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What is the best P J combo pickups?

U

usurperbass

May 1, 2009
151
1
Hudson Valley,NY
Disclosures
ebay seller bassrocker32,bassist/guitarist for Glory Bound & sessions
#1
Hi I was originally going to build a j bass, but I ended up finding a cool Fender p j hybrid that I am going to modify. I want this bass to be versatile to cover different styles of music. I had in mind for the j pup a Carvin stacked, I think it is like 16k and for the p between a Fender 62 reissue pup or GFS pup, both about 10k. Here come the questions. Am I better off with just getting a set of a P J matched combo, if so which ones? I am looking to spend no more than $200 for the pair. There seem to be alot of good contenders out there, I just do not know what would be my best option. I am looking for something that can run the musical gammet of folk rock to hard rock. Thanks, Mike
 
#4
maybe the dimarzio's DP126, which is PJ set with a split coil Jazz pup (the model J).
I think it is a very good option, since the split coil J pup won't have much hum.

I really like seymour duncan, but they don't have any split coil J, that's why I lean toward the dimarzio's, which are also very good sounding.

and the set is cheap, like $99

Regards
 
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#6
something to be sure about is to try to avoid split coild jazz pickups if not in premade PJ pickup sets, I've had a split coil Jazz pickup lying around which I cannot find a Pbass ppickup out there that it doesn't have phase problems with so if I were you I'd stick with stacked Jazz pickups or PJ sets... Just a little caution to save you going through all the trial and error after error that I did... Enjoy the PJ thought, it's a great combo for versatility
 
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#7
IMHO it's best to try and find a dedicated pj set with a stacked or split j. You need a set that's matched in volume and a non humming j. Mine's a Nordstrand set, but that might be above your price range. It doesn't sound like you've got a extreme tone wish so there are lot's of options. The Di Marzio's sound ok to me, you can't realy go wrong with Seymour Duncans too.
 
#8
bclark812008 said:
I like Bartolini's Classic Bass series. I have them in my Spector, Warwick and about to put a set in my Fender Jazz! They sound great and are under $200!
Click to expand...

+1 my all around favorite set as well. I specifically like not having exposed poles on aftermarket installs, it eliminates any odd looks you get from strings that are not exactly aligned over the center of the pole pieces. I do find them slightly darker sounding than most PJ sets I've tried, but I like that. The aguilar onboard preamp and the East preamp are a great match for them, oddly enough I didn't like the Bart preamp with them.
My second favorite choice is the Delano set.
 
#12
My Aero Instrument PE-1 is a 8.5k ohm P Bass pickup.. It balances PERFECTLY with both volumes maxed with a Seymour Duncan SJB-1 which also measures 8.5k ohm. I have never been more happy with a combination of pickups (P-J) than this. The tone has all the inherent roundness of the precision bass pickup, but has all the bite, bark and snarl of the J bridge. The volumes MATCH for once even with the P Bass pickup set up right instead of lowered down into the body to match output. The tone was very much a PJ, but since the J stood out so much you could dig in at the bridge for an instant Jazz bass on 'roids tone or play closer to the neck for a deeper P-bass tone. Dimming the P or J pickups respectively was very much like my Jazz bass. The pickup interaction was very much jazz-bass-like in that respect. It was almost like the cancellation in the mid-range that I hear with most setups was not there.

TBH- The J used to hum more with a Seymour duncan 10.5k SPB-1. Putting the aero PE-1 in which matches the impedance of the J made the J hum less. I found myself with less hum than a telecaster. It would be VERY hard to find a humbucking J with as much output as a single coil in the bridge IMO. I've tried quite a few. I'm sticking with these pickups.. they MADE the bass.
 
#16
JavierFarias said:
maybe the dimarzio's DP126, which is PJ set with a split coil Jazz pup (the model J).
I think it is a very good option, since the split coil J pup won't have much hum.

I really like seymour duncan, but they don't have any split coil J, that's why I lean toward the dimarzio's, which are also very good sounding.

and the set is cheap, like $99

Regards
Click to expand...

This,dimarzio is the best bang for the buck PJ set out there.
 
#19
The dimarzio P outpowers the J by a long shot in that set. The noiseless action is nice, but I couldn't stand the dark murky bridge sound and the P sounded muddy because it is wired to be bass heavy.

I honestly advocate for having a custom set wound for a P-J by somebody reputable, like Fralin. Try 9k P bass and 9K J, in single coil. My suggestion breaks the bank and the Dimarzio beats anything out there in value for the P-J set.
 

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