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PJ Basses
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Sometimes it depends on the song, but i find adding a little of the J pup adds a mid-scoop tone and gives it some depth and clarity, not bassy just a more clear sound without being all treble.. I get the vintage P sound with just neck pickup and treble. The J lets you experiment with tones more.
I’m a big fan of the ESP-LTD AP-5. Between that and my Aerodyne, I’m flush for PJ’s.
If I were in the market for another PJ though, this would probably be it. The ergo’s of the five string are really comfortable and the hardware/electronics are what a lot of people upgrade to, anyway.
Question: I have played lots of basses over the years, but I can’t recall playing a PJ. I have a P and a J. I have played two pickup Epiphones, Gibsons, and Ibanezes, but never a PJ. Is there any interaction between the pickups when you are just on the P pickup? Does the additional wiring or magnet pull on the strings affect the sound like it does on a guitar? On electric guitar, there is a noticeable difference between a single pickup guitar in the bridge position and the bridge pickup soloed on a two-pickup guitar.
With the preamp bypassed, wearing broken-in nickel strings and the P soloed, it’s pretty close! My setup doesn’t have a passive tone roll-off though, which would add some real versatility in nailing the classic P tone. I think the softer woods (maple, cherry) help mellow the tone.
Alternatively, it’s a modern monster (if you call the 90s modern!) with SS strings, the bass and treble boosted and the J rolled in.
Cut my teeth on 2 P-basses...a '64 Fender & this '78 Schecter. In the '80s, I added the bridge pup. Seemed like everyone else in town were playing Jazz basses...hadda do what I hadda do. 
Currently with passive Lane Poors. I usually used a Sadowsky/Aguilar outboard preamp, though. The original mod had EMGs (battery under the pickguard. That had to go).
Currently with passive Lane Poors. I usually used a Sadowsky/Aguilar outboard preamp, though. The original mod had EMGs (battery under the pickguard. That had to go).
My Non-Production choice may be this Sadowsky;
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I use the Sadowsky NYC Verdine White which is a Jazz body, PJ build. Sadowsky makes incredible P/J basses (also has the P-Bass body as well). I think the reason is the vintage knob and of course the pickup placement. The bridge pickup is very usable soloed for me, this is where many P/Js fall off. Also with the vintage knob you can roll off the tone pretty aggressively and make the bass sound really warm. So it can be hi-fi with the tone maxed out, but since I prefer warm tones, I roll that off.
Just an awesome bass and the build quality is crazy. Also it's like 7 pounds or so, so super easy to gig with. Just matters your budget and what you are looking for. The Sadowsky is very versatile, it can do the punchy solo'd J-bridge fusion tone (I just boost the bass knob a touch for this), modern victor Wooten all pickups on slap tone (wide open knobs) , Solo'd P-bass, all pickups on and warm (tone rolled back)..it goes on and on. I barely use the treble and bass knobs, except when I solo the bridge, so it's very simple to dial in fast.
Just an awesome bass and the build quality is crazy. Also it's like 7 pounds or so, so super easy to gig with. Just matters your budget and what you are looking for. The Sadowsky is very versatile, it can do the punchy solo'd J-bridge fusion tone (I just boost the bass knob a touch for this), modern victor Wooten all pickups on slap tone (wide open knobs) , Solo'd P-bass, all pickups on and warm (tone rolled back)..it goes on and on. I barely use the treble and bass knobs, except when I solo the bridge, so it's very simple to dial in fast.
I was going to suggest that you look at these, I had one for a few years but then got deeper into the upright bass realm and sold it (regrettably). Great sounding bass that was super-comfortable to play. When it comes to bass guitar, I am mostly a P=bass guy and the Reverend was the only PJ over the years that I was able to bond with. They recently put out a 25 yr anniversary model that looked great, not sure if there are any out there that are available.
I have three P/J basses. The P is exactly where the P on just a P bass would be on all three of them, so I don't understand this comment.
I’m a fan of Roger’s Jazz variations but I’d need to try out a pj, I’ve never played one. I do own a 90s NYC modern which I love!
Stambaugh. I had Chris build me a Resonance 5 and
he nailed what I wanted.
Made to order with quality.
he nailed what I wanted.
Made to order with quality.
IS THAT YOU, DAD? WHEN DID YOU JOIN TALKBASS?
j/k
I like the idea of a PJ but agree that many factors contribute to an un/successful implementation.
Spector, Yamaha BBs and the '80s Fender Jazz Bass Special (Duff McKagan from G&R model) got it right.
If you're not gonna have a hum-canceling J pickup, be sure that it at least has good lows/mids and strong output to keep up with a series-wired P pickup.
That is a great bass…I have the same one. I wish I could have found it in that color…Very versatile bass and if you go passive and solo the P pickup it sound line a regular P bass with the additional options a J pickup offers with active/passive options.
I went 4, but thats just me. I prefer 4 over 5 though. Can't go wrong either way, just matters what you like.
