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

[basspraiser]

I've got all three... Because they all sound unique.

I love the standard P bass sound but the J adds a bit of midrange and " fills out" the sound....

But again...I love the sound of a P pickup alone as well...

 

[Indiana Mike]

Well.... I've got a classic 70's J , and a Steve Harris P....

looking to add...

nuts

 

[jeff7bass]

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.

I agree. Not just because of the single coil hum coming from the J, but IMO adding in the J doesn't add to the sound of the P at all, it subtracts from it.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I agree. Not just because of the single coil hum coming from the J, but IMO adding in the J doesn't add to the sound of the P at all, it subtracts from it.

I disagree, it changes the character, it does not "take away" . Perchance you dislike what it adds, and that's ok .
I feel it adds upper mids and treble, definition and "bark"

I like the tone of a 2 pickup bass.
I tend to favor the bridge pickup with the neck at 80% or thereabouts .

A PJ is a different animal.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Yamaha BB. An OG PJ that stands on its own.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

As a proud owner for a 1990 American Fender PJ, it will not give you a dead on PB sound, or a dead on JB sound. It's got it's own voice, and it's a pretty good voice in it's own right. You can get it close to either for certain things, but to get the real thing, use the real thing.

 

[sonojono]

I played this at GC earlier today. Loved playing it but felt that the J sounded better soloed than the P. Guess all PJ Basses may vary

PJBMV?

 

[RandalPinkFloyd]

I have none of the above.

 

[SleepyShark]

I know it's a TalkBass tradition to say that a PJ with the J pickup turned off isn't a P. I've never agreed with that. Every PJ I've ever played sounds like a P bass with the J pickup turned off.

In my eyes (ears?) a PJ is a P with more options. Some people don't want the extra controls and options, which is 100% fine! Often times, simplicity is key. Or maybe you like wide P necks, that's awesome and I hope you enjoy it (most PJs have a J neck).

Adding a pickup to the circuit that is completely turned off won't change the sound. Sure, an extra route in the body for the J pickup might change the output in a literal sense (physics or whatever), but it's completely negligible IMO. Strings, technique, etc. etc. are going to make a difference before something as silly as that.

I like being open minded, I really do, but come on. I know purists are purists but there's a line. I'm sure someone here will argue they can a difference in pickguard screws.

I see value having all 3 of those basses, simply because some gigs may need the tone of a J, the simplicity of a P, or the extra tonal door that a PJ adds to a P. If I had to get rid of one, though, it would be the standard P for reasons I mentioned above.

 

[C Stone]

I know it's a TalkBass tradition to say that a PJ with the J pickup turned off isn't a P. I've never agreed with that. Every PJ I've ever played sounds like a P bass with the J pickup turned off.

In my eyes (ears?) a PJ is a P with more options. Some people don't want the extra controls and options, which is 100% fine! Often times, simplicity is key. Or maybe you like wide P necks, that's awesome and I hope you enjoy it (most PJs have a J neck).

Adding a pickup to the circuit that is completely turned off won't change the sound. Sure, an extra route in the body for the J pickup might change the output in a literal sense (physics or whatever), but it's completely negligible IMO. Strings, technique, etc. etc. are going to make a difference before something as silly as that.

I like being open minded, I really do, but come on. I know purists are purists but there's a line. I'm sure someone here will argue they can a difference in pickguard screws.

I see value having all 3 of those basses, simply because some gigs may need the tone of a J, the simplicity of a P, or the extra tonal door that a PJ adds to a P. If I had to get rid of one, though, it would be the standard P for reasons I mentioned above.

Mine sounded like a P, (99 Standard PJ Special) but still used a smidge of bridge p/u to color tone when I thought it needed it, "RIP" because it now sports an ebonol neck and the "special" neck (jazz) is now paired with a straight P body I just picked up.

 

[C Stone]

As a proud owner for a 1990 American Fender PJ, it will not give you a dead on PB sound, or a dead on JB sound. It's got it's own voice, and it's a pretty good voice in it's own right. You can get it close to either for certain things, but to get the real thing, use the real thing.

This

 

[C Stone]

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.
View attachment 3972144 View attachment 3972149 View attachment 3972150

All beautiful but WOW that 2014 Fender American Limited Edition is crazy cool! Man incredible

 

[mickebas]

I've got all three... Because they all sound unique.
I love the standard P bass sound but the J adds a bit of midrange and " fills out" the sound....
But again...I love the sound of a P pickup alone as well...

So true. And one thing for me regarding the PJ configuration is that about 70% of the times where the acoustics are ok I prefer just using the beefier sound of the P-pickup alone. It's my go to preference.

But then there are those occasions where there is to much low end mud and rumble in the place you're playing and that's when the PJ setup comes in to rescue... at least I then get a more focused mid presence and will hear myself better and know what notes I'm playing... or certain passages in a song that needs a bit more focus and less bass line attitude.

 

[Outbush]

I have a PJ with a split coil on the bridge position. It also has Nordstrand pickups that are a little wider that Fender Ps I think and definitely wider, almost soapbar width in the bridge position. It was designed to sound as close to a Fender P and a Fender J as possible and I believe it gets pretty close. I also like VBT or would have VVT not switches because I want to get those balance points where I like the sounds. Can't say I can play a J soloed, I just get a thin tone I don't like but I can get good blended tones.

 

[TrevorG]

I'm a novice with Fenders but I agree with all the other Ultra owners in that I'm getting everything I want from mine - for now. Tried straight Ps but too uneducated to hear a difference that justifies another guitar(sadly). Tried Js and think there are plenty of basses that have that neck pickup sound (I told you I was uneducated). The bridge pickup is different but I can get very close with active EQ and love the character of there passive tone. Though I could be persuaded my life depended on getting a five string J...

 

[Maynard46]

I sold my J Bass cause i just dont like the sound or the hum. I can get that sound on an active bass no problem. I think people should go for the P/P config

 

[mickebas]

I think people should go for the P/P config
View attachment 3973399

I think this but with reversed pickups would be an interesting solution.

 

[John Webb]

I own one of each, but the only way I have gotten a PJ to work for me and offer something substantive that the other two do not is with active electronics. That gives the Jazz rail some real power and lets it actually keep up with the Split P, giving me useful blend and on-board EQ options. With every passive PJ I played, the Split P dominated to the point it didn't make sense; if I wanted that tone I'd just play my Precisions. With a couple passives I tried, I might hear a slight nuance from the Jazz rail, but not enough to add it to my stable. When I bust out my Fender P Bass Deluxe Active, it turns heads. Guitar players stop playing and ask me what I've got there.

I put in an SD quarter pounder and a Hot Stack at the bridge in my Hot Rod P....that way I don't need no stinkin' batteries..... I love this bass.

 

[Julian G]

I own a total of 4 basses and three of them are Fender's; a Mike Dirnt Signature P bass, Fender Jazz Active and a Fender PJ passive. The PJ does give an extra array of tones that distinguish it from the other basses. I have flats on it which work really well with it.

 

[foolforthecity]

If there's an artsy picture thread on TB that should definitely get posted in it! Looks surreal!

Ha, it does

Great lookin bass, enjoy the show.

Well, gig #4 is in the can, and yes, it was fun! #5 coming up this evening then I get two days off, yay! Five straight gigs in a row, all outdoor, sweltering South Texas heat, all three or four hour sets... whew