PJ bass yes or no?

[CallMeAl]

PJ is a great configuration. I’d generally recommend Squier Affinity, Ibanez TMB or Yamaha BB- but if budget and/or availability point you towards Washburn go for it.

All basses need adjustments along the way, so comb through these articles. Either teach yourself or find someone who can help you:
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

 

[DuluthDank]

Yes, as long as the pickups are well matched (too many manufacturers are too lazy to match PJ pickup outputs).

 

[Real Soon]

Washburn Tauruses can be very good for the money. If you want flexibility on a budget (and, like me, like variety in the look of your instrument), it can be a great workhorse.

I had a T24 for a good while, and eventually passed it along once I went to an active 4-string. It had a lot of practice and gigs under its belt, though.

 

[Matty Koff]

I have two basses with P/J pickup configurations. I love them both. That doesn't guarantee I'd love the washburn t14 however.

At that price bracket though.. not much harm if in the long run it doesn't turn out to be your bag.

 

[Quadzilla]

I'm into P/J setups that have a reverse P (Spector, Ibanez, Charvel, etc). The reverse P setup is superior in my humble opinion. Fattens up the D&G a little and takes a bit off woofiness and uncontrollable boom out of the bottom of the E&A. Again, just my humble opinion.

 

[Bass4Brkfast]

I am considering buying a washburn t14 PJ bass. Anyone have any advice on Pj bases .

A pj is great.
I have the Washburn t12. Got it cheap as a modding platform/backup bass.
It is almost the same bass but came only with the P pickup.
Quality of build is comparable to the Ibanez equivalent.
I have also tried several of the same-tier yamahas...build quality is a little bit nicer on the yamahas IME.
The washburn stock p-pickup was just OK, but nothing to write home about. (You will probably need to play with the pickup height to get the pj balanced.)
All in all it has served me well and after a lot of modifications it plays and sounds way better than it should.
Good luck!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Why would that matter ?

Finish plays an enormous part in tone. If you don't like the finish, it's tone will never be heard.

 

[joel406]

No

 

[jmlee]

Yamaha's BB basses are great takes on the PJ combination. With the pickup heights balanced properly, all three of the toggle switch positions are eminently useful. This one's my BB1025X from the last generation of instruments. The latest generation is also terrific. The BB434 seems to be a really well-built and great-sounding PJ (in VVT configuration rather than the toggle switch) for just $500 new.

 

[Herrick]

I had a BB1025X and the thing sounded really really good.

 

[whero]

I love my Fender Aerodyne Jazz. I have the P pretty much on full and the J tends to get turned up and down depending on how much bite I want to add. Weight is good and the neck is amazing. I have no experience with Washburn though, sorry.

 

[Yahboy]

PJ bass with stack knob, 250k pot for P pup meanwhile 500k pot for J pup. .068uf cap on P stack pot and .033uf cap for the J stack pot.
Oh, humcancelling J pup for sure and prefer dimarzio high output bridge J pup like Ultra J or Model J.

Another option are Reverse P + MM configuration.

Hopehelp

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I would love to have one with a three-way selector switch, which would give me three super usable sounds that I know I dig (P, P/J, J bridge). I’m planning to use that configuration on my first parts build, which I will start as soon as I have things like free time and disposable income.

 

[sonojono]

A good mid tier PJ Bass would go to anything Fender and Ibanez SR650.

High tier, Spector if you can afford an almost $2k bass

but if you’re just barely getting into PJ, I’d look into the Ibanez mezzo line and have at it!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I am considering buying a washburn t14 PJ bass. Anyone have any advice on Pj bases .

I have a 20 year old stock (Yes, the tort was stock. You wouldn’t think I’d go out and actually buy one?) MIA Fender Pj. It’s a great bass to play and sound engineers love it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm OK with them.

View attachment 4301214

Sharp looker!

 

[The Deep]

Get a Spector PJ and you’ve attained the holy grail of PJs. Done for life.

Barring that, I’d go for a Fender MIJ jazz bass special (original Duff bass) from the 80s.

My 2 cents.

Best of luck in your search!

 

[m-j]

Full Disclosure: I own and play one:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[jamro217]

Hi, Kitkit, welcome to TB. There are so many P/J variants out there it's hard to nail down one opinion of all of them. As a rule the idea of the P/J is to take the popular P bass and add the equally popular J bass bridge pickup. The problem is that they are two different designs. The P bass has a humbucker and the J is a single coil. They sometimes don't play well together. The stronger P pickup is closer to the neck where the signal is also stronger; the thinner, weaker J pickup is closer to the bridge where the signal is weaker. This means the J must be raised and the P lowered in to the body to even out the response. Not a big problem but either pickup soloed will reflect this. The Washburn is a budget Chinese made instrument with inexpensive electronics and hardware. That doesn't mean it's unplayable firewood, just not on par with a Tony Franklin. It is a unique shape and has separate controls for each pickup. Upgrading it isn't as issue as most parts are interchangeable and a universal fit. As with any instrument, the key is to play it and be comfortable. Be sure the instrument isn't damaged. (No amount of flame finish can make up for a broken truss rod.) If you can, have a knowledgeable person go with you to inspect the bass before buying it. If it's an online purchase make sure the return policy doesn't cost you anything. Have the bass inspected by someone when it arrives and if found faulty, return it. Hope this helps. Again, welcome to TB. Lots of friendly folks here willing to help and share.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

I would love to have one with a three-way selector switch, which would give me three super usable sounds that I know I dig (P, P/J, J bridge). I’m planning to use that configuration on my first parts build, which I will start as soon as I have things like free time and disposable income.

This is how my Tony Franklin fretless is set up, and I enjoy and recommend it.