Does it count if the P is reversed? If so I'm in unless I already joined with that old RBX170 I had years ago. This Maple PJ Ibby is my poor man's Spector.
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Yes @FourBanger, all split p pickups count as the "P" in "PJ"... even reversed ones. Happy to dole out another number, you are now #164!
people who are really into Jazz basses (I'm one of them) know that there is a significant difference between the sound of the 60s placement of the bridge pickup and the 70s, which is just a little bit further towards the bridge. Some like the 60s better , others swear by the 70s location.
I'm new to the PJ thing. Is there a preference for PJ owners where the bridge pickup is? I measured my bass and it's in the 70's position and it sounds really good to me.
I'm new to the PJ thing. Is there a preference for PJ owners where the bridge pickup is? I measured my bass and it's in the 70's position and it sounds really good to me.
I would day I'd prefer it closer to the 60s position, but none of mine are actually Fenders. I use the J to add flavor to the tone of the P, I usually have the P full on with the J somewhere between 20% and 50%, though for some stuff I dime them both (grunge!).
Yeah, I've found a solo J isn't a good sound for me.
I'd have to look at some diagrams, but wonder if it is somewhere in the music man position.
I'd have to look at some diagrams, but wonder if it is somewhere in the music man position.
Yup, looks like it's about the Middle of where Music Man pup is.
Thinking that's what Wilkins was thinking.
Thinking that's what Wilkins was thinking.
Yeah I kind of notice the same thing. The J pickup imparts a nice flavor to the P as long as it is used sparingly.
I just joined the PJ club but what I've figured out so far is this:
I set the P bass to a volume that matches the J pickup. That is a little more than a 1/4 turn back. Now when I turn up the J pickup to full, it sounds really more like the Jaco tone with a bit more body. Totally great for soloing or melodies. When I reduce the J to only 1/4 volume then I have a really nice P bass sound with a little more zing, but still totally in the P bass character. On a Jazz bass both pickups on full gives you a killer sound especially in the 70s position. But cranking both pickups all the way on a PJ setup does not sound that great to me. Kind of nasal. Sounds OK for palm muting.
That's with my EMGX pickups. I wasn't sure about the PJ setup, but i knew I wanted some type of P bass. I'm really happy I built my bass with this configuration.It gives me some flavors that I can't get with my Jazz basses or with a P bass.
Agreed, my pj has a blend, and I set to favour the p side slightly. If you hit a note, you can here just when the tone starts to change, it's like a sweet spot.
This is a great thread - there are some fantastic basses in here.
If you're still giving numbers, I'll take one. I posted a few of my P/J's in post #392.
Thanks.
If you're still giving numbers, I'll take one. I posted a few of my P/J's in post #392.
Thanks.
I am ( so far) mainly a Jazz Bass player and I can name a bunch of players who's sound on the instrument and their playing totally inspires me.
Now I have added a PJ and there are fewer guys to pick from.Doug Johns is probably my favorite at this point.
There's probably not a better place that this thread to ask:
Who's tone gets you exited to be a PJ Bass player and do you have any youtube clips of them that you can share?
Now I have added a PJ and there are fewer guys to pick from.Doug Johns is probably my favorite at this point.
There's probably not a better place that this thread to ask:
Who's tone gets you exited to be a PJ Bass player and do you have any youtube clips of them that you can share?
My take is that guys who prefer the '60s placement want the option of soloing the bridge and getting that authentic burp that comes with it. The 70's placement seems more suited for guys who like that sound soloed but also like the 50/50 blend as the increased distance give a little better separation and more usable sound. Of couse I'm basing a lot of this on my Yamaha BB which has just a wickedly good set of pickups in it.
I'm in the blend camp (I actually never have the signal biased towards the J, my used range goes from dimed towards the P or at the detent giving 50/50) but after seeing that Wilkins PJ video I'd want my J as far up as possible, exactly the opposite of the thinking behind the 70s position.
I have a pan pot and active bass and treble on all my other basses, but my PJ with the EMGX pickups actually works fine with two vol and one tone and no additional EQ. I have not gigged with it yet, but here in my house it sounds great and I have a feeling I'm not going to make any changes. It's funny, I have been channeling Marcus Miller with my J Basses for so long that now with the PJ bass I feel for the first time I have my own voice.And it's a pretty good one.
