Thoughts on 5 string P / PJ

[Justin Keoni]

This thing sure sounds great! Looks pretty good too…

 

[grimjim]

I own 3 Fender p-basses and in all honesty I only play 5 strings when dealing with 7 string guitars and they're all currently tuned to A. The A and the D were a little floppy so I went up a gauge on each of those. Cleaned them up nicely. Got the passive p-bass tone with the benefit of extended range.

 

[GreyBeard]

I’ve been thinking of getting a 5-string P or PJ bass. I’ve got a nice 4-string P that I’d like to use with my band but I need a 5 for some of the tunes we play. The asymmetry of a 5-string split coil P pickup kind of bothers me aesthetically, but I can get over it if it sounds good.

Do 5-string P pickups have any sonic disadvantages versus a 4?

I had a 5 string pbass pro that I ended up selling because I just didn't like the B string. I much prefer my Ultra Jazz 5 for the tone as well as the neck profile

 

[2cooltoolz]

This was born a P5, and I remember being okay with it, but I wanted an "all-night" bass, playing in a variety band. It's pretty much a build now, but relative to this post, it's a passive PJ with Nordstrand NP5F/Nordstrand NJ5FS pickups. I use Chromes but with a .50 "G".
I play it P pickup only 90%, and it sounds like a P. I'm not jammin' down on the lower B frets much, except walking up to the E string, and the occasional low 5th on country tunes (1-5-1-5-1-5-1-5-1-5 )
But it's solid, it's quiet, it's a "P"!

 

[chris_b]

Either way, get what you like. I’m a big believer that if you are proud of the instrument you’re playing you will tend to play it better. So don’t think it’s superficial.

This.

If you're happy with your bass you'll play better and that'll make more difference than any piece of equipment you bought.

 

[TomB]

I’ve had both and they can both be terrific or not - many other factors besides pickup configuration matter more, sonically speaking. I like a PJ setup as the bridge pickup adds some sparkle and clarity to the B string - helps to even out its response. The Music Man pickup location does a similar thing, IME.

 

[logdrum]

Fender Am Pro II 5 string P sounds great. Great neck too.

 

[J Wilson]

IF a PJ tone works for you, I've owned four of them over my time, and they all worked just fine, lopsided optics and all. It's a non-issue.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I have the Yamaha bb435 with asymmetric P pickups.. they died within the first week. Replaced under warranty but they're still rather MEH!! at best.
Having a lot of trouble finding replacement pickups that will fit straight in... this has more to do with geographical location and international commerce relations than simple production and availability.
Based upon this predicament.. I would avoid them when looking for another 5 string bass.

Now the J pickup is playing up. The J can be swapped for a DiMarzio (my go to choice) no worries but the P or both will probably have to go in for a rewind or ill end up selling the bass and buying something more suitable.

 

[Vanheusen77]

Based on my experience with a Yamaha BBP35 bass: Sonic disadvantages-none (sounds great on just the P pickup, and if you like the PJ or J sound go for it). Cosmetic disadvantages-not worse than any other 5, but I prefer 4 string basses.

 

[JimmyM]

Based on my experience with a Yamaha BBP35 bass: Sonic disadvantages-none (sounds great on just the P pickup, and if you like the PJ or J sound go for it). Cosmetic disadvantages-not worse than any other 5, but I prefer 4 string basses.

I think that last line goes without saying .

But all seriousness aside, PJ’s have been around so long that most are acclimated to its shocking, hideous, outrageous lack of symmetry, even with a 5.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I’ve been thinking of getting a 5-string P or PJ bass. I’ve got a nice 4-string P that I’d like to use with my band but I need a 5 for some of the tunes we play. The asymmetry of a 5-string split coil P pickup kind of bothers me aesthetically, but I can get over it if it sounds good.

Do 5-string P pickups have any sonic disadvantages versus a 4?

I love my MIA 4 string Fender PBj, but when it came to buying a 5er, I bought a AmPro V JB. For the most part when I use my PBJ with VVT controls, I run all controls wide open, which negates most of the PB type sound. With the VVT controls open on the JB V, there isn’t too much of a departure tone wise.

 

[bigtone23]

I prefer a P/J over a P any day!
I have a '00 US Fender P Dlx 5er, which is technically a P/JJ.
The offset coils for the split coil pickup are B E on one, A D G on the other. If I had my druthers, having the neck side coil covering the B E A and the other coil with the D G would be more 'accurate' to the 4 string P thing. There have been many that modded this model to flip the coils.

Otherwise, Wilde's P46 pickup is two identical coils that fit in 4 string routs, but can be spread out to cover the 5 string spacing... If I was starting from scratch, this would be how I'd go. Shown is my 4 string with that pickup. (The J45 pickup can also accommodate a 5 string spacing)

 

[AHaze]

If it's just the asymmetric appearance that bothers you, there are 5 string split coil P-style pickups available in a soapbar housing such as the EMG 40P5 and Bartolini Original Splits. Those are both "reverse P" with the D-G coil closer to the neck though. The Nordy Big Split may be another option if you're good with "close enough" tone wise. They look like a large single coil but sound more like a P than a J to me.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

If it's just the asymmetric appearance that bothers you, there are 5 string split coil P-style pickups available in a soapbar housing such as the EMG 40P5 and Bartolini Original Splits. Those are both "reverse P" with the D-G coil closer to the neck though. The Nordy Big Split may be another option if you're good with "close enough" tone wise. They look like a large single coil but sound more like a P than a J to me.

Thanks, it’s not that the appearance is a big issue, I was mainly concerned about what 3/2 does to hum and sound.