PJ bass recommendations?

[sgiacomo]

Hey all. I’m in the hunt for a four string PJ bass. Preferably passive. I have two Fender Am Pro IIs, a Precision and a Jazz. I love the matte neck finishes and the feel of both basses. Each has their place in my arsenal.

I recently played a Spector Euro 4 LX that is beautiful but of course active electronics and I’m not sure I wanna go that route. Love the bass though.

Then I saw this photo online and LOVE the look of this bass. What is your go to production PJ? Not opposed to custom just probably out of my price range

Thanks!

 

[Killing Floor]

Budget, approximately?

I love the look of that white with rosewood and blocks too! First thing I noticed before I zoomed in was that it can’t be a Fender due to the AHPT that they don’t possess.
If you don’t care about that and you’re looking for something other than a Fender there are a thousand options.
Budget or this turns into a messy thread.

 

[sgiacomo]

Budget, approximately?

I love the look of that white with rosewood and blocks too! First thing I noticed before I zoomed in was that it can’t be a Fender due to the AHPT that they don’t possess.
If you don’t care about that and you’re looking for something other than a Fender there are a thousand options.
Budget or this turns into a messy thread.

Like to keep it around $2k US but have some wiggle room for the right bass. Not stuck on Fender but I will say I love the neck on my American Pro II Jazz. Thanks!

 

[Minimalist]

You cannot beat a Yamaha BB for quality and value.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I can vouch for Fender Ultra P being a great Bass
Active/Passive

Many seem to like Fender Performer
There are many other Good ones out there but you seem to be good with Fender

 

[Minimalist]

Like to keep it around $2k US but have some wiggle room for the right bass. Not stuck on Fender but I will say I love the neck on my American Pro II Jazz. Thanks!

Yiu can find a used BBP34 for around 1000-12000 USD. Neck is between a J and a P and quality is at least on par with US made fenders.

 

[sgiacomo]

I can vouch for Fender Ultra P being a great Bass
Active/Passive

Many seem to like Fender Performer
There are many other Good ones out there but seem to be good with Fender

I had an ultra P but wasn’t crazy about the compound radius fretboard, a 9.5” radius Jazz neck on that bass would be tasty!

 

[Moving Pictures]

My go to PJ, which I play way more than I expected to, is a Fender Boxer reissue.

Light, sounds great and has a comfortable neck. You still see them on Reverb for a decent price.

I also recommend you look at the Yamaha BB series. They punch well above their price point.

 

[sgiacomo]

Yiu can find a used BBP34 for around 1000-12000 USD. Neck is between a J and a P and quality is at least on par with US made fenders.

$1000-12000 is a huge range. lol typo I’m guessing

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Fender boxer series would be my go to. However, you already have a p and a j, have you thought about putting something like a coil tap on your jazz and getting something like a stingray? I have a p, a j, and a pj, and I find that since I can make my jazz sound so similar I hardly ever reach for my pj, so I keep it in an alternate tuning.

 

[sgiacomo]

Fender boxer series would be my go to. However, you already have a p and a j, have you thought about putting something like a coil tap on your jazz and getting something like a stingray? I have a p, a j, and a pj, and I find that since I can make my jazz sound so similar I hardly ever reach for my pj, so I keep it in an alternate tuning.

Thanks I’ll check out the boxer series. The American Performer series looks cool on paper. I’ve played Stingrays but never owned one. Mainly because of my unnecessary aversion to batteries. Alternate tuning would be likely

 

[Killing Floor]

Definitely look at MiJ Fender, Lakland, Yammy. Look at Kiesel, good quality and features for Fender MiA price. They keep some stock.
Look at Fender Mod Shop for sure, takes 3-4 weeks.
G&L SB2 if you can find one.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Thanks I’ll check out the boxer series. The American Performer series looks cool on paper. I’ve played Stingrays but never owned one. Mainly because of my unnecessary aversion to batteries. Alternate tuning would be likely

Stingrays are cool, especially live. Just keep a spare battery in your case, as you really only have to change it like once or twice a year. I didn’t notice your pfp, but you have an ampeg svt? Dude, you NEED to try a stingray through that rig. In a live band setting a stingray is sooooo cool, and that’s coming from a p/flats guy

 

[Jeff Scott]

I can reccommend you not bother with a California Precision Special if you happen to come across one. Thinnest sounding G string on any bass I ever played.

 

[sgiacomo]

Stingrays are cool, especially live. Just keep a spare battery in your case, as you really only have to change it like once or twice a year. I didn’t notice your pfp, but you have an ampeg svt? Dude, you NEED to try a stingray through that rig. In a live band setting a stingray is sooooo cool, and that’s coming from a p/flats guy

I’ve been tempted. Yes that’s my SVT. Tried to buy a Ruby Punch BFR Stingray last year but couldn’t make a deal on it. Maybe I’ll reconsider. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[groove pump]

Like to keep it around $2k US but have some wiggle room for the right bass. Not stuck on Fender but I will say I love the neck on my American Pro II Jazz. Thanks!

Some of the best bang for our buck these days looks to be coming from Maruszczyk. They have two model lines that are Fender Shaped Objects (FSO's), which are the "Elwood" and the "Jake". They do all sorts of electronics layouts, but P/J's are among them. Neck widths on their 4-strings are typically either 38mm or 40mm at the nut.

You may need to shop used instead of new, but these guys have caught on a bit and it looks like there are more of their instruments around in the used market now than there were a few years ago.

Reverend does a P/J. The look is a little different from a typical FSO, but those instruments have earned much respect and they're well within your budget.

Forgive me for mastering the obvious... Yamaha!!

Honorable mention: Schecter and ESP/LTD. These guys pack soooo much into their products and sell them for rather reasonable prices. I picked up a 2nd hand LTD earlier this year (B-1004 Dlx) and it has turned out to be probably the best bass (best for me) I've ever touched. Don't let the reputation for hard rock/metal put you off. If you spot one in your travels, try it before you offer up a verdict. Schecter has P/J's in their Model T and Michael Anthony signature basses (I believe that the M.A.'s come with more of a narrow J-style neck profile).

 

[bigthemat]

Reverend!! They've got some cool stuff that might fit the bill and budget, like the Decision P. Or the thundergun, mercalli, etc. that have the split brick and humbucker that all sound soo good.

 

[Rib 13]

My go to PJ is on the left: 1989 MIJ Fender Power Jazz Special. It has Reverse P which, too me, is the way P pickups should be and does make a difference. It is easily my favorite PJ ever...The one on the right is a 2013 Ibanez Destroyer that I put EMGs. It is also a go-to (for any genre, dont go by looks). The EMGs make this bass sound a bit like a Spector. I do gig it quite a bit if going 4 string. Video below to hear it

 

[sgiacomo]

My go to PJ is on the left: 1989 MIJ Fender Power Jazz Special. It has Reverse P which, too me, is the way P pickups should be and does make a difference. It is easily my favorite PJ ever...The one on the right is a 2013 Ibanez Destroyer that I put EMGs. It is also a go-to (for any genre, dont go by looks). The EMGs make this bass sound a bit like a Spector. I do gig it quite a bit if going 4 string. Video below to hear it

I like the sound and looks of that Ibby. Takes me back to the 80s!

 

[Moving Pictures]

Thanks I’ll check out the boxer series. The American Performer series looks cool on paper. I’ve played Stingrays but never owned one. Mainly because of my unnecessary aversion to batteries. Alternate tuning would be likely

To add to this, the Performer is a very nice bass to play. I replaced it with the Boxer. The shielding on the Performer was sub par. Not why I replaced it though, as it is an easy fix. I just liked the Boxer better. If I had kept the Performer I would have replaced the Jazz pickup with a stacked or noiseless model. Everything else was great on that bass.