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P/J basses. 70s repositioned Jazz pup placement?
- Thread starter Asomodai
- Start date
That looks like 70's positioning.
As far as where to place in on the body you are ordering...
In my opinion, if you plan on using PJ together, then I think the 60's (regular) positioning may give you a more dense output, but if you plan on running mostly P, then occasionally want the J for fun, then I'd do 70's.
However, really... they are pretty close in tone anyway, and the difference in spacing is 1/4" if I remember correctly.
Good luck
As far as where to place in on the body you are ordering...
In my opinion, if you plan on using PJ together, then I think the 60's (regular) positioning may give you a more dense output, but if you plan on running mostly P, then occasionally want the J for fun, then I'd do 70's.
However, really... they are pretty close in tone anyway, and the difference in spacing is 1/4" if I remember correctly.
Good luck
I was looking to run both pups together but prefer a grindier tone. Hence asking about the 70's positioning. Also I am pretty sure the 70's position looks more "correct" in my eyes.
Thanks
i think 70s will get you there. if you want sharp and pointed like that geddy kid not big fat round like that jamerson dude
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I thought it was 1/2" or 3/8"?
Small changes in position may not have much of an effect when you solo a pickup, but remember that when two pickups are combined, there are constructive and destructive interferences of their waveforms, depending on the phase of the signals. When you change a pickup's placement, that affects the phase of it's output. Small changes in pickup placement can cause great changes in tone.
Not sure about the measurements myself but the difference, even with the bridge pickup soloed, is massive to my ears. Every 70s style jazz I've played with has a very distinct bridge tone that 60s style jazzes can't cop and vice versa.
I don't recall the exact difference in spacing, so you might want to search around.
I like 70's spacing on a true Jazz bass, but I prefer 60's spacing when it comes to P/J. From what I can tell, the 70's spacing thins out the sound too much on a P/J, but again.. this is my experience with just one bass, so wait for others' opinions.
I'd say use Tony Franklin's P/J as a guide. That thing is really balanced sounding, but I'm sure the J pup type plays a big part in it.
However, as far as looking right, I agree with you; the 70's spacing looks better on the P/J
I like 70's spacing on a true Jazz bass, but I prefer 60's spacing when it comes to P/J. From what I can tell, the 70's spacing thins out the sound too much on a P/J, but again.. this is my experience with just one bass, so wait for others' opinions.
I'd say use Tony Franklin's P/J as a guide. That thing is really balanced sounding, but I'm sure the J pup type plays a big part in it.
However, as far as looking right, I agree with you; the 70's spacing looks better on the P/J
Thats Garth from Strike Anywhere pictured above. He probably has one of the best sounding PJs Ive ever heard.
Yup hes brilliant! Hes the reason I got a Gibson Grabber just recently.
He sure makes those P-Js sound growly. I am somewhat convinced that his J is actually set slightly further towards the bridge then the 70's repositioning!
I'm considering adding a J pickup to my P bass. Using the picture above, and at a couple of zoom levels, I measured the distance between the J poles and P poles on both halves of the P pickup, averaged the ratios of the these distances, and using the distance between my P poles (both Fenders, so I think it should be identical if not very close) I used the ratios to determine where the J pickup would be. Then I compared that position to my 62RI J bass and it looks like the J pickup in the picture is 3/8" closer to the bridge than on my 60's J, which is the 70's placement I believe. That's enough geekery for today.
I was thinking about the 70's position anyway, so maybe I'll go ahead with that now.
I was thinking about the 70's position anyway, so maybe I'll go ahead with that now.
To add to my earlier post, when I ordered the Warmoth PJ body years ago, I did not specify the location of the J pickup routing.
I assumed it would be 60s position, but it is closer to the neck than that. I have seen the same routing on other Warmoth PJ bodies, so perhaps that was or is their standard route for PJ (not sure).
It does make the J bridge pickup sound thicker than other PJ basses I have played that used 60s or 70s spacing.
Anyway, be sure to communicate exactly what you want. (I like Warmoth bodies and necks!)
Thanks for the info. I also realized that the P pickup (the neck-most half) is a little closer to the bridge (~1/8") than the J's neck pickup, so the 70's position in a PJ would give a little closer to the 60's spacing between the pickups.
Sounds like yours is then much closer together. I should probably try rigging the pickup above the strings to get some idea. May be harder than installing it in the end, though.
Sounds like yours is then much closer together. I should probably try rigging the pickup above the strings to get some idea. May be harder than installing it in the end, though.
The 70's J bridge pickup is about 1/2" closer to the bridge than the 60's J bridge pickup (at least on my FrankenGeddyLee compared to my other Js). I personally prefer the 70's J position for a passive P/J bass.
If it's any help, the distance from the center of the pole piece of the bridge pickup to the center of the average bridge saddle is 2 9/32" (58mm) on my 1976 Jazz Bass.
I don't know if this helps, but the spacing difference between my FSR '62 Hot Rod Jazz and '08 American Standard Jazz is 3/16"...
- georgestrings
- georgestrings
I would go with the 70's bridge pickup spacing on any P/J for sure. The main thing is not to mess with the P pickup, it needs to be in proper(traditional) spot.
