JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What is the ultimate best P/J value???
- Thread starter Aceman
- Start date
OK - let's focus on MINE!!!! Which I don't have yet and I doubt you guys are giving me yours...
Hahaha! I do that with my Ovation Celebrity Acoustic. Martin D28 Model + Acoustic exciter, and a touch of delay - it sounds AWESOME on stage!!!
Let me throw a $500 max limit on it.
Harley Benton is intriguing....Lotta love on them from a lot of people. Does need to be slumming that much. But 'Fender American' also likely not on the short list...
Think Price-Performer, not a Performer because of the Price
Harley Benton is intriguing....Lotta love on them from a lot of people. Does need to be slumming that much. But 'Fender American' also likely not on the short list...
Think Price-Performer, not a Performer because of the Price
Wirecutter picks the Yamaha TRBX174 as their best beginner bass. It retails for about $200 new. I picked up used RBX170 for $60 off my local craigslist, and I have no desire to look for another P/J bass. The neck is smooth and easy to play, it sets up nicely, and it sounds great.
If $500 is your max limit and you can't find a used Ibanez SR650/750 then Harley Benton is definitely the hypothetical way to go. You could get a passive PJ74 (or a 75 if you're feeling fancy and want a 5 string) and then also an active/passive MP-4 (or, again, the 5 string variant if that's your fancy) and still be under budget, counting shipping. And they both sound fantastic.
Well, I lied a little...the 5 strings would put you slightly over budget here
Last edited:
I think the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] is fantastic value for money at 1195 CAD new for a great quality instrument, made in Canada. I'm not sure how many used Shifters are out there wherever you're at, but maybe you could find one used for 500-ish USD.
I took a look at the Yamaha. BB234 seems awesome - but that pick guard is FUGLY! Pass.....
OK, well you could find an inexpensive P bass that you like and then convert it to a PJ. I did it with an SX P. Definitely cost less than $500 and I learned a lot doing it.
Fodera Ying Yang Standard
Dang, I was so hoping that was NOT a Fodera.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
There are some good options out there for not a lot of money. As far as 4-stringers for less than $500, I would want to play an Ibanez Talman TMB100 to see if it fits me. They're a legitimate company and that bass is priced in the ballpark of SX and Harley Benton gear. It also has a preamp in it, and, as a dedicated PJ5 player I have found that having preamps in my PJs make them insanely versatile. I can get everything from bright and modern to old school thump depending on how I string it up.
Value??
Say no more
the Ibanez GSR whatever it is, the cheap one. Also the MIKRO PJ..
$200 or less, fantastic playability, and one of the best sounding PJ pickup positioning - after experimenting awhile with a ‘proper’ precision position for PJs, I ended up doing my last build with the pickups matched to the Ibanez positioning instead- it’s got a titanically good fingerstyle sound when blended, a great burpy solo j, a BONKERS slap sound with them blended. The stock P doesn’t sound the best in the world, but it’s fine, and if you upgrade the pickup itself you’re in business.
the biggest weakness is that they look very very plain, and you may not love that ‘modern’ body style compared to something with a real classic or vintage vibe. Then again I love a project, so it’s moot to me
Edit: and I mean the P sounds fine. I don’t mean ‘it sounds bad but that’s ok’ I mean it sounds ok, it’s just probably the weakest of the 3 choices, when left stock.
Say no more
the Ibanez GSR whatever it is, the cheap one. Also the MIKRO PJ..
$200 or less, fantastic playability, and one of the best sounding PJ pickup positioning - after experimenting awhile with a ‘proper’ precision position for PJs, I ended up doing my last build with the pickups matched to the Ibanez positioning instead- it’s got a titanically good fingerstyle sound when blended, a great burpy solo j, a BONKERS slap sound with them blended. The stock P doesn’t sound the best in the world, but it’s fine, and if you upgrade the pickup itself you’re in business.
the biggest weakness is that they look very very plain, and you may not love that ‘modern’ body style compared to something with a real classic or vintage vibe. Then again I love a project, so it’s moot to me
Edit: and I mean the P sounds fine. I don’t mean ‘it sounds bad but that’s ok’ I mean it sounds ok, it’s just probably the weakest of the 3 choices, when left stock.
Last edited:
Despite my other recommendation, I once stopped at a random music store out of town and picked up a fender pj- it’s a specific one, it’s active, with a switch for passive. It felt and played great, which makes me think it’s a J neck but don’t quote me on that, and the sound was just STUPIDLY GOOD. I don’t know what I’d say value-wise as it’s something like $600 or so, but considering how good it is and that it’s not $2,499, it’s pretty good value for someone in that price range..
My cheap Ibanez suggestion still beats it in terms of bang for your buck though
My cheap Ibanez suggestion still beats it in terms of bang for your buck though
You should check out the PJ Owners forum, somewhere here on TB, it'll make your head explode.,,built my own passive pj, got all the tone and beef i need...But i'm guessing some manufactured basses active or not are pretty good as well.
