Want a P/J; Which would you pick & why?

[CTBassGuy]

For Sale - Fender Deluxe Active Precision Bass - Sapphire Blue with Maple Fingerboard

Dang that's pretty; I'm such a sucker for Blue (see my avatar). Too rich for my budget though...

 

[Wfrance3]

Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar Bass - 3-Color Sunburst

 

[Kukulkan61]

I would get the G&L..

 

[beaglesandbass]

I’ve never liked any active fender bass I’ve played. Just saying. If you want Fender MIM, they did make a PJ that was passive.

I believe Squier still makes a VM PJ.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I’ve got some very nice basses, but lack a fretted P. I don’t want to spend more than $500, and I also do NOT get along well with a typical Precision-spec neck; my Pedulla Buzz and CIJ Geddy Jazz are my favorite necks for feel.

So to get a P with a neck like that and with finish and fretboard style I want (maple fretboard and 3-tone tobacco burst), I’ve narrowed down to these two P/Js (used). Which would you choose and why?

- Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special (Mexican)

- G&L SB-2 Tribute (Korean) (and probably add the Tone mod)

Talman 600

Well, they're discontinued, but the replacement is the 550. So...550.

 

[jd56hawk]

I’ve got some very nice basses, but lack a fretted P. I don’t want to spend more than $500, and I also do NOT get along well with a typical Precision-spec neck; my Pedulla Buzz and CIJ Geddy Jazz are my favorite necks for feel.

So to get a P with a neck like that and with finish and fretboard style I want (maple fretboard and 3-tone tobacco burst), I’ve narrowed down to these two P/Js (used). Which would you choose and why?

- Fender Deluxe Active Precision Special (Mexican)

- G&L SB-2 Tribute (Korean) (and probably add the Tone mod)

The SB-2T.
Why?
Because my L2000 is the best bass I've ever played by a long shot.

 

[IvanBassist]

The SB-2 is great. Did a demo on that one. Like you mentioned, I’d probably add a tone control, too

 

[sikamikanico]

I’ll echo Yamaha BB: Yamaha BB434M Bass Guitar - Tobacco Brown Sunburst

 

[Killing Floor]

I want this one. Aside from the obvious reasons, beautiful, one-off design, Lollar vintage in the driver's seat and Lollar J in the trunk, East preamp, the mahogany/flame maple, mahogany neck, the ebony with abalone vine inlay, the steamed maple flamed binding throughout, and the 150-year-old barn salvaged redwood top...
I guess the real reason I want it is the nut width. Saving....

 

[TakeABreak]

If you get a chance to read Helmuth Lemme’s excellent book Electric Guitar: Sound Secrets And Technology, you'll find an in-depth explanation of how all these factors come together to give you the tone you hear.

If you’re not up for reading the whole book, one of its most salient chapters is available to read online for free. Find it here.

Very interesting read, thanks for the link!

 

[40Hz]

It's funny, I've never really given Ibanez much consideration. I've demoed a few and they always just felt like a toy to me. I'm sure the upper end models are probably great, but I've not found one to try.

I'll have to reconsider that position and see if I can find others to try.

Thanks for the suggestions!

The Ibby Talman is actually worth considering. If you’re up for paying around $500 for their TMB500 model, it comes with Nordstrand pickups. Those will set you back around $120 each just by themselves.

 

[40Hz]

Very interesting read, thanks for the link!

You’re welcome. “Knowledge is power” as the saying goes.

 

[Maxdusty]

I voted other...
While I like G&L basses, I owned a Tribute SB2 and didn't like it. I know it's all a matter of personal preference but a PJ bass to me should sound smooth not aggressive and "modern" sounding like the SB2. The MFD pickups are a little too much but works on an L2000 or an M2000 imo.
For sheer versatility, perhaps a Sire P7 would be the one I would recommend, with active/passive options - it's all available to you in a P bass style body. Other bass brand I would recommend is Yamaha BBs.

 

[Mikey F]

Get an MM Caprice. They are unbelievable. I am an idiot for selling mine.

 

[B-Lo]

If you like the slimmer necks, you should check out the Ibanez SR650 or 655. Awesome playability, awesome Nordstrand pickups and can be had in the $500 range used.

 

[ThaCoast]

Yamaha BB series, Fender Jazz special, Any Spector bass.

 

[fretlessman71]

I will echo support for the Yamaha BB410 and BB434. I'm a fivebanger guy and I got a BB415 last year, used, for about $300. P/J config, well balanced, both pickups sound ENORMOUS on their own, and is very comfortable. I wanted a 5er P bass without shelling out $2K for a Fender; I might have even beaten the Fender in tone.

 

[Chad Michael]

...my Pedulla Buzz...

Ummm, you already have the ultimate pj… did I miss something?

 

[fermata]

24255765[/URL], member: 356097"]I would do the G&L, mostly because of the MFD pickups. The MFD is the best PU Leo Fender ever designed, IMO. A hotter version of a traditional split P and jazz pickup, but still can give a good Fender milk chocolate tone. They do have a really sparkling, almost harsh treble clink to them, but if that's not to your taste you can turn down the treble and muffle it. So the G&L would be the best sounding one, IMO.

L

With MFDs in general, and with SB-2 in particular, the volume controls are the tone control.

A passive tone control works by bleeding off treble via parallel resistance. Because MFDs are so hot, they can handle a lot of series resistance (turning down the volume control) before the actual volume drops. So the volume control bleeds off treble via series resistance, replacing the need for a more typical parallel resistance tone control.

Turned up all the way, those hot pickups can be a handful, but with the volume turned down quite a bit, they respond like more typical pickups and the tone gets darker and smoother. That range and responsiveness gives MFD-equipped passive basses an almost active vibe. They’re a remarkable design, for sure.

 

[mongo2]

I went with the Mustang P/J Limited Edition because the one I auditioned has the best sounding P tone I've ever heard in about 50 years of playing so I bought it.