P/J Basses

[onionpuzzle]

one of the reasons you don't see a bunch of pros with P/J is because they might have one of each P and a J. Instead of one versatile bass, they have the luxury of having both.

FWIW, one of my basses (GL SB2) is a PJ and I love it.
90% P and 40-75% J.

 

[WoodyJ]

I love my Fender Tony Franklin fretted P/J. The 3-way switch gives 3 distinct, very useful tones that I much prefer to the blend knob on my ex-Hot Rod Precision. MUCH easier to change the sound on the fly with the switch.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I love my Fender Tony Franklin fretted P/J. The 3-way switch gives 3 distinct, very useful tones that I much prefer to the blend knob on my ex-Hot Rod Precision. MUCH easier to change the sound on the fly with the switch.

Nice bass. I have had my eye on those for a while but I havent seen one in the stores to try. Does the gloss on the fingerboard extend to the neck as well? Is it essentially the same neck as the MIA with a different decal and tuners? Thanks. Any info would be helpful.

 

[Chasarms]

one of the reasons you don't see a bunch of pros with P/J is because they might have one of each P and a J. Instead of one versatile bass, they have the luxury of having both. . . .

Except that having both is not the same. While it is true that you can cop a lot of different tones with a PJ, it is not simply that. It like any other hybrid. It's its own animal. There are tones you get from a PJ that you can get from neither a conventional P or a J. Likewise, you'll never get a true jazz bass sound out of one. Personally, I think the "Deluxe Precision" title that Fender gave it is the most accurate. It is P bass, but it has more options, making it "Deluxe."

Of course, if the bass is made like Sadowsky makes most "P/J" basses, that is with the off-set waist, chrome control plate and the smaller PG, then it's harder to argue the "deluxe" argument, as it has much more of a jazz vibe.

 

[Chasarms]

I love my Fender Tony Franklin fretted P/J. The 3-way switch gives 3 distinct, very useful tones that I much prefer to the blend knob on my ex-Hot Rod Precision. MUCH easier to change the sound on the fly with the switch.

This bass, with the body and PG style, very much has the "deluxe precision" air about it.

 

[pasta4lnch]

^but w/ passive electronics

I dig the blade switch . . . been wanting to mod my hot rodded P for a while w/ a switch. I never "blend"

 

[mowburger]

I'm not a fan of the necks on those, I prefer the fatter P neck, also I'm a 5 string kinda guy so that sums that up, would love to hear a J p/u in my 2010 MIA 5 P tho.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

If you want a sweet P/J, keep your eyes out for a vintage one!

You can get a lot of money off because of the routing to the body. It affects the vintage value, but if you just want a good player, there ya go!
I used to never like P/J's until I came across two smokin' deals on these "P/J" Fenders, one a 1962 original split P, w/ added Jazz PU last Spring (wired V/V, tone at 100%), and the other is a 1975, original split P and 75 J added a few months later, that has a functional tone knob.

Talk about unique voicing, these basses are it! (BTW, like others have said, the Precision PU soloed sounds JUST like a Precision bass, and the bridge Jazz PU sounds like a bridge Jazz PU - a combo of the two is a real treat!).

Here's some pics for your GAS

1962 P/J

1975 P/J

 

[WoodyJ]

Nice bass. I have had my eye on those for a while but I havent seen one in the stores to try. Does the gloss on the fingerboard extend to the neck as well? Is it essentially the same neck as the MIA with a different decal and tuners? Thanks. Any info would be helpful.

It is essentially an "AVRI late 70's Precision with an added hot Jazz pickup and a 3-way switch".

The body finish is nitro lacquer. The neck is glossy front and back. It has a B-neck profile (1.625 at the nut) which is very comfortable. The tuners are '70's style, probably the same as a AVRI '75 Jazz. The headstock decal is the later '70's style without the huge "PRECISION BASS" font. But the 3-way switch is what makes this bass for me. I had a '00 Hot Rod Precision which was similar in concept but the TF is the better instrument...as it should be, given Fender's asking price as compared to the HRP...which was based on the American Standard of the time.

However, the TF lists for just $100 more than an AVRI '57/62 Precision which seems like a pretty good deal for what you get. But as you said, hardly any Fender dealers have this model in stock and I've seen very few fretted ones come up on the used market. I've yet to see another one in person. Maybe this explains why Fender hesitates to add more P/J's to their already overloaded product line.

Here's a full body pic:

 

[Chasarms]

It is essentially an "AVRI late 70's Precision with an added hot Jazz pickup and a 3-way switch".

The body finish is nitro lacquer. The neck is glossy front and back. It has a B-neck profile (1.625 at the nut) which is very comfortable. The tuners are '70's style, probably the same as a AVRI '75 Jazz. The headstock decal is the later '70's style without the huge "PRECISION BASS" font.

The TF lists for only $100 more than an AVRI '57/62 Precision which seems like a pretty good deal for what you get. But as you said, hardly any Fender dealers have this model in stock and I've seen very few fretted ones come up on the used market. I've yet to see another one in person. Maybe this explains why Fender hesitates to add more P/J's to their already overloaded product line.

Here's a full body pic:

Love that bass. Everything about it. Here's mine. It gives you a sense of the other end. Instead of a P with an added J PU, it is more of a Jazz with a P PU:

 

[Engine207]

Love that bass. Everything about it. Here's mine. It gives you a sense of the other end. Instead of a P with an added J PU, it is more of a Jazz with a P PU:

Daaaay-uuuuhm!!!!!

Memo to my Jazz V: this is what you're gonna look like, real soon. Hey, chasarms...where'd ya score that pickguard?

 

[darkstorm]

The PJ pup basses Ive owned have been Jackson, BC Rich, and Washburn. Good basses, but P, PP, and soapbar pups have worked better for me then have J pups. I never cease to be amazed at how so many concider basses to only have 2 pup types, J & P. Theres so many soapbar pup basses and these dont sound like J's or P's though most can do an ok simulation of one or the other when not doing their own natural soapbar type pup voice. Then theres the 4th type of pup thats becoming more popular, the mm humbuckers with giant exposed pole peices. Honestly these have to be my least favorite, overly trebly with a tendency for harshness to the treble for the most part, to my ears, but many like them. My fave pup types are soapbar and P style. Of the PJ basses Ive owned, Id say the Washburn abt force bass I had in the early 80;s was the best one.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I've had several and dig the sound. Don't listen to those guys who insist it won't sound like a P-bass with the J p'ups turned down - they're silly. But you won't turn the J p'up down- - it will sound too cool with both P'ups wide open!

Tone is like a meatier J bass, if that helps.

 

[Stranger Danger]

It is essentially an "AVRI late 70's Precision with an added hot Jazz pickup and a 3-way switch".

The body finish is nitro lacquer. The neck is glossy front and back. It has a B-neck profile (1.625 at the nut) which is very comfortable. The tuners are '70's style, probably the same as a AVRI '75 Jazz. The headstock decal is the later '70's style without the huge "PRECISION BASS" font. But the 3-way switch is what makes this bass for me. I had a '00 Hot Rod Precision which was similar in concept but the TF is the better instrument...as it should be, given Fender's asking price as compared to the HRP...which was based on the American Standard of the time.

However, the TF lists for just $100 more than an AVRI '57/62 Precision which seems like a pretty good deal for what you get. But as you said, hardly any Fender dealers have this model in stock and I've seen very few fretted ones come up on the used market. I've yet to see another one in person. Maybe this explains why Fender hesitates to add more P/J's to their already overloaded product line.

Here's a full body pic:

Thanks for the info. I just love these basses from top to bottom. The only 2 issues I have that are keeping me from them is the price and the nut width. I cant understand why Fender wont offer the 3 neck choice option on their basses. The whole point of Leo's design was that the necks would be interchangeable with just 4 bolts. No luthier needed. I guess Ill never understand that.

 

[onionpuzzle]

Except that having both is not the same. While it is true that you can cop a lot of different tones with a PJ, it is not simply that. It like any other hybrid. It's its own animal. There are tones you get from a PJ that you can get from neither a conventional P or a J. Likewise, you'll never get a true jazz bass sound out of one. Personally, I think the "Deluxe Precision" title that Fender gave it is the most accurate. It is P bass, but it has more options, making it "Deluxe."

Of course, if the bass is made like Sadowsky makes most "P/J" basses, that is with the off-set waist, chrome control plate and the smaller PG, then it's harder to argue the "deluxe" argument, as it has much more of a jazz vibe.

OK, yep I'll give ya that one. Maybe my point is more that I see more pros that have each a P and a J and pick between them more often than I see a pro with a PJ. YMMV.

I love my PJ, but I think it is less distinctive than simply a P sound or a J sound. Maybe I'm wrong, but a PJ can capture the P sound better than the J sound. The P pickup is more prominent, and when P is rolled off, the J sounds a little weak, but when the J is rolled off you still get the P punch.

 

[JimmyM]

lol...this thread! i've had jazzes, i've had pj's, and you can get the same sounds out of each. maybe they won't be 100% identical, but for all intents and purposes they might as well be the same bass. there have been enough blind tests of that on here for me to be convinced of it.

 

[spaz21387]

I like p/j basses but prefer p basses. I prefer a p bass over a pj because its simpler. It seems to be easier for me to eq a p bass to stand out in the mix. But thats just my style. I do like the j bass neck better but I dont think we are talking about that here just pickups right?

 

[Duke21]

I have a Cort PJ which is a very nice bass for the price. But I think the J pickup have very thin sound alone, and have little effect when the P pup is full on. The J pup is best when it is full on while the P pup is 3/4 on.

 

[banikek]

Been diggin the P/J thing lately. Have two now; one is a passive 80's Schecter, the other an older Fender Deluxe. Both are making me happy, especially the Deluxe.

chris

 

[jimiwhite]

This question should get its own thread, but, while were at it, do we prefer a reversed P on our PJ bass. I'm looking at the Spector, Fodera and Warwick and notice they offer a reversed P pup. Some say the reversed P gives a tighter low end.

Jimi