Recommend me a passive P/J

[MattyH]

I know you said " built in the USA" buy don't knock a lakland skyline until you try one...

You should be able to find a used Duck Dunn ( 4464 custom) at that price point... And maybe even one with a j already installed.

I have a few lakland skylines and I would a b then against a mia gender any day of the week...

Good luck with your search

This. Get a Lakland Skyline. It'll be a little harder to track one down with the J installed, BUT, if you wanted to go up to around $1200 brand new...

Sweetwater has one in stock, which is rare cause these sell FAST. I'm a die hard Skyline lover. But I also hate P basses. Until I tried a Lakland. Changed my way of thinking on Ps all together. I bet this thing is superb. I'm GASing hard for one.
And just look at it drool

Don't let the overseas stamp get to you. I promise, the Skylines are some of the best basses out there. I aggressively gig one and it's the best bass I've owned.

 

[GranSportMan]

My MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz is the cat's ass as far as playability. You should try one for yourself.

 

[christopea]

The MIM Special is nice, P body, Jazz neck, PJ pups. But only the older models are passive, unless they changed them around again?

I have one of these older passive Precision Specials, from around 2004, slightly modded. It's got whatever pups were current in the MIA models at the time, and the guy I bought it from had also put a BAII on it. I love it. I've gigged with it pretty regularly (though I often use a Jazz too) for about 8 years now. I've sold a couple "better" basses during the time I've owned this one, but this has stuck around. Perhaps it's not as high end as you're looking for, but I would still highly recommend one of these for a PJ w/1.5" nut, especially if you dig the thinner jazz profile.

Another cool feature, imo, of the older version is that they had gold anodized PGs; the newer ones I've seen have those gold plastic PGs (forget what material that is) rather than the anodized aluminum.

Also, a big +1 for the MIJ Jazz Specials. One of those would be an excellent choice as well imo.

 

[MCF]

Maybe this. Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gizmot]

I'd look at a G & L, a Dingwall or a Sadowsky. All of those do Fender much better than Fender does.

 

[basspraiser]

This. Get a Lakland Skyline. It'll be a little harder to track one down with the J installed, BUT, if you wanted to go up to around $1200 brand new...

View attachment 644017

Sweetwater has one in stock, which is rare cause these sell FAST. I'm a die hard Skyline lover. But I also hate P basses. Until I tried a Lakland. Changed my way of thinking on Ps all together. I bet this thing is superb. I'm GASing hard for one.
And just look at it drool

Don't let the overseas stamp get to you. I promise, the Skylines are some of the best basses out there. I aggressively gig one and it's the best bass I've owned.

EXACTLY what I was thinking about......the color can be changes rather inexpensively if need be.

 

[fantasticplanet]

standard jag!
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inexpensive, nice tone

 

[fantasticplanet]

big, deep and warm definitely makes me think jazz bass rather than a pj though. also, if you're into motown, don't forget flatwounds!

 

[Stranger Danger]

My MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz is the cat's ass as far as playability. You should try one for yourself.View attachment 644018

Not a P

 

[Blue Moose]

Matty, that is THE bass I want. Right down to the last detail...black body, jazz neck, blocked fingerboard, passive PJ config, etc. Absolutely perfect.

 

[placedesjardins]

Fender Deluxe PJ Bass | Musician's Friend

It's made in Mexico though.

 

[DreadyDiggs]

Corsair/Greg Bennett CR15 (Five string)

5 Bolt Neck. Fatter/wider neck than Ibanez. Sounds great. I just finally fixed my J Pickup wiring so I've got the bass full range now lol. Cheap bass (I bought it even cheaper than new since I found it on Craigslist), but does the deed well.

Still needs a new nut, but I've already gigged it as is. No complaints.

It's heavier than my Ibanez even though the body is appears smaller.

Here it for yourself. P Pickup Only in this vid and sorry for my mistakes, I was messing with that line for the first time and also first time jamming with the dude on guitar and drummie and I took turns being blown away lol.

 

[Daniel Piper]

Maybe a reverend mercalli would do the trick for you

 

[lowphatbass]

I find myself in similar gig situations and sometimes a good P bass is a better compromise than a passive PJ.

 

[Down_Low]

Treat yourself, and make one up - Allparts or Warmoth. You deserve it. It can be done in that range. I built my '51 P clone for about $700 (I did the wood finishing myself).

This. Or just buy a nice P, and have a tech add a J pickup to it - once it's routed it's really not an issue.

I was after something similar - and a P bass sounds exactly what you're after, not a Jazz. This is what I put together from parts (American Fender neck and body too):

 

[LanOsb133]

Is there any reason you want a passive bass over an Active bass? The P/HJ USA deluxe basses are PHENOMENAL, you get two extra frets, a 5 bolt neck, a ~95% sized body, and a super fat tone, all for ~$750-$1000.

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The P bass Lyte deluxe is also the same bass (pickup configuration, fret number) just cheaper but just as awesome and is raved about. The non deluxe is a PJ some you may want to look into the Lures if you are hellbent on sticking with the PJ over the PHJ

 

[blindrabbit]

I hit my 50's a couple of years ago and these days I find myself acting more my age and playing in classic rock and Motown cover bands - something I once swore I would never do. My two EBMM Sterling 4H's aren't doing it for me in these situations so it's time to say goodbye to one of them which is gathering dust. What has been working surprisingly well is an 80's Ibanez Roadstar P/J with a decent set of pickups. So I'm on the hunt for a well built (preferably American) passive P/J with a 1.5" nut width in the $800 used range and I'm not aware of much. The G&L SB-2 comes immediately to mind but then I draw a blank. It doesn't ultimately need to be P/J, I just need big, deep and warm and much prefer the versatility of 2 pickups, plus that split P fits so well in the music I am playing.

Recommendations?

Thanks much,
-EZ

The Godin Shifter Classic is what you are looking for. I had one and loved it. It may have been the best passive bass I've ever owned. Fantastic neck. If big, deep, and warm is what you are looking for, I'd suggest trying the P/J in series setting that the Shifter Classic has.

Now, as for those Sterlings of yours...I wouldn't mind seeing and hearing more about them, especially the one that you are thinking of letting go.

 

[LowEZ]

I never said it needed to be a Precision-based bass. In fact I am not really a fan of the P's chunky body, something I like about a Sterling or an SB-2. The passive thing is because I don't really need active so I would like to eschew the battery and associated electronics.

This. Get a Lakland Skyline. It'll be a little harder to track one down with the J installed, BUT, if you wanted to go up to around $1200 brand new...

View attachment 644017

Sweetwater has one in stock, which is rare cause these sell FAST. I'm a die hard Skyline lover. But I also hate P basses. Until I tried a Lakland. Changed my way of thinking on Ps all together. I bet this thing is superb. I'm GASing hard for one.
And just look at it drool

Don't let the overseas stamp get to you. I promise, the Skylines are some of the best basses out there. I aggressively gig one and it's the best bass I've owned.

Beautiful but probably a bit over budget.

Maybe a reverend mercalli would do the trick for you View attachment 644142

WOW! If it wasn't for the 1.65" nut width (I am stuck on 1.5") I'd be all over this thing.

Is there any reason you want a passive bass over an Active bass? The P/HJ USA deluxe basses are PHENOMENAL, you get two extra frets, a 5 bolt neck, a ~95% sized body, and a super fat tone, all for ~$750-$1000.

Link Removed

The P bass Lyte deluxe is also the same bass (pickup configuration, fret number) just cheaper but just as awesome and is raved about. The non deluxe is a PJ some you may want to look into the Lures if you are hellbent on sticking with the PJ over the PHJ

A buddy of mine had one and it was the the only Fender I ever really loved playing. I would definitely consider one.

The Godin Shifter Classic is what you are looking for. I had one and loved it. It may have been the best passive bass I've ever owned. Fantastic neck. If big, deep, and warm is what you are looking for, I'd suggest trying the P/J in series setting that the Shifter Classic has.

Now, as for those Sterlings of yours...I wouldn't mind seeing and hearing more about the, especially the one that you are thinking of letting go.

It will be in the classified's as soon as my wife's friend takes some pics of it. It's a beautiful early production 1993 that is so nice that I was afraid to beat it up so I bought a cosmetically challenged 1996 to use every day. The 1993 just sits in its case under my bed so better if someone else enjoys it.

 

[Midak]

As @BIGEJ2 already mentioned - Fender Vintage Hot Rod Series. American-made and discontinued, so you can continue buying used :




Or, as @Down_Low said, buy an American Standard P and add a J-Pickup.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

G&L SB-2. The nicest PJ I ever owned.