PJ Club

[Estropijo]

I had a chance to try a few basses today and I didn't like the Performer, the neck just didn't work for me. It is small shop specialized in bass and unfortunately they don't work with Yamaha so I couldn't try a BB. Anyway, trying a few others convinced me that a PJ is indeed what I am looking for!

I played the Duff McKagan for a while, for which the guy in the shop only had good words and... the feeling and sound were just amazing, much better than the performer. The only issue is that I don't really like the look of it! It is the old version with TRB tone, separate volume knobs and no pickguard. But this has made me think that the Aerodyne might be a great option: also MIJ, slim neck that is closer to the Duff than to the Performer, very light body (tried and Ibanez and wow). Any opinions about this? Does it keep the P sound even with the changes in the body?

 

[CallMeAl]

I had a chance to try a few basses today and I didn't like the Performer, the neck just didn't work for me. It is small shop specialized in bass and unfortunately they don't work with Yamaha so I couldn't try a BB. Anyway, trying a few others convinced me that a PJ is indeed what I am looking for!

I played the Duff McKagan for a while, for which the guy in the shop only had good words and... the feeling and sound were just amazing, much better than the performer. The only issue is that I don't really like the look of it! It is the old version with TRB tone, separate volume knobs and no pickguard. But this has made me think that the Aerodyne might be a great option: also MIJ, slim neck that is closer to the Duff than to the Performer, very light body (tried and Ibanez and wow). Any opinions about this? Does it keep the P sound even with the changes in the body?

Nice you got out and tried some! And coming closer to what you prefer

The only thing I’d note about the Aerodyne is they don’t have a contour in the body, so there’s more of a hard edge. Some are bothered by it, some don’t care.

Since you like The slim necks, I’ll throw some other PJs at you (which may muddy the waters, but nice to have options)
G&L SB2
ESP AP204
Fender Deluxe P special

last thing: finding a bass that “feels and sounds amazing” is no small task. You might want to consider how important the look is, because you may find yourself hunting for a bass with that same “it” factor, comparing all others to the Duff...

good luck!

 

[Don Vitos]

I had a chance to try a few basses today and I didn't like the Performer, the neck just didn't work for me. It is small shop specialized in bass and unfortunately they don't work with Yamaha so I couldn't try a BB. Anyway, trying a few others convinced me that a PJ is indeed what I am looking for!

I played the Duff McKagan for a while, for which the guy in the shop only had good words and... the feeling and sound were just amazing, much better than the performer. The only issue is that I don't really like the look of it! It is the old version with TRB tone, separate volume knobs and no pickguard. But this has made me think that the Aerodyne might be a great option: also MIJ, slim neck that is closer to the Duff than to the Performer, very light body (tried and Ibanez and wow). Any opinions about this? Does it keep the P sound even with the changes in the body?

did you play the Sire P7? Awesome PJ for the price.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I played the Duff McKagan for a while, for which the guy in the shop only had good words and... the feeling and sound were just amazing, much better than the performer. The only issue is that I don't really like the look of it! It is the old version with TRB tone, separate volume knobs and no pickguard. But this has made me think that the Aerodyne might be a great option: also MIJ, slim neck that is closer to the Duff than to the Performer, very light body (tried and Ibanez and wow). Any opinions about this? Does it keep the P sound even with the changes in the body?

There are some fundamental differences between the Aerodyne and the Duff McKagan, and not just the different body shape @alanloomis1980 mentioned.

1. Neck: The Aerodyne's neck is modeled after older Jazz basses. It has a Jazz nut-width (1.5in.) and a vintage-style fretboard radius (7.25in.). The Duff bass is wider at the nut (1.625in.) and a slightly flatter radius (9.5in.).
2. Pickups: The Aerodyne has the standard Made In Japan pickups, the Duff has a set of Seymour Duncan in it's stock configuration. Also, the Aerodyne's neck pickup is placed a little closer to the neck than on a Precision bass. This, much like the MIJ pickups, isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just changes the sound. (Personally, I like the pickups in my Aerodyne, but that's just me. There are many bassists who want a different sound, so they replace them.)

Even though the 'Dyne and the Duff are both P/J's, the differences between them are as many and varied as the differences between ordinary Jazzes and Precisions…maybe even more so.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I don't think there's a PJ club. Lots of people play them. That Victor Wooten fella plays one. How about a club? Here's my 2002 passive PJ deluxe:
View attachment 2271674

Stock precision pickup. Dimarzio ultra jazz. Wired volume/blend/tone. Badass 2. Fender Cabronita neck.

All up in it

 

[Estropijo]

Nice you got out and tried some! And coming closer to what you prefer

The only thing I’d note about the Aerodyne is they don’t have a contour in the body, so there’s more of a hard edge. Some are bothered by it, some don’t care.

Since you like The slim necks, I’ll throw some other PJs at you (which may muddy the waters, but nice to have options)
G&L SB2
ESP AP204
Fender Deluxe P special

last thing: finding a bass that “feels and sounds amazing” is no small task. You might want to consider how important the look is, because you may find yourself hunting for a bass with that same “it” factor, comparing all others to the Duff...

good luck!

The G&L is one I considered but I don't think they can be found in the shops around here. The ESP was not in my radar, nice one! Regarding the Deluxe, only the actives without passive tone knob are imported here and I am almost convinced that I prefer less knobs and more simplicity! The Duff is not discarded anyway, it also has the pro that my girlfriend was 100% convinced by it .

did you play the Sire P7? Awesome PJ for the price.

They only had the 5 string and didn't love it. But maybe discarded it too quickly, on paper it is definitely great...

There are some fundamental differences between the Aerodyne and the Duff McKagan, and not just the different body shape @alanloomis1980 mentioned.

1. Neck: The Aerodyne's neck is modeled after older Jazz basses. It has a Jazz nut-width (1.5in.) and a vintage-style fretboard radius (7.25in.). The Duff bass is wider at the nut (1.625in.) and a slightly flatter radius (9.5in.).
2. Pickups: The Aerodyne has the standard Made In Japan pickups, the Duff has a set of Seymour Duncan in it's stock configuration. Also, the Aerodyne's neck pickup is placed a little closer to the neck than on a Precision bass. This, much like the MIJ pickups, isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just changes the sound. (Personally, I like the pickups in my Aerodyne, but that's just me. There are many bassists who want a different sound, so they replace them.)

Even though the 'Dyne and the Duff are both P/J's, the differences between them are as many and varied as the differences between ordinary Jazzes and Precisions…maybe even more so.

Thanks a lot for the detailed comparison. Regarding the neck I tried some jazz basses (liked the pro quite a lot, but missed the P sound very quickly...) and really liked the slim neck. There is a shop 500m from my place sending the non-export aerodyne new for 900€ (the Duff is 1300€), sounds a bit strange so it could be 2nd hand, but looks new and great! I'll go and try it on Tuesday but it could be the one, I am curious about the difference in the P sound, but he price difference could motivate me for some upgrades if necessary.

This is the one:

 

[CallMeAl]

The G&L is one I considered but I don't think they can be found in the shops around here. The ESP was not in my radar, nice one! Regarding the Deluxe, only the actives without passive tone knob are imported here and I am almost convinced that I prefer less knobs and more simplicity! The Duff is not discarded anyway, it also has the pro that my girlfriend was 100% convinced by it .

Ah yes I’m recalling now discussing the Active Special and the “no tone control in passive mode” thing. I think the ESP is all active, so might not tick your boxes... in this “buy online” age, I applaud your dedication to getting out there to “try before you buy,” I think in the end you’ll be much happier with your purchase , because you know it “fits.” Can’t wait you’re see which one you get!

 

[Malak the Mad]

Thanks a lot for the detailed comparison. Regarding the neck I tried some jazz basses (liked the pro quite a lot, but missed the P sound very quickly...) and really liked the slim neck. There is a shop 500m from my place sending the non-export aerodyne new for 900€ (the Duff is 1300€), sounds a bit strange so it could be 2nd hand, but looks new and great! I'll go and try it on Tuesday but it could be the one, I am curious about the difference in the P sound, but he price difference could motivate me for some upgrades if necessary.

This is the one:

For a second, I thought "500 miles from your place?! Yikes! I travel a lot on a weekly basis (when I'm not in quarantine lockdown, that is ), but even I wouldn't go that far to check out a bass!", but then I realized you meant half-a-kilometer.

Yeah, go check it out and see what you think. Just remember to keep your right elbow slightly elevated, much like one would when playing an acoustic guitar. If you like it, that will take some getting used to. Your right shoulder might get a little cranky and sore, but if you take it slowly, don't overdo it and let it rest, you should be fine.

The Duff is not discarded anyway, it also has the pro that my girlfriend was 100% convinced by it .

I'd be lying if I said my wife's approval of an instrument has never pushed me into buying it.

 

[AndyMan]

'58 US Reissue. I put the gold guard back on. Gives a Stingray a run for it's money.

 

[AndyMan]

Rock on...

 

[Malak the Mad]

'58 US Reissue. I put the gold guard back on. Gives a Stingray a run for it's money.

Quarter Pounders with dual volume and tone controls? How brazen of you!

 

[Estropijo]

I went for a "PJ tour" today and had the chance to try a nice selection of basses:

- Aerodyne non-export 2007 (2nd hand or demo) - 899€. I liked the sound, it looks even better in person and the feeling was great. I was not planning to buy second hand, but new is not an option on these ones. It has a few scratches on the back and the hardware looked a little bit rusty (not sure if that's the word here but they don't look brand new) but pretty good condition overall. Is it usually possible to clean/fix the hardware to make it look nice again??

They also have a 2010 non-export without pickguard for a bit more and I didn't see any marks on that one, will go and try it before deciding! The fretboard without dots looks amazing, but I think I prefer the pickguard anyway.

- Fender Deluxe Active Special - 994€. This bass felt like it should cost more. Active/pasive, nice bridge, the neck felt really good... I am now not sure if the lack of passive tone si as bad as I thought. After trying some active basses I think I prefer the simplicity of the passive, as I was not feeling super comfortable with so many knobs (and not a fan of the stacked pots). The PJ+tone variety feels like enough, but hey, I also get how the active EQ can be useful. Definitely a contender and I guess it would be easy to replace the Mids knob with a passive tone. I prefer the Precision body and I would love a white bass, but the neck of the Aerodyne wins by a little bit.

- Fender Elite - ~1700€. The finish of the neck was a pleasure and it has all the possible features: active/pasive, all the EQ controls, truss rod adjustment wheel, strings through body... but I just didn't love it. The active sound felt a bit out of control, going from passive to active was a bit like an explosion. And something in the knobs felt wrong. I am happy that I didn't feel the need to spend this amount of money.

- Series Precision - 600-700€. I wanted to try a passive P, and... I loved the simplicity. This bass is probably what I would buy if I was planning to do gigs and move around with it. Or if I had in mind buying a second on (would pair great with something like an 5-string active HH, but I won't think about that for now). It sounded great and felt great, but my plan is to learn and have fun at home, so I think I don't want to sacrifice the versatility of the PJ, but hey, really impressed by this one!

- Yamaha BB434 - 599€. For some reason I expected the Yamaha to felt much better... but I was not impressed. They didn't have the 734/5 series, but I think I prefer any of the Fenders.

-
So I am still not sure what to do . From what I have tried today I think that my first impression of the Performer was bit biased because that's the first one I tried after many years and I was still shocked by the feeling of a bass again. I will try it again, but in any case the Aerodyne, the Deluxe or even the Series P would probably make me very happy.

 

[Don Vitos]

My new PJ Ibanez USA Custom 1991

 

[Don Vitos]

 

[Estropijo]

I went for a "PJ tour" today and had the chance to try a nice selection of basses:

I forgot about it very quickly, but also tried a Marcus miller P7 (don't know what version), but I just didn't like it. A similar feeling as with the Yamaha... just with a better neck and much much worse knobs, I was surprised it is sold with those.

 

[G-Dog]

... ... - Fender Deluxe Active Special - 994€. This bass felt like it should cost more. Active/pasive, nice bridge, the neck felt really good... ... ... I prefer the Precision body and I would love a white bass, but the neck of the Aerodyne wins by a little bit. ... ... So I am still not sure what to do . ... ... in any case the Aerodyne, the Deluxe or even the Series P would probably make me very happy.

I thought the Deluxe Special neck would be about the same as the Aerodyne neck! I LOVE my Deluxe Special, neck and all! Please, what do you think is better about the Aerodyne neck?
.

 

[Estropijo]

I thought the Deluxe Special neck would be about the same as the Aerodyne neck! I LOVE my Deluxe Special, neck and all! Please, what do you think is better about the Aerodyne neck?
.

Looking at the specs the only difference is the the radius: 12" vs 7.25", but I also liked the finish of the Aerodyne better. Although it was a 13 year old used bass, which I assume has an effect on the finish as well! I thought the deluxe was great as well, pretty close.

Do you have any comments about the deluxe for me? Do you miss the tone knob? And in case you have used other Precision basses, can you get close to the passive sound with the tone rolled off? In which styles/cases you think that having the active option is a plus? I just want to hear more about that bass!

 

[G-Dog]

Looking at the specs the only difference is the the radius: 12" vs 7.25", but I also liked the finish of the Aerodyne better. Although it was a 13 year old used bass, which I assume has an effect on the finish as well! I thought the deluxe was great as well, pretty close.

Do you have any comments about the deluxe for me? Do you miss the tone knob? And in case you have used other Precision basses, can you get close to the passive sound with the tone rolled off? In which styles/cases you think that having the active option is a plus? I just want to hear more about that bass!

Actually, my 2004 MIM Deluxe Precision Bass Special is active only and my first P-bass. So, I'm not the best judge vs a passive P, and can't "miss" the tone knob. But, I sure get what I believe to be the signature "growl" of a P with it! P,us lots of other tines.

Hope this helps.
.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I thought the Deluxe Special neck would be about the same as the Aerodyne neck! I LOVE my Deluxe Special, neck and all! Please, what do you think is better about the Aerodyne neck?
.

Actually, my 2004 MIM Deluxe Precision Bass Special is active only and my first P-bass. So, I'm not the best judge vs a passive P, and can't "miss" the tone knob. But, I sure get what I believe to be the signature "growl" of a P with it! P,us lots of other tines.

Hope this helps.
.

Like @Estropijo said, there's a big difference in the neck specs. Your P-Bass Special's fretboard probably has a 9.5" radius. In an effort to make certain models more "modern", a number of new offerings from Fender/Squier have a considerably flatter 12" radius. This includes the Deluxe Active Precision Specials, the Deluxe Active Jazz IV's & V's and the Squier Contemporary Series.

For some, rounder or flatter doesn't make much of a difference. For others, including me, it makes a huge difference in comfort while playing. "Personal ergonomics" are exactly that…"personal". Fortunately, there are plenty of choices to go around.

 

[CallMeAl]

Anyone have a blend knob in their PJ? Considering the mod to get master volume control over the “full on PJ” setting...