• 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.

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

#306
Feel-X said:
One more! :thumbsup:View attachment 3406167
Click to expand...

Let's get a neck plate gasket on there...
0324190955.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: murphy and Feel-X
#307
murphy said:
Can't wait to hear all about it
Click to expand...
I will Murphy, my bass is still in NY in the hands of (mfg_guitars). He is the one who put the whole bass together for me. He is a 4 times Grammy winner and the report so far has been Amazing! I CAN WAIT TO PLAY IT MYSELF! He is still working on the final touches. Here I am sharing a couple of pictures that he posted on his IG. Great guy to make Upgrades, Custom Basses and Guitars! Highly Recomended :thumbsup:
image1.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#309
Tremcat said:
I have a G&L USA SB - 2 that is tremendous. P bass growl with a very fat jazz pickup. Highly recommend.
Click to expand...
I Gotta ask: what difference/not does the lack of tone control make to you? Do you spend more time in front of your amp? Do you just dial in A tone and go? Yes, I've seen the Steve Araujo video where he says to approach the bridge pup as a tone knob, yes I need to find a store that carries them, but nothing replaces extended time except maybe picking the brain of someone who already dived in.
 
#310
Feel-X said:
I will Murphy, my bass is still in NY in the hands of (mfg_guitars). He is the one who put the whole bass together for me. He is a 4 times Grammy winner and the report so far has been Amazing! I CAN WAIT TO PLAY IT MYSELF! He is still working on the final touches. Here I am sharing a couple of pictures that he posted on his IG. Great guy to make Upgrades, Custom Basses and Guitars! Highly Recomended :thumbsup:
View attachment 3406220
Click to expand...
I love that weave pattern on the back....I looked into buying a neck....even when in England....but maybe a bit too expensive...Pound to Canadian dollar exchange

Also no information on Precision neck shape and nut width......Do you know?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Feel-X
#311
mbell75 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Here's a non-Fender P/J type bass you might like

NBD Retrovibe by Chowny Retrovibe
 
#312
  • Like
Reactions: murphy
#313
mbell75 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Screenshot_20180412-170826_Samsung Internet.jpg

It's not a rosewood/pau ferro, it's a maple neck w/ blocks, but this is a winner. 100% winner. PJs are very common and available by the way. Just about every manufacturer has a PJ model...or a few PJ models. Although they were much more widely used in the 90s than now. But, I think that has to do with the whole "nostalgia" / "retro" thing that happens every so often. I prefer PJs over just about anything myself. Simply because I love a good P bass. But, I also like options.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Felix Lopez and Mingus_Habens
#316
Hypercaffium said:
Why don't we share some settings?
I'm new to PJs and I'm curious about how do you combine/blend both pickups, or in which contexts you solo one pickup or the other.
Click to expand...

I tend to lower the P pickup a bit to run it wide open and blend the bridge Jazz pickup to taste based on the edge I want. The tone control I set for how much of the edge I want accentuated. I could use one or the other pickups, but would most likely favor the P in that type of setting, in general. It's a P Bass with added dimensions!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Feel-X, murphy and Mingus_Habens
#317
IMG_0345.jpg
I prefer a JJ P bass but they are hard to find as well. The only stock option Fender sold (discontinued) I know of is the Squier Standard P 5 string, which has a fat neck and JJ pups. I modified one by installing an American 5 string maple neck and Seymour Duncan pups; works well. The American neck is slightly narrower which I like better and I had to relocate the body holes to line up (dowel plugged and re-drilled). I liked it so much that I built another with a Warmoth neck and body- Hipshot tuners, SD Quarter Pounders, and Schaller bridge. Cost over $1200 in parts but it's configured to my own liking versus stock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zoobiedood
#318
I have an older USA S-B 2 that someone already did the tone mod on. Supposed to be easy to do. I run with the front wide open, the bridge off and tone in the middle. Absolutely killer to me, but I am sort of a set it and forgot it guy. Can't go wrong with an SB2. Back off the front a hair and come very close in tone to the P's.
 
#319
I just received my Fender American Performer P bass, with the PJ configuration. I got the 3-color sunburst and rosewood fingerboard. As much as I love my MIM P Bass Special (also with passive PJ pups) and I really do love it. This is without reservation a nice step up.
Everything about t is just smoother and easier. It just feels better in my hand.
I'll be honest. I bought it sight unseen. None of the shops around here had one on display. It was either the MIM's or the American Elite or Professional. So I took a leap of faith based on the few professional reviews I'd read. I wasn't disappointed.
OP if your still following, I think you should check this one out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Felix Lopez and murphy
#320
Charlie28711 said:
I just received my Fender American Performer P bass, with the PJ configuration. I got the 3-color sunburst and rosewood fingerboard. As much as I love my MIM P Bass Special (also with passive PJ pups) and I really do love it. This is without reservation a nice step up.
Everything about t is just smoother and easier. It just feels better in my hand.
I'll be honest. I bought it sight unseen. None of the shops around here had one on display. It was either the MIM's or the American Elite or Professional. So I took a leap of faith based on the few professional reviews I'd read. I wasn't disappointed.
OP if your still following, I think you should check this one out.
Click to expand...
I completely agree...with a but...I bought a new one like yours , but found out it was a 2017...There was some signs of shoddy workmanship and finishing....things that I could fix, but I could not bond with it.
However all the 2019 models have seemed to be very consistent and I am thrilled with my Blue....everything is absolutely perfect
I am debating getting a 3 Tone /rosewood as well
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back