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

[BassGH]

The G&L SB-2 looks interesting and it’s a Fender design. Anyone know if these are any good?

I sure like mine. I have a “tribute” foreign made model I bought used. It’s a high quality instrument and sits in a mix like nobody’s business. The only troubles are: you might have to add a tone control, and the bridge pickup doesn’t sound good on its own (though it does it’s job blending with the p pickup).

 

[Crunchy Growl]

Check out the Fender Elite, both passive and active PJ pick ups with 2-9 volt batteries.

 

[mmbongo]

Roscoe = win.

 

[DuluthDank]

I love PJ basses in theory, but in reality find that I use the P pickup soloed 99.999 percent of the time.

 

[LanEvo]

I started playing bass in the mid-‘80s. Back then, it seems like P-J was pretty much the standard. There was BC Rich, Charvel, Hamer, Guild Pilot, Spector NS, Ibanez Roadstar, ESP, Warwick, and (of course) Yamaha. Just about everyone made P-Js.

That's what I wonder, why aren't Double-P basses more common?

Again, that wasn’t so uncommon back then. I remember seeing lots of BC Rich models with double-P pickups. And the Fender Precision Elite II seemed pretty popular for a while.

 

[Luigir]

If you want an American Fender at a reasonable price you could check the newly released Fender Precsion Performer:
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Otherwise, G&L is surely a good option.

 

[user362432]

What about new TRBX and BB Yamahas? They are almost all PJ.

 

[pbass74]

Well, this one has a maple neck, but perhaps you could trade the neck out if you really didn't like it. Not a bad price.
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[JW56789]

This:

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MIM, active with 18v (lots more headroom) and bypass, good keys, rounded neck heel, good bridge, everything you need and nothing you don't. $825, and it's the biggest bargain Fender sells. Try one if you get a chance, it's a terrific axe.

 

[Daniel Piper]

G&l
Warwick
Spector
Ibanez

All have p/j pickup sets in a big way in their bass lineups.

They are very available and very popular.

 

[mbell75]

This:

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MIM, active with 18v (lots more headroom) and bypass, good keys, rounded neck heel, good bridge, everything you need and nothing you don't. $825, and it's the biggest bargain Fender sells. Try one if you get a chance, it's a terrific axe.

1.5 neck kills it, don’t like Jazz necks and that’s the main problem I’m having. Not sure why Fender, G&L, Sire etc are putting jazz necks on these PJ basses. The Squiers thankfully have P bass necks.

 

[2F/2F]

Interesting that you want one but can't seem to find it. I find it too common, myself. I often find my self loving a bass, except for that damned J bridge pickup that it has. It's the only thing that drives me crazy about my American Performer Mustang Bass. I wish it had the full Mustang Bass bridge, and no J pickup.

All you need to do is find the P Bass you want, then add the J pickup. That's how everyone used to do it. It's easy.

 

[somebrains]

I started playing bass in the mid-‘80s. Back then, it seems like P-J was pretty much the standard. There was BC Rich, Charvel, Hamer, Guild Pilot, Spector NS, Ibanez Roadstar, ESP, Warwick, and (of course) Yamaha. Just about everyone made P-Js.

Again, that wasn’t so uncommon back then. I remember seeing lots of BC Rich models with double-P pickups. And the Fender Precision Elite II seemed pretty popular for a while.

I saw the same thing.
Top routed was a must, bc pickguards were considered lame.
Active PJs had more bite for fizzy metal and later slap.

Routing in a J was really popular at the shops I worked at back then.

OP must have missed all the Squier PJs and Fender Deluxe PJs cranked out the past 20 years.

 

[Charley Umbria]

If you can find a good price on a used ESP Vintage 4, I’d snap one up. It’s an excellent quality instrument, and they offered both maple and rosewood fretboards.

 

[BobKos]

In the used market Precision Lyte is an excellent bass. The P-Lyte Deluxe is one I let get away when I had the chance to buy one. $450 new! UGH! Def worth a look.

The BEST P/J I ever played was a Reverend Rumblefish P/J. Wish I had that one back.

 

[clockworkcorpse]

I like this.

 

[Ric5]

P - MM basses are the best and even better with a 3 or 4 band preamp

especially when the p pickup is reversed

 

[somebrains]

If you can find a good price on a used ESP Vintage 4, I’d snap one up. It’s an excellent quality instrument, and they offered both maple and rosewood fretboards.

I missed one for $150 a couple months ago.
Somehow ESP basses trickle down to people that don't have the ability to use Google and just throw them on Craigslist.

 

[devnulljp]

isn't the entire new Fender line of P Basses PJ?

 

[N4860]

If you like what you have, I would just consider buying a Fender neck and putting that on there. You could always upgrade the pickups to fender pickups and then you'd basically have the Fender bass that you are looking for.