Precision PJ but no Jazz PJ

[danosix]

Cage the Elephant guy could just come out and admit he loves him some Blink 182. No shame in that.

Well, there's a LITTLE shame in that...

 

[danosix]

The neck pickup on a Jazz bass is closer to the neck than a P. With a PJ bass derived from the Precision platform you basically have to plant a J pickup into an unrouted area of the body, which is relatively easily done. I think the appetite in bassists who go down this route has always been to squeeze a brighter tone out of a P bass, so historically it was P basses that ended up routed for extra pickups.

Basses like the Aerodyne simply plant a P pickup where the J neck pickup would be, which shifts it closer to the neck than where the pickup resides on a proper P bass. If you produce a Jazz pickguard with a P pickup route, in the correct P pickup location, you end up with a tiny sliver of pickguard left at the rear behind the pickup route. I had a guy make me a pickguard for my old Jazz bass (which I sometimes miss) with the P pickup in the correct location, and the solution was simply to produce a mashup that was 90% Jazz pickguard and 10% Precision pickguard where the pickup was. I've attached an image of the final outcome. From memory the bass ran on a set of low budget Schallers that were sold to me as Dimarzios.

I like that pickguard - in fact, I think I like BETTER than a regular Jazz Pickguard - which I never thought needed improving before today.
In fact, I REALLY like that bass - not usually a backwards headstock guy, but I like that too. The only thing I'd do is make the p/g pearloid and be done - maybe get the actual Dimarzios (or a Geezer set).

 

[jd56hawk]

That's odd. These are the non export models but they're still passive right? Is "active jazz bass" a Japanese to English translation thing?

I've never known this model to be active. The USA one that Guitar Center sells, yes, but this paticular one.
Calls for a bit more research.

 

[khutch]

If you want a MIM PJ you can pick between the Aerodyne, the Troy Sanders Jaguar, the Mustang, and the Deluxe Active Precision Bass Special all of which have Jazz or Jazz-like necks. The Reggie Hamilton is gone now, or for now at least, but other than the body style the Deluxe Active Precision is quite close. No Hipshot tuner either but that is easily added. I believe all the current American PJs have Precision necks and one thing you should know about the Reggie Hamilton is that while its neck is Jazz width it is slightly thicker and feels a little chunkier than any MIM Jazz neck I have played so that might be a deal breaker for a few of you. Squier make two Jaguar PJs with thin necks and two Precision PJ's with Precision necks.

 

[socialleper]

I am really starting to think that Japan gets much cooler basses than we do. The ESP\LTD basses available there are nice, and even Bacchus, which is just rehashed Fender, has some cooler looking models than what we have here. Why the hell are Americans so afraid of rosewood and black pick guards?

 

[jd56hawk]

Oh, definitely.
The question is...why do they get so many options?
Heck, their G&L L 2000s even have pickguards!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Didn't want to spring for a new pickguard eh?

Doesn't MM always play a jazz??

He played a Sting Signature Precision half the set when he toured with Herbie Hancock around 2006.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I am really starting to think that Japan gets much cooler basses than we do. The ESP\LTD basses available there are nice, and even Bacchus, which is just rehashed Fender, has some cooler looking models than what we have here. Why the hell are Americans so afraid of rosewood and black pick guards?

There is a lot of cool stuff over there that is never exported to North America, and that's just considering Fender Japan. They do tend to use basswood almost exclusively though except for some of the more expensive models or where explicitly mentioned.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

Don't most of the common PJ models sport a Jazz width neck?

Unfortunately..