Sonic difference between a P-J steup and J-J setup

[jbailes]

Hello all,
For any who have a bass with a PJ pickup format on their bass, I was wondering how different the sound is from a bass with 2 jazz pickups. Thanks.

 

[RedMoses]

Very different.

Nothing sounds like a J Bass with both pickups turned up, its got a really nice scooped out mid range, best slap sound you can get IMO. but when soling the neck pickup, it wont sound like P Bass.

The advantage of the PJ is that you can have a proper P bass tone when soloing the neck pick up and or a proper J Bass (Jaco) tone from the bridge pick up. When they are both up together it sounds nice but it wont sound like JJ.

I find PJ more versatile. although i love the J Bass sound jaming on my own, when playing in the band setting the P just cuts through the mix better.

 

[Hopkins]

Very different.

Nothing sounds like a J Bass with both pickups turned up, its got a really nice scooped out mid range, best slap sound you can get IMO. but when soling the neck pickup, it wont sound like P Bass.

The advantage of the PJ is that you can have a proper P bass tone when soloing the neck pick up and or a proper J Bass (Jaco) tone from the bridge pick up. When they are both up together it sounds nice but it wont sound like JJ.

I find PJ more versatile. although i love the J Bass sound jaming on my own, when playing in the band setting the P just cuts through the mix better.

Thats interesting, I never noticed any mid scoop in any Jazz I own, In fact they have an upper mid range kind of bite to them.

I find that where a P sits really well in the mix, a Jazz cuts through and kind of sits in front of it, if that makes any sense.


To the OP, a PJ sounds like a P when the P pickup is soloed, sounds like a soloed bridge Jazz when the Jazz is soloed. But its its own animal when both pickups are used together.

 

[acebase62]

There is normally a degree of mid scoop that occurs in a JJ when both pickups are on full volume.

The mids quickly become more prominent when one pickup volume is lowered a bit.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/jazz-bass-scooping-mids-lows-full-volume-why-894722/

 

[Diesel Kilgore]

I don't know how well my Jag would compare to any other P/J. But I find my single J a bit tangy and tinny on its own, even though it still sounds good to my ears. The neck P is definately where it's at on my bass, and the J adds a nice touch of treble punch to the P when dialed in together.