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the misleading P/J concept (Wilbur Bascomb)...

W

williamk

Apr 2, 2008
871
28
#1
hi all
my all time favorite bass tone is the one that Wilbur Bascomb has (look him up if you don't know him, he's amazing). Here are perfect examples of his tone and style:



these are excerpts from the movie Hair; if you have the CD soundtrack, it'll obviously sound better than these youtube videos, but you'll get the general idea by listening to these.

To me it's the perfect bass sound, that fits remarkably well in the mix and seems to fit any style (if you listen to the whole Hair soundtrack, you will see what I mean).

As a bassist, I have tried for years to try and emulate his sound and playing style, and have done a lot of research to see what gear he used; there is surprisingly little info on this guy (what a shame, he's genius!). However, I discovered that he played a fender p-bass (so far that was pretty obvious) but I've played many p-basses and I could not sound quite like this. I also later discovered that apparently he had a j-bass pickup installed at the bridge, which might explain that extra "nasal" quality.

I then bought my first P/J...and that worked even less! Is it just me or when a p PU and j PU are played together, the sound is terrible? No mids at all, impossible to cut in any mix.
Was my bass just a bad one (an aerodyne with upgraded PU's)? Maybe a better match of specific PU's works better? Is the P/J sound a scooped/muddy one?

What's the secret to this guy's tone? He doesn't use flats because there's a lot of slap. It sounds like a p-bass with an extra kick, but I have yet to hear a good P/J sound. Any P/J guys out there to help?

I'm seriously ready to do all it takes to have that sound.
Help another "I wanna sound like this guy" guy!
And enjoy Wilbur Bascomb if you don't know him yet!! ;)
thanks!
 
#7
Not all P/J's are created equal. I've had ones that did not blend well at all. The acid test for me is if I like the sound of the J solo'd. Very few suit me. My current P/J, a Peavey Foundation "S" is super. Mixing the J with the P actually thickens the overall tone and broadens the range, It's beautiful. YMMV.
 
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#9
I played them for years. EMG's, Quarter Pounders, the Godin Freeway 5 I picked up when I started playing 5'ers and missed the PJ thing (it was pretty much the only stock P/J 5 string that I could find/afford) I left that stock passive for a year, and then put a Basslines pre in it...

I can say they pretty much all sounded different in their ways. I'd think a really strong/loud P with a wimpy J might not sound the best, especially with both pickups dimed. I know that with a J/J bass, I need more neck pu in my tone that with a P/J, so they are a bit darker in that respect. Again I think it depends on the bass/particular pickups used.
 
#13
#15
#16
williamk said:
laklands are a bit on the "too expensive" side for me...
I'm looking for under 1K if possible
Click to expand...

Keep looking the Skyline Series Bob Glaub's show up from time to time for under a grand. In fact a new one is just a bit more than a grand brand new.

Edit: $1,049.00 at Bass Central and they're always willing to deal. Then throw a Fralin jazz p-up in and voila! Awesome PJ. The trick is that it has to sound good to begin with, then make mods to it.

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#17
To me, the clips all sound like a standard P with some semi-fresh strings on it. When I think PJ, I think of the Fender Jazz Bass Special, like the Duff McKagan one I personally have.



Played with a pick through a GK 800rb, into the board. Slightly nasally, just the way I like it. On the Jazz Specials, however, the pickups were both moved closer to the bridge, and had the Fender TBX (Treble bass expander) tone pot, which cuts bass one way and treble the other.
 
#18
bassmatt4792 said:
To me, the clips all sound like a standard P with some semi-fresh strings on it. When I think PJ, I think of the Fender Jazz Bass Special, like the Duff McKagan one I personally have.



Played with a pick through a GK 800rb, into the board. Slightly nasally, just the way I like it. On the Jazz Specials, however, the pickups were both moved closer to the bridge, and had the Fender TBX (Treble bass expander) tone pot, which cuts bass one way and treble the other.
Click to expand...


ill go check that bass out, and the lakland too
 

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