Perfect PJ bass?

[Mendry37]

Josh,
Haven't played it yet. But im sure my Valenti VTPJ5(comes my way mid august) will hit what your looking for and more. I will post some reviews when she gets in.

Chad
BTW...hard loss to the welsh side on monday. Better luck with Preston.

 

[B String]

He wants it to feel like a j but actually sound like a nice grunty p. I've had two Sadowsky NYC PJ5's (one with a j body, one with a p) and a Celinder PJ5. All three great basses, but not really a p or a j but really nice PJs.

One thing (and this will probably get me flamed), I think four strings are a key component to the p bass sound. What makes a b string sound great seems to refine the sound of a p. I have played but haven't owned a Mike Lull PJ5, again great PJ5 but I wouldn't say it nails your description.

I have a Alien Audio PP5 bass coming in perhaps next week and I'll let you know if it nails the p thing or not, however, I know the PP thing is something altogether different.

I just checked out a Nordstrand P/J 5, with a Jazz spec neck. It was a very nice bass but ended up not what I expected. I thought it would be the best of both worlds. Instead it was not the best of either. The P pickup alone sounded great, but if I blended any of the bridge in, it only seemed to take away from the P, and vice versa. The J bridge pickup sounded very good until I blended in any of the P pickup.

Nordstrand offers three different neck specs for the P5's. A classic P, a Jazz spec, and an in between. Sort of a P spacing width wise with a thinner back to front, like a Jazz. This is the one I ended up with. It felt fantastic even with my small hands.

One of the reasons the Nordstrand P5's have been so overwhelmingly successful is because the B strings sound right. The B sounds like it matches the rest of the strings. I don't know how they do it, but it works.

I walked in certain that I wanted the P/J, and walked out totally happy with a simple P5. I can get everything I want from it.

 

[timber22]

I have a G&L SB-2 and a Fender Aerodyne Precision. I don't think they are perfect (what is?) but they are both pretty darn good for what you describe.

 

[meatwad]

I'm enjoying this so far:

DROOL!!

 

[BassManMike73]

i'm not sure if someone else posted on the 2nd page, (im too lazy to go through right now) but have you checked out the Fender Mark Hoppus signature? If i remember correctly, it's a P body, J neck, and P pickups.

 

[ehque]

Anybody ever owned or played my idea of a perfect PJ bass?

That low, growly Precission tone but with the maneuverability of a Jazz (thin, fast neck etc.).

In theory this is my ideal bass but i havn't come across one as yet.

It should be easy to roll your own with warmoth/USACG parts. P bass body with PJ routs, J neck, quality hardware from gotoh, hipshot, etc. There are a whole bunch of P pickups out there that give the P bass growl when placed in the standard P bass position.

 

[Fran Diaz]

For me. This is the perfect PJ:

This has a 1.75" neck that melts in my hand. If you prefer a J neck, that's what the Sadowsky hybrids have:

 

[Gord_oh]

I'm enjoying this so far:

I'm saving up for one of those right now. I want maple fretboard though.
So excited.

 

[tevitag]

I can't believe the sounds from my Fender MIJ P-Lyte bass, which has both Jazz and Precision pickups. It weighs only about 6'5 if you like the lighter weight but oh the tone! Mine's about an '89, they stopped making them in the early 90s but you can still find them on online markets.

 

[spaz21387]

Try taking a router to an mim j bass and you have the bass in the front... or the white p bass is a squier vm p bass with a mighty mite maple j neck.

P3220001 by spaz21387, on Flickr

 

[cabcreaser]

B String, nice info on the Nordy, I have never tried one but I do love his 5 string P pickup (two of those are on the Alien Audio that I have on order).

I apologize for any blanket statement, but I will say I have personally never played a 5 string p or pj that sounds as grunty as a
four string p. However, I would love to try an Alleva Coppolo or a Nordy. I had a 4 string AC KBP that killed (I let it go because of it's jazz neck), I would imagine Jimmy Coppolo would make a great P5 but I don't know if he makes a PJ5 or PJ4 for that matter (maybe there is a reason for that . . .).

 

[Ezbass]

A Sandberg P/MM does what you're asking IMO.

 

[Crystalman85]

The schecter raiden deluxe basses has p/j pick-ups. they're affordable and has a pretty cool sound. gives those basses a try.

 

[Bredian]

I have one of those Lytes, love it, but think it got wired wrong while staying at the fix it shop. 4 knobs, only one currently is volume.

 

[HMZ]

Why can't Fender make an American standard passive PJ bass with the option to get a Jazz neck or P bass neck....

Do you think a P bass will sound different with a Jazz neck then it would with a P bass neck?

 

[nervous]

Consider a Reggie Hamilton Jazz?

Link Removed

 

[Juan Count]

I recommend the new Yamaha Super BBs (if you can find one)... I've got the 1024x... amazing instrument... although, the neck may be an issue for the OP... it's a little chunkier than most Fender PJs...

PS: Ignore the TB cynics... You can get some really solid information and advice on this forum...

 

[klejst]

I own/play a '98 MIM Fender Precision Special Deluxe series bass, I love and appreciate having the P and J pickup's and I get great tone, however to me at least it just does not seem as loud as my '98 MIM Fender Precision bass. Both are stock, perhaps my the pups in my Special are just going bad or naturally are not as loud? The Special is a little lighter in weight though. Both are fantastic basses none the less. I will say though the jazz neck on a precision is a great way to go IMO. Honestly when choosing a bass the best advice is to try them out first so you can really get a personal judgment of the bass. Also to buy what you wish regardless of any reviews or other opinions. If it's what you want get it.

 

[worxforme]

+1 for the Fender Precision Deluxe.

I'd still own mine if it had 5 strings.

 

[frankie5string]

+1 for the Yamaha BB basses... I tried a 1025 the other day (5 string) and was sold enough to place an order for the colour and version (x version) I wanted. If you're curious, try one. The neck is different - it's not a Fender profile - but it's really comfortable on long gigs.

They are fairly grunty and the PJ configuration is very traditional. The J pickup is match-phase wired with no hum cancelling so you will get 60 cycle hum from it in certain situations...nothing a little extra shielding can't cure.

That aside... Every Sadowsky I have ever tried has really been an eye-opener. The fingerboard and fretwork on them is unbelievable. Unfortunately I don't like the ergonomics of a Jazz or Precision bass unless the neck is really light...