PJ's do not bring a jazz bass tone. get over it

[Hahaha]

To my ear the bridge pickup on a J gets that true burpy tone while the bridge pickup on a PJ gets more of a belchy tone.

 

[Bassmunnky]

I'm at peace with this...however...I never thought of it as getting close to a Jazz but Giving the P a little added 'sumpthin"

 

[Wilbyman]

I don't really see what the neck pickup has to do with getting a burpy bridge J pickup sound. If you want to say that a PJ doesn't sound like a JJ, that's different.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I just burped and thought, yep, jazz bass

 

[JZQuantum]

The last PJ I owned (Sadowsky metro) with both pups on didn't sound like a regular J with both pups on.

You can call that a PJ sound vs JJ sound I guess. My Fender jazz is the only thing I own that sounds like a JJ (both pups on).

I didn't care for the PJ sound, but that's me.

 

[InhumanResource]

Most people referred to the JJ tone as “scooped,” not burpy. Scoop refers to the relative lack of mids on a Jazz while the bass and treble are dominant. Any bass with a split pickup in the sweet spot with have lots of mids, especially slightly lower mids. That is why a Precision slap tone is totally unlike a Jazz.

This is also why many players will favor one pickup over the other a bit, you can unscoop by not leaving both pickups wide open.

I think the two configurations are very close and bridge solo on either sould be VERY close... But neck solo and various balances are where the differences become more obvious.

Honestly, neck solo jazz with the right mid voicing sounds darn close to a precision to me.

 

[BobDeRosa]

a good set of jazz pickups delivers a burpy tone. a pj cannot deliver it.
i have 1 pj. when i use it, the bridge pick up is off, even though its a good
one it does not improve the sound or clarity. p only is a killer, usefull tone.
but the two are different. you cannot get a burpy jazz bass tone from a pj.

go ahead and bring the heat. i can take it lol

Completely agree. I use my P/Js as only P's -- and they're awesome P's. I'm assuming a P/J can't produce a true J sound because there's only one J pickup and it's way back near the bridge. That neck pickup on a real J adds a tremendous amount of sonic value.

 

[Xjenrbcjsmsbfjw]

Off topic, but if I live to a thousand I'll never understand why people describe that sound as "burpy." I understand the sound they are talking about, and if I strain my ear I guess I get why the first guy who went reaching for an adjective and found "burpy," went with it, but IMHO it gets at like 5% of what that sound is. Such a weird adjective.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Off topic, but if I live to a thousand I'll never understand why people describe that sound as "burpy." I understand the sound they are talking about, and if I strain my ear I guess I get why the first guy who went reaching for an adjective and found "burpy," went with it, but IMHO it gets at like 5% of what that sound is. Such a weird adjective.

I know what you mean. Until TB, I called the rear pickup tone nasal.

 

[FRoss6788]

Off topic, but if I live to a thousand I'll never understand why people describe that sound as "burpy." I understand the sound they are talking about, and if I strain my ear I guess I get why the first guy who went reaching for an adjective and found "burpy," went with it, but IMHO it gets at like 5% of what that sound is. Such a weird adjective.

Yep, I think nasal is more accurate.

 

[FRoss6788]

I know what you mean. Until TB, I called the rear pickup tone nasal.

Beat me to it, Doc

 

[Chad Michael]

...Good GOD what a player! Never heard of Doug John before!...

He is a master that few know of. I love his playing style and tone.

 

[matthewbrown]

Really don't like the sound of a Jazz most of the time, so no problem. PJ all the way.

 

[Glynn Murray]

It is the sound that makes you feel like saying "nwah". Same as trying to describe a wah-wah pedal being played without doing mouth movements. Anybody remember Harry Worth and the window and the arm and leg? - whenever you say Harry Worth to someone who knew of him, they do that impression.

 

[Sandman64]

I love my PJ basses as I get more useful tones from them than I could get from just a single P pickup. I have always loved the look of a Precision bass but never was over thrilled with the tone from them. Yes they have their sound and it just works in most situations which is great, nobody can really debate that. However I wanted more and the only way I can achieve what I'm looking for with a P bass was to drop a J pickup in the bridge position. Again, I love the way they look, play etc. So PJ is the only way to go if I want to keep that look and playability that I love so much. I have Jazz basses as well which I also love. But for me, a P needs a J lol.

 

[yodedude2]

went from p.1 to p.7 to say...what about a j-p-j?

 

[Claymore]

PJ is my favorite pickup configuration but not because I'm trying to introduce "Jazz tone". I just way prefer the sound of both pickups on than either one solo. I don't even think it sounds remotely like a Jazz bass... I just dig the sound.

 

[Thundertips]

went from p.1 to p.7 to say...what about a j-p-j?

That's an interesting predicament!

 

[larrysb]

went from p.1 to p.7 to say...what about a j-p-j?

How about a P-J-Ric-J and a piezo under the bridge too! Can you imagine all the knobs to turn on that one? You could spend hours setting the tone before striking the first note!

 

[yodedude2]

How about a P-J-Ric-J and a piezo under the bridge too! Can you imagine all the knobs to turn on that one? You could spend hours setting the tone before striking the first note!

mine has 3 knobs. still trying to post the pic. the talkbass gods are fighting me...edit: okay got it. post #136