PJ players, how often do you use the J pickup?

[vvvmmm]

I'm thinking of using a high output pickup like a quarter pounder as my J pickup to see if that helps balance the outputs a little better.

Does on my P90.

 

[Nebadon2000]

First I set pickup heights when had a Fender Ultra P so both P and J had perceived equal volume; then usually had blend control between 11 and 2 O'clock maybe full P 10-15% of time for certain tunes

 

[poochiecheeks]

Never. I play Spectors and aside from a custom shop at $6K+ I am stuck with the J pickup. I basically just use the Reverse P at 100% and the J stays off.

The Ian Hill model doesn't have a bridge pickup. Unless you're talking about 5 strings

 

[BruceG68]

Both my basses a G+L JB and a 76 Hagstrom Jazz bass have the typical J bass configuration of a pair a single coils.On both basses the neck is turned up about 90% and the bridge about 20 to 25%.I play in a blues band and that setting seems to work well.A few years ago I had a Fender Deluxe Active Precision that was a PJ with a Jazz neck and most of the time I used the P pickup alone.

 

[BaltBass5]

The Ian Hill model doesn't have a bridge pickup. Unless you're talking about 5 strings

Yeah..I know but not a fan of the Judas Priest 50th logo on the fretboard and it only comes in black.

 

[billythec]

Yeah..I know but not a fan of the Judas Priest 50th logo on the fretboard and it only comes in black.

And white. But I get it

 

[hbarcat]

Never.

I keep trying to use the J pickup either soloed or blended with the P and it just never sounds good to my ears.
That surprises me because I absolutely adore the JJ sound as well as the P sound.
To me, a J pickup is only good when combined with another J pickup, and a P pickup is only good when soloed.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Big picture…like with many things, it's all subjective. We like what we like. If that happens to work in whatever recording/gigging/non-gigging sitch we're in, even better.

I use two settings the most. If I'm not in series mode, then I keep my Precision at 100% and my Jazz at somewhere between 75-90%. I love that extra bite/growl/whatever the bridge pickup lends to the overall sound.

Using a DiMarzio Sixties P/J set helps keep keep that extra hum away when I'm not running both at 100%.

 

[Zazie Moondust]

On my Jackenbacker the bridge solo'd or with just a big of P mixed in is my favorite

On my Charvel, the J can sound a little dark on its own but not particularly thick so I am more likely to use 50/50 or P solo'd to add some treble

 

[bassdude51]

PJ players, how often do you use the J pickup?​

Ha ha ha ha! Great question and I don't know of an answer.

There are a lot of P/J owners and so it must be a good pickup combo.

IMHO, I find that the 2 pickups not equally matched. Why! Generally, the P pickups are around 11ish k ohm. But generally, J bridge pickups are around 7ish k ohm. I would think that the P pickup would need to be volumed down when played with the J because the P is much hotter. I don't know. Tuff to blend?

There are hotter J bridge pickups and humbuckers too so the 2 pickups could be better matched.

Finally, a single coil J bridge pickup with a dual coil P neck pickup? Hum and stuff?

Speaking for only myself.......a P Bass and/or a J Bass. But a J with P + J pickups?

"To each his/her own."

Interesting thread and an excellent question!

 

[Geddaric]

On my American Performer I usually have the P wide open and the J rolled off about 20%.

 

[Nedmundo]

I had a G&L SB-2 for about 18 years, and I rarely used the bridge pickup. But I did use it slightly more over time, because I played some tracks that called for it. For example, one of my bands played Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes," and I could nail that tone by turning the bridge pickup on full, and rolling back the split-coil about 25%. Similar deal playing Alanis's "You Oughta Know" in practice, but I ended up using my G&L M-2500 for it on stage. Also, it was sometimes helpful to add definition with some treble-free old-school rigs.

A few months ago, I traded the SB-2 towards a GC exclusive Fender Am. Ultra II HSS Strat. Heresy, I know, but since I got the M-2500 and installed Lace Sensor Man O' War pickups in my G&L JB, I almost never played the SB-2.

 

[vvvmmm]

PJ players, how often do you use the J pickup?​

IMHO, I find that the 2 pickups not equally matched. Why! Generally, the P pickups are around 11ish k ohm. But generally, J bridge pickups are around 7ish k ohm. I would think that the P pickup would need to be volumed down when played with the J because the P is much hotter. I don't know. Tuff to blend?

There are hotter J bridge pickups and humbuckers too so the 2 pickups could be better matched.

!

So I bought a JP90 - I think here - and the J is a Duncan, one of those with the DIP switches on the face - works a treat altho' I mostly use it to augment the P-pup, I think it may be slightly louder (enuff so I can break up a OD pedal quicker).

 

[Ti-Ron]

Never!
I bought the PJ as a "test", the price was good and I didn't know if I would prefer the P or the J. After 3 years and a pickups swap, I can say that I prefer the P setup. But, since, I really like the bass, I just never use the J pickup!

 

[ravelax]

Never solo'ed, but otherwise quite often.

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

I've had maybe 3 or 4 P/Js, nice ones, and in the end I always sell them. On a P bass the J pickup just gets in the way and degrades the aesthetics. I like my P with LaBellas, and in that context the J pickup is useless. A regular Jazz Bass always beats it out.

 

[chris_b]

My Lull has the Seymour Duncan pickups. Fantastic sound. The P is always on full. The J pickup is the supporting pickup and goes between off and 80% depending on the gig, the room and how I feel.