects that tone or one with more ( or less) articulation) - it is the same sonics as having two pickups with different winds available at the flick of a switch.

My basses are wired with two different loading caps - the tonalities I get are one mode that has the same sonics as a series wired pickup, and one with more articulation, but not as much as a parallel wired pickup without loading. If parallel wiring without a load capacitor is too "thin" sounding for you (it is to me), you don't have to use that sound - you can have what you want by choosing the right capacitor for each mode.

 

[bigtone23]

That exact tonality is available with a parallel wired pickup, if you pick the right load capacitor - you can have a switch that selects that tone or one with more ( or less) articulation) - it is the same sonics as having two pickups with different winds available at the flick of a switch.

Agreed. I really like the parallel tone. Seems that every time the suggestion of wiring a P in parallel comes up, a bunch of TB P/flats/tort purists straight up nay-say the idea because it's not in their wheelhouse.

 

[ad9000]

I wasn't always a PJ fan, but I've picked up 2 in the last year (both passive 5-strings). Great axes and I use them both a lot.

1. 35" scale Bluesman Vintage Eldorado V: Sounds much more like a J-bass with both pickups wide open. Delano AL/M2-AS-L P pickup and Nordstrand hum canceling J pickup. Good blend of pickups - they sound nice individually but a 50/50 blend seems to work best for me. Closer to a J-bass sound that way than I expected. It has a universal rout for the neck pickup. so it would be easy to convert to a J/J configuration if I decide to.

2. Nordstrand VP5 with a Nordstrand Big Blade bridge pickup added. The P pickup alone is very punchy and more pure P than the BV bass, especially with the added push/pull switch that takes the bridge pickup out of the circuit. I'm still experimenting with the blend of the two pickups, but it seems to be better with a taste of the Big Blade blended in instead of 50/50.

 

[chris_b]

I have a Mike Lull PJ5. I mostly use it as P, but occasionally I might dial in 10-20% of the J, if I want a little more poke.

I also have a Jazz bass. Horses for courses.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I just want to add to my previous post that there is actually ONE thing that (theoretically) might be an argument for getting a P instead of a PJ (if you only use the P-pickup on the PJ): Magnetic drag. Theoretically you will get more magnetic drag with the additional bridge/J-pickup. This can theoretically give you more fret buzz with low action. But then again, if you don't use the J-pickup you can always lower it to the point where it has no noticable magnetic drag on the strings.

Apart from that I see no real disadvantages with a PJ except that I prefer the look of a P-bass. Any theoretical difference in tone between a P and the P-pickup in a PJ is negligible IMO.

My favourite "P-bass" is s PJ btw. The Yamaha BBP34. I never use the bridge pickup though.

 

[gigetto]

I have a PRev not PJ but is Astonishing....

 

[lionsdenblog]

View attachment 3848145 I like a Passive P/J with a P pickup and a dual coil J. This configuration sounds better balanced to me.
With the traditional P/J configuration I always thought the P pickups overpowered the single coil J pickup.

That seems unfair... like fishing with dynamite.

 

[MtManiac]

Most of my basses are P's, but I do own a couple of PJ's and like them too. The bridge pickup is nice to have, but I don't need it or miss it if it isn't there.