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What's the best P/J bass?

S

SedanDelivery

May 3, 2021
24
31
#1
Hi All,

I have a cheapo Ibanez Gio PJ bass and would like to upgrade. I recently bought a Fender aerodyne in the hopes of replacing it, but it's not doing the trick for me for some reason. It sounds ok but not great, and same with the feel. Ok but not great. I'd love to have a PJ that both sounds and feels great. (Mostly for recording, not live playing).

Any advice ideas for where to look? I think my budget is 1500-2000.

Thanks so much

SedanDelivery
 
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#2
SedanDelivery said:
Hi All,

I have a cheapo Ibanez Gio PJ bass and would like to upgrade. I recently bought a Fender aerodyne in the hopes of replacing it, but it's not doing the trick for me for some reason. It sounds ok but not great, and same with the feel. Ok but not great. I'd love to have a PJ that both sounds and feels great.

Any advice ideas for where to look? I think my budget is 1500-2000.

Thanks so much

SedanDelivery
Click to expand...
Mine.
20210901_135951.jpg

Aint found a better one yet.

But tone wise, for different, I'd take a Yamaha or my old talman 600.

But as far as meeting every criteria imaginable, there is nothing that beats McNuggies. Except maybe in weight. She's 10.5 lbs. You only feel it when you take her down from the wall though. On a strap, she good for a solid 3 to 4 hours no problem. In your arm, about 5 minutes.
 
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#3
JeezyMcNuggles said:
Mine.View attachment 4532369
Aint found a better one yet.

But tone wise, for different, I'd take a Yamaha or my old talman 600.

But as far as meeting every criteria imaginable, there is nothing that beats McNuggies. Except maybe in weight. She's 10.5 lbs. You only feel it when you take her down from the wall though. On a strap, she good for a solid 3 to 4 hours no problem. In your arm, about 5 minutes.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm a noob. What am I looking at? What's "McNuggies" -- that's your name I take it so. I guess that's something you built. Looks awesome, but still leaves me looking for a bass since that one is yours :)
 
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#6
JeezyMcNuggles said:
Mine.View attachment 4532369
Aint found a better one yet.

But tone wise, for different, I'd take a Yamaha or my old talman 600.

But as far as meeting every criteria imaginable, there is nothing that beats McNuggies. Except maybe in weight. She's 10.5 lbs. You only feel it when you take her down from the wall though. On a strap, she good for a solid 3 to 4 hours no problem. In your arm, about 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
That's a beautiful bass! It weighs as much as my Les Paul (which sports a 4" bass strap).
 
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#7
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#8
SedanDelivery said:
Thanks. I'm a noob. What am I looking at? What's "McNuggies" -- that's your name I take it so. I guess that's something you built. Looks awesome, but still leaves me looking for a bass since that one is yours :)
Click to expand...
Yes, it's mine. Yes, I made it. Yes, you still need to find one for yourself.

I did make suggestions on a Yamaha BB, and also a talman 600 (which are now 650s)
 
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#12
SedanDelivery said:
Hi All,

I have a cheapo Ibanez Gio PJ bass and would like to upgrade. I recently bought a Fender aerodyne in the hopes of replacing it, but it's not doing the trick for me for some reason. It sounds ok but not great, and same with the feel. Ok but not great. I'd love to have a PJ that both sounds and feels great. (Mostly for recording, not live playing).

Any advice ideas for where to look? I think my budget is 1500-2000.

Thanks so much

SedanDelivery
Click to expand...

Problem is we all have our favorite PJ. So what are you waiting for as "feeling" ? And what are the reason Aerodyne didn't fit ? Are you more after a P with a little bit of J grid; or a J more ballsy with a P pickup ?
Shape are different and can impact your overall feeling.
 
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#13
yea, tonewise, I might say a yamaha. I dislike the appearance of the instruments very much, I'm afraid, but the yamaha bb pj basses, and in fact all of the serious bb basses, are outstanding.

I just wish they didn't look how they do. I can't get past that for some reason. I know some love the looks. but I mean, if one fell in my lap, I'd probably rock it as my number one, assuming it was 6 strings (or even 5), 34" scale, and had that bb tone.
 
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#14
Les Fret said:
I would also suggest a Yamaha BB. But most of the old ones have a reverse P pickup which sounds a bit different I guess than a normal P pickup?

I have a BB1000s. Do they sound much different than the BB2000 or 3000?
Click to expand...
Hi Les, I've never played a BB1000s so I can't offer an opinion.

What I can say is that the reverse P pickup on my BB2000 sounds much throatier and raspier than the standard P configuration on the BB3000 and yields a great rock tone. The BB3000 has a much more traditional P sounding pickup.

The pickup blend is my favorite tone on the BB2000. It is very open and sweet sounding with a nice growl to it. Very warm and organic if you will. A bit like a jazz with both pickups on, sans mid scoop and a lot punchier IMO.

The pickup blend on the BB3000 sounds good, but not quite as good as the BB2000. It's a bit more pinched and nasal sounding.

Both bridge pickups sound very good. The rail configuration seems to provide a more balanced, fatter tone than the bridge pickup on any jazz bass I've owned/played.
 
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#16
I got a used Nash P/J that’s that was well within your price range. It’s a great bass. Light, resonant, plays well and sounds really good. I’m thinking about selling it only because I’ve got four 4-string basses, which is twice as many as I need. PM me if you want more info. In any event, good luck with your search.
 
#18
Yamaha BB3000 or BB1600 if you can find one. Nothing like ‘em. BB2024x is another great Yamaha PJ.

You might be able to find a used MIJ Sadowsky Metro PJ in the upper end of that price range. Also a great bass. Someone mentioned Nash above, that should be great as well.

Fender made an AVRI Hotrod PJ several years back that was really good.
 
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#20
PJ Muzikmansky said:
Hi Les, I've never played a BB1000s so I can't offer an opinion.

What I can say is that the reverse P pickup on my BB2000 sounds much throatier and raspier than the standard P configuration on the BB3000 and yields a great rock tone. The BB3000 has a much more traditional P sounding pickup.

The pickup blend is my favorite tone on the BB2000. It is very open and sweet sounding with a nice growl to it. Very warm and organic if you will. A bit like a jazz with both pickups on, sans mid scoop and a lot punchier IMO.

The pickup blend on the BB3000 sounds good, but not quite as good as the BB2000. It's a bit more pinched and nasal sounding.

Both bridge pickups sound very good. The rail configuration seems to provide a more balanced, fatter tone than the bridge pickup on any jazz bass I've owned/played.
Click to expand...

Thanks, good info! I guess a BB1000s will sound very similar to a BB2000. Both have the reverse P. Same woods (I think?) and same hardware. Both are passive etc. I don’t see much difference. Only that the BB2000 has the rail in the bridge pickup whereas the BB1000s hasn’t.
 

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