P or PJ Bass?

[Julius]

I'm considering getting a new bass. I only have jazz basses in my collection, but I play various genres. Pop, rock, funk, soul, country, jazz.

And since I'm not owning a P bass at all I was wondering about a PJ bass to... What's the advantages and disadvantages of these type of basses in general or are they any major differences?

Is really a PJ bass right in the middle of a P bass and J Bass soundwise?

 

[Texaspandj]

Depends on how much you're willing to spend.

 

[Julius]

I was thinking around 1000$

 

[Snarf]

If you are choosing between a P and a PJ, there is literally no downside to a PJ. Get your P sound by soloing the pickup. With both pickups together, IME the sound is a little more low-mid rangey than a jazz bass. The jazz, with both pickups, is deeper on the bass end.

 

[FRoss6788]

Best of both worlds IMHO. The pickups should be carefully matched, however. Two great examples are the EMG Geezer set and DiMarzio Model PJ.

If the P pickup is in the standard position (Fender P), and soloed, it will sound EXACTLY like a P bass.
When you blend in the J pickup it becomes something closer to, but not exactly, a J bass. It's own, but great, flavor.

When you solo the J pickup it sound just like a jazz with the rear pickup only (provided it's in the standard location).

Personally I don't see a reason to have just a standard P.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm considering getting a new bass. I only have jazz basses in my collection, but I play various genres. Pop, rock, funk, soul, country, jazz.

And since I'm not owning a P bass at all I was wondering about a PJ bass to... What's the advantages and disadvantages of these type of basses in general or are they any major differences?

Is really a PJ bass right in the middle of a P bass and J Bass soundwise?

PJ

 

[DirkP]

There is no disadvantage of a PJ, it is a fully functional P, when you solo the neck pickup.
Besides the look... They look kind of wrong/asymetric to me.

 

[el murdoque]

For some reason (aesthetics), I gravitate towards the puristic simplicity of P basses.

If you want to cover P bass sounds and J bass sounds with the bridge PU solo'ed with a single bass, a PJ has got you covered.

 

[CallMeAl]

Some people will tell you the P pickup solo in a PJ won’t sound like a P bass. But from personal experience I don’t buy it. In a band mix you can’t tell; you get the P bass sound of you like, plus the PJ sound.

I find the PJ sound incredibly useful. The beef and presence of a P bass with a little extra bite. Great for hard rock or funk music.

The pro of a P bass I think is simplicity. Plug and Play, less temptation to mess with pickup levels. Also, some folks simply don’t dig the PJ sound.

another possible pro of a PJ is it’s easier to find one with a Jazz profile neck, if that’s important to you (it was for me!)

 

[Direwoof]

I love PJ basses, too bad their really hard to find for a left handed. But with teh J pick up and both on full teh J pickup kind of overpowered teh P pickup so you could turn J pickup on half and P on full for a half way sound.

 

[FRoss6788]

But with teh J pick up and both on full teh J pickup kind of overpowered teh P pickup so you could turn J pickup on half and P on full for a half way sound.

Huh?

 

[Direwoof]

Huh?

On my Ibanez EXL 404 with both on full it sounds much more like a jazz bass than a P bass.

 

[jpmcbride]

I prefer just the P for simplicity, and because I don't really care for the J sound. But it depends on you. If you're going to take this new P to gigs along with a J, and switch back and forth, then maybe just get a P. But if you like to use mostly one bass, then the PJ might be the right choice for you.

Consider the player series for a P. I just got one and it sounds great and the fit and finish is fantastic.

 

[Mikey F]

If you already have J’s, just get a p. Let each do what they do best.

 

[BOOG]

Why stop with one or the other? Pick one now and then eventually, get another. Simple.

 

[Bass]

...another possible pro of a PJ is it’s easier to find one with a Jazz profile neck, if that’s important to you (it was for me!)

Me too. It seems to me most PJs come with a Jazz neck. So I play a PJ with a Jazz neck and use only the P pickup.

 

[Direwoof]

Me too. It seems to me most PJs come with a Jazz neck. So I play a PJ with a Jazz neck and use only the P pickup.

I have opposite issue I have 9 inch hand and I can't play J neck too well I prefer 5 string J or a P bass neck.

 

[coy garcia]

PJ is the perfect bass for those that like both or are not sure which. Personally I like single passive P style basses. Subjective topic for sure.

 

[tb-player]

P

 

[iiipopes]

From a tonal perspective, I really enjoy the range of tones you can get out of a P/J, or equivalent in a soapbar pickup bass. If a player is a die-hard "P-only" player, you can always turn down the J-bridge pickup, and if that is not enough, put the J-pickup volume control on a push-pull switch to take it out of the circuit entirely so you get "Pure-P."