PJ Basses

[conttador]

I’ve got a few basses in my Arsenal but the one thing that’s missing is; wait for it, wait for it…. A P Bass!

So… I don’t really want a modern P so if I get anything it will be a PJ. I’m not a big fan of production brands but I could be swayed, the closest I have to a production instrument is a KSD ProtoJ. Looking forward to your suggestions.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I’ve got a few basses in my Arsenal but the one thing that’s missing is; wait for it, wait for it…. A P Bass!

So… I don’t really want a modern P so if I get anything it will be a PJ. I’m not a big fan of production brands but I could be swayed, the closest I have to a production instrument is a KSD ProtoJ. Looking forward to your suggestions.

First, a question...does it have to have a P-bass body and neck?

If not, I'd strongly recommend a Fender Reggie Hamilton P/J Jazz. You'd get a ton of flexibility out of it, what with the active/passive preamp and Drop-D tuner built in, but more important is the pickup placement. The split-coil pickup rests closer to the "sweet spot" on a Precision body than most other P/J Jazzes.

Link Removed

And then, if you want something that "doesn't exist in nature", you could always go the Warmoth route.

 

[tb-player]

Nash 100%. Vintage vibes, really well made, lightweight and easy enough to find. You won't find a better PJ on the market.

 

[Spidey2112]

G&L SB-2, or 2T.

 

[chris_b]

My PJ5 was made by Mike Lull.

If I lost this one I'd buy another. . . . from the classifieds.

 

[DownUnder_Funk]

Do you want modern hifi or vintage? For the former Spector is hard to beat, for the latter I’d be looking at Fender.

 

[HardNHeavy]

build one?...depending on your pickup/preamp preference. You could have something killer. I have two fender PJ's i built. one with Bartolini's the other with 63 CS and both passive. I really like the one with Barts better, with its unique voicing and the bass weighs in at over 9lbs so that might be an issue.

 

[RattleSnack]

On more thing to think about, is J bridge position that works for you. I found that I strongly dislike sound from 70' Jazz bridge pickup position. I don't like it mixed with another J pickup (like Jazz) or P (like PJ).
If you are like me, tread carefully, because most PJ I came across have that bridge pickup position.

 

[burgerdj]

My favorite PJs are Warwick and Spector. To my ears, the reverse P on my Streamer really does make a favorable difference. I’m not the biggest fan of the stock preamp, but it’s okay and can be bypassed.

 

[badinage]

Now THIS is a worthwhile PJ thread. The IDEA of a PJ appeals to me. I've just yet to plug-up one I liked the SOUND of. I've always assumed that just like a two-knob Telecaster Custom, it's hard to get the two dissimilar pickups to "play nice" together, perhaps because they're back-loading an impedance on each other that makes NEITHER sound like it would in the absence of the other, so like the folks on the Tele forums do, much trial and error is required before finding a "Goldilocks combination" of two individual pickups/pots/wiring harnesses... and even placement. It ISN'T instant "best of both worlds" just because the two pickups "are there". Marrying the two brings a unique set of challenges. Some decent detail on configuration considerations being shared here so far.

 

[bassfreakah]

WOW
THIS IS A UNCOMMON INSIGHTFUL THREAD.
MOST OF MY FAVORITE BASSES HAVE BEEN PJ’s.

 

[badinage]

Well it was showing potential.

 

[sikamikanico]

When I think PJ, usually Yamaha BB series basses come to mind. The new BB Pro series look nice, or you can try find a vintage specimen… if you want a more traditional P look, I’d check out Lakland too. For a more boutique take, I like Fodera Monarchs…

I agree very much with points above on pickup positions and spacing. If you think you’ll be using the pickups a lot together, then I find reverse P works better, or at least 70s spacing. If you will mostly favor one or the other, perhaps classic orientation and 60s spacing would work best. BUT these are opinions, people have very different preferences, so you need to figure out what works for you.

 

[Shifter_four]

I played a Squire jazz bass CV70 for 7 or 8 years. I never had a P bass. My latest bass, a Godin Shifter 4 Classic is a PJ bass. I love it and i found that i play it more P bass style than PJ configuration.

My first bass was a Yamaha PJ. I loved it. I think Yamaha makes quality bass and it's affordable.

 

[jd56hawk]

Once upon a time, I thought PJs were the answer, but the P is definitely better with a humbucker, especially when it's a super P.

 

[Nebadon2000]

This is what I have; Great Bass a Tad underrated here on TB

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I’ve got a few basses in my Arsenal but the one thing that’s missing is; wait for it, wait for it…. A P Bass!

So… I don’t really want a modern P so if I get anything it will be a PJ. I’m not a big fan of production brands but I could be swayed, the closest I have to a production instrument is a KSD ProtoJ. Looking forward to your suggestions.

Aerodyne

 

[conttador]

First, a question...does it have to have a P-bass body and neck?

If not, I'd strongly recommend a Fender Reggie Hamilton P/J Jazz. You'd get a ton of flexibility out of it, what with the active/passive preamp and Drop-D tuner built in, but more important is the pickup placement. The split-coil pickup rests closer to the "sweet spot" on a Precision body than most other P/J Jazzes.

Link Removed

And then, if you want something that "doesn't exist in nature", you could always go the Warmoth route.

Hmm, hadn’t thought about that. I would say no. I’m more concerned w tone than aesthetics.

 

[conttador]

G&L SB-2, or 2T.

What’s the spacing at t by e bridge. The few G & L I’ve played have had narrow string spacing.

 

[conttador]

My PJ5 was made by Mike Lull.

If I lost this one I'd buy another. . . . from the classifieds.

I’ve never played a Lull but have heard great things.