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Why aren't PJ basses more popular and more available?

M

mbell75

May 23, 2016
2,172
2,886
#1
PJ bass, the sound I never knew I wanted! I prefer P basses to Jazz basses and when I have used Jazz basses, Ive never liked the bridge pickup, even with the neck pickup. Been going thru lots of P basses lately and rosewood/Pau Ferro boards always seemed a bit too dark and the maple board P I bought a month ago is just sounding too bright to me lately, especially with the new strings. The local GC got in some 2019 Squiers and they had a 3 tone burst PJ with an Indian Laurel board sitting there for cheap, picked it up and couldn't put it down. Was finally able to get the P tone I loved but could brighten it up a bit when I needed with some of the J pickup and with both pickups wide open, I could get another useable tone I liked and that was all without touching the tone knob or EQ on the amp!

So now Ive been looking for a Fender PJ bass with a rosewood or PF board, but the options are few IMO. Don't want an active bass and don't want a signature bass, so that leaves the American Performer as the cheapest option at $1200. At this point, I think I may just hold on to the Squier and even if I upgraded the pickups, electronics, bridge and tuners, Id still come in well under $1200. Why are there no MIM options for PJ basses? Anything used I should look for? Really surprised at how limited it is and how few I see being played by popular bands, I can only think of one. Extremely versatile bass with lots of tonal options, pretty perfect bass IMO.
 
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#2
Step outside of Fender and there are a zillion options. The P and the J are Fender's sellers. That's what they'll mostly stick to.

One very cool option is the 80s MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special. Very well made.

Fender Japan Jazz Bass Special PJ-555 1984-1987 Silver Fender Japan Jazz Bass Special PJ-555 1984-1987 Silver

Not affiliated with this bass or seller.
 
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#3
two fingers said:
Step outside of Fender and there are a zillion options. The P and the J are Fender's sellers. That's what they'll mostly stick to.

One very cool option is the 80s MIJ Fender Jazz Bass Special. Very well made.

Fender Japan Jazz Bass Special PJ-555 1984-1987 Silver Fender Japan Jazz Bass Special PJ-555 1984-1987 Silver

Not affiliated with this bass or seller.
Click to expand...

Thanks but that’s a signature model, not into those at all. Ive owned lots of other brands, all the major ones and always come back to Fender.
 
#5
mbell75 said:
Thanks but that’s a signature model, not into those at all. Ive owned lots of other brands, all the major ones and always come back to Fender.
Click to expand...

I got a real nice one, not real common but they're out there, Fender American Vintage Hotrod 60's Precision, it's got a compound neck and a '63 P bass pickup which knocks walls over, you can find them on ebay once in a while, best sounding P bass I've ever heard.

The one on the right.
Fender Precision basses.jpg
 
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#7
mbell75 said:
Thanks but that’s a signature model, not into those at all. Ive owned lots of other brands, all the major ones and always come back to Fender.
Click to expand...

No, it isn't. Duff happened to play a white one in GnR. But it wasn't his signature model. A white one similar to it only became his signature model years later. When that silver one in the ad was made back in the 80s, it was a Fender Jazz Special and nobody's signature bass. And they came in half a dozen colors. It was an off-the-shelf model not tied to any artist.
 
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#8
two fingers said:
No, it isn't. Duff happened to play a white one in GnR. But it wasn't his signature model. A white one similar to it only became his signature model years later. When that silver one in the ad was made back in the 80s, it was a Fender Jazz Special and nobody's signature bass. And they came in half a dozen colors. It was an off-the-shelf model not tied to any artist.
Click to expand...

Ok, it looks like one and says Duff McKagen bass at the top of the description, so I figured it was a signature model.
 
#11
Typical P/J basses have more noise when both pickups are on full-volume or when the bridge pickup is soloed.
Sure it can be fixed by getting a split-coil design J pickup, but it's still not as good as having two P-style pickups:

img_0132-jpg.714457


That's what I wonder, why aren't Double-P basses more common?
IME they're better!
 
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#13
Killed_by_Death said:
Typical P/J basses have more noise when both pickups are on full-volume or when the bridge pickup is soloed.
Sure it can be fixed by getting a split-coil design J pickup, but it's still not as good as having two P-style pickups:

img_0132-jpg.714457


That's what I wonder, why aren't Double-P basses more common?
IME they're better!
Click to expand...

I’ve never seen one in person let alone played one ha. I bet they are rare and pricey.
 
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#15
Killed_by_Death said:
Typical P/J basses have more noise when both pickups are on full-volume or when the bridge pickup is soloed.
Sure it can be fixed by getting a split-coil design J pickup, but it's still not as good as having two P-style pickups:

img_0132-jpg.714457


That's what I wonder, why aren't Double-P basses more common?
IME they're better!
Click to expand...
hey KBD great looking bass. looks like my ole p bass with an extra p bass bridge pickup. wow!
 

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