Who has a P, J AND a P/J?

[FishDub]

I have a P and J and have thought about adding a P/J but havent pulled the trigger yet. Since I have one of each would the P/J be a bit overkill? I know thats a crazy TB question but I dont have anymore room for another bass. I am not in the train of thought either that getting a P/J eliminates the P and J and is the best of both worlds. I tried out a few P/Js in stores and actually preferred the sound of my P and J individually..Maybe I am just a purist...Anyone else?

 

[Maxdusty]

A PJ is never going to be the best of both worlds. It's essentially a P Bass Plus. It'll never sound like a true jazz bass due to the lack of the two single coil pickups. Now whether it sounds like a P bass if you turn down the jazz pickup completely is debatable. To me, it's pretty darn close and good enough to substitute in place of a true P bass but varying results depending on where the P bass pickup is placed and some say the circuitry of having two pickups wired also makes for a difference, don't know enough to make a comment about that one.

 

[johnnynitro]

I have all three. I love them all. But the PJ is on the chopping block. Could be gone as soon as tomorrow. I have received many compliments on its tone over the years. But I never play it anymore. My P seems to be getting all the playing time these days. My J is on vacation. My PJ's sound is different enough to justify having a PJ. Or even a gigging bass were I need one bass to do many bass's. I don't think many would be able to tell the difference between the P or the PJ with the J off !? But have noticed over the years I didn't use the bridge PU much.

 

[Resonance129]

I have all three as well, mainly because the basic model of the P/J I have only came in that configuration.

I wasn't initially a big fan of P/J's just because I felt they gave you a decent piece of what a full P or J could give you, but not the true sound. Solo'd P pickup debatable and dependent on the instrument, itself.
I always struggled to get a good blended pickup sound as well - Solo'd P or J pups would sound as I expected them to, but blended, it was a lot more difficult for me to get a sound I liked.

That said, I love my P/J now that I've bonded with it a bit. Gigged with it for a few months before the cover band I was in stopped playing out. They sound good in a mix, but when played solo, they don't do too much for me. If I were in your situation, I'd be plenty happy keeping my individual P and J, and put the cash for a P/J towards something else.

That is unless you've got your eye on a new P/J already. In which case I'd say ignore all the text above this sentence and get it

 

[TolerancEJ]

Ok, I'll play. I kind-of have one of each, but they're not exactly what you're asking about.

1. I have a No Name Fretless P-bass (normal, no issues here).

2. My "Jazz bass" would be my Bassfish by Goldfish Guitars. Granted its shape is unconventional and I added a googly-eye to enhance its fishiness.

3. My PJ would be my FBass VF6-PJ Fretless. (Definitely not what this thread is looking for.)

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I just sold my PJ. It didn't cut it for me as a P, and definitely didn't cut it for me as a J.... I suppose it could have worked for something, but I was tired of messing with it.

I have other basses with a split coil neck and a single coil bridge, but the bodies are not Fender shaped, and the necks are 24 fret, so I don't really count them as a PJ. These are unsatisfactory for me, as well, and will also be sold when I'm done using them as bass build training aids.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I have a P and J and have thought about adding a P/J but havent pulled the trigger yet. Since I have one of each would the P/J be a bit overkill? I know thats a crazy TB question but I dont have anymore room for another bass. I am not in the train of thought either that getting a P/J eliminates the P and J and is the best of both worlds. I tried out a few P/Js in stores and actually preferred the sound of my P and J individually..Maybe I am just a purist...Anyone else?

I have a p, a dual p, pj, j, jh, j+twin j.

 

[EmuBass]

PJ definitely is the best of any world!

 

[B-Mac]

I have a P and J and have thought about adding a P/J but havent pulled the trigger yet. Since I have one of each would the P/J be a bit overkill? I know thats a crazy TB question but I dont have anymore room for another bass. I am not in the train of thought either that getting a P/J eliminates the P and J and is the best of both worlds. I tried out a few P/Js in stores and actually preferred the sound of my P and J individually..Maybe I am just a purist...Anyone else?

I do.
2014 Fender American Deluxe Precision (which is active/passive P/J)
2014 Fender American Precision Sandblasted Limited Edition (which is based on an American Special)
and recently
2016 Fender American Standard Jazz.

 

[Nebadon2000]

A PJ is never going to be the best of both worlds. It's essentially a P Bass Plus. It'll never sound like a true jazz bass due to the lack of the two single coil pickups. Now whether it sounds like a P bass if you turn down the jazz pickup completely is debatable. To me, it's pretty darn close and good enough to substitute in place of a true P bass but varying results depending on where the P bass pickup is placed and some say the circuitry of having two pickups wired also makes for a difference, don't know enough to make a comment about that one.

Agree, Precision + is better description than P/J. Fender calls them Precision; in fact [I may be wrong] I know of no basses 'labeled' P/J

On my Ultra Precision I get very satisfying 'P' Sound [Vintage]. Their are so many nuance differences with P basses over the years the P sound is sorta "Know it when you hear it"

I used '75 American P till 1998 then in 2001 got American Standard P then switched to EBMM Basses because.

What I liked about Ultra not only getting P sound that satisfied me [more coherent, clear and powerful than previous P's] and much better play-ability but with blend centered in Active gave me similar performance to Stingray. Was not interested in Jazz Sound[had one during 98-2001 gap between P's]

 

[chris_b]

I have a P and J and have thought about adding a P/J but havent pulled the trigger yet. Since I have one of each would the P/J be a bit overkill?

Your P and J basses give you better coverage than a PJ can. If you really are looking for another sound out of your basses I'd buy a second P bass and have one with flats and one with rounds.

 

[pertyman]

Me!

Each one is a different beast

 

[RNG1]

I have all 3 and technically all 4 meaning I have a build with a Warmoth chambered Jazz body but had it routed for both JJ and PJ so it can be either. The goal on that one was to make it like the Swiss Army knife of basses. It came out beautifully but with a couple of others I have it's getting the least attention from me these days but I can't bring myself to sell it as I took like a year to acquire all the handpicked parts. Anyway back to topic.

 

[Rib 13]

A PJ is never going to be the best of both worlds. It's essentially a P Bass Plus.

^ Yup....so many threads about that subject and this is the /THREAD comment
By the same token, providing the pickups are in the optimal spots, a fully dimed PJ has its own unique voice characteristics - different than a P, or J, Stingray, etc to really have its own place as opposed to just an enhancement

Now whether it sounds like a P bass if you turn down the jazz pickup completely is debatable. To me, it's pretty darn close and good enough to substitute in place of a true P bass but varying results depending on where the P bass pickup is placed and some say the circuitry of having two pickups wired also makes for a difference, don't know enough to make a comment about that one.

Agreed plus more: I dont think its debatable -- It sounds like a P. What makes a P-bass wonderful is it virtue of simplicity. However, that simplicity virtue also makes it easy to replicate....Some P-bass enthusiasts get their panties in a wad and break out their calipers and microscopes to try to justify any noticable difference and will argue about it for pages but, in the end, a solo P on a PJ (providing the P is in the sweetspot) is a P, end of story. Cant have it both ways

 

[ELG60]

Here are a few of mine:

 

[MVE]

I have a fretted PJ With rounds.

fretted P with flats

fretless j with rounds

 

[HardNHeavy]

Guilty........I do play the p and the pj a lil more tho than the j.....depends on the day.

 

[FishDub]

Here are a few of mine:
View attachment 3972241
View attachment 3972243
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That MIJ double P is sweet. Are those two identical matching Js?

 

[Rdore2000]

I have a Music Man Cutlass, which is their version of a P, a PRS Kestrel which is essentially, a J Bass, as well as a Music Man Caprice, which is a P/J.

 

[B-Mac]

Me!
View attachment 3972161

Each one is a different beast

Agreed