Why PJ, Why Not Precision and Big Split or Soapbar

[ThaCoast]

One of my build (a slab bodied thunderbird) will have a p/hum jazz config. Persoanlly it's not the looks of the p/j that are off it's the tones i could possibly get from having a fat humbucker jazz pickup at the bridge to balance with the split precision at the neck/middle

 

[friendlybass]

Cause someone likes it. Pickup choices tend not to be about looks ime. You can always get a J housed in a soapbar if that's your game

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I had P/Stingray Humbucker. The Stingray pup wasn't in the traditional sweet spot but closer to the bridge. It drowned out the P pickups until I did a split series, parallel switch. It was a great sound but it wasn't the greatest parts bass so I sold it years ago. I would try that combo again since it was pretty versatile.

 

[dmac1961]

View attachment 602248 I have a P/SF configuration in one of my basses. That would be Super Ferrite.

I've been considering that setup for my next build. Looks like you have VT and a pickup selector, how does that pickup configuration sound to you?

 

[gotfunk21]

I've got a Mike Lull with a Nordstrand Dual Coil in the bridge, and another Lull on order with a Big Split in the 70's position. I'm a fan

 

[avvie]

a PJ just looks wrong,

mmmmmmmyeeeeah, that's not why it's done. It's a tone thing. Sometimes I need to sound like Train and sometimes like Jaco and sometimes like Bruno Mars. All in one chunk of wood.

 

[socialleper]

Ive been pondering a custom build, and looking at the PUPs, visually, a PJ just looks wrong, a nice brawny looking P PUP and a little skinny J. Why not replace the J with a more substantial looking PUP like a Big Split. Are there any cons, or is it just tradition?

Probably tradition. My first "real" bass was a beat up US BC Rich ST with a PJ setup,m which was very popular in the late 80s and early 90s. The two pick ups together have a very specific tone, and then the P worked well by its self, but J on the bass was very close to the bridge, so by its self it was very thin sounding.
My Lakland 44-02, which has a Jazz neck and MM bridge, is very useful and flexible. I think there are a few smaller manufacturers that have a similar setup with a P neck and MM, but I like the Jazz more. It sounds as much like a Precision as I need and can give me a full on Jazz tone if I split the MM pickup the right way. I honestly have no idea why a J/MM config isn't more popular; it is endlessly versatile.
I remember that in the 90s Fender tried putting a humbucker on their Precision DLX basses with mixed results.
I would be interested in hearing what a fat stack would sound like coupled with a P or J at the neck.

 

[red_rhino]

Why? Because something other than a J pickup at the bridge sounds like something other than a J pickup at the bridge. And I want the sound of a J pickup at the bridge. The tone of a passive P and J bridge pickup together just works.

Yeah, this. If it's not a J pickup, it doesn't sound like a J, and that's what some folks want.

That's 1 vote for a J, but I don't like the sound of a J, I have a '66J I won't play because I hate the sound (not to mention the godawful skinny neck).

Well consider this another vote then. But it's your bass, your rules. You've kind of answered your own question though; you don't like the look or sound of a traditional PJ, which is fine because you're building something else.

As long as you're happy.

 

[Thumper]

Thanks all, just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something. I can get the big split at no extra charge, or a dual coil with coil split, parallel, etc., for $100 more, which is where I'm leaning (I like that 60s and 70s options idea, thanks Baird).

 

[IanA]

I think my PJ5 looks very cool, I rarely use the J pick up though as it smooths out the sound too much for my liking

 

[JimmyM]

PJ's look fine to me. The reason they're paired up usually is because those are the two top Fender pickups. But pair them up with whatever you want. No skin off my nose.

 

[Fair Warning]

Carvin offers P Basses with a J, Soapbar or MM bridge pickup...your choice

 

[smeet]

I think my PJ5 looks very cool, I rarely use the J pick up though as it smooths out the sound too much for my liking

That is a good-looking bass for sure...
Funny you say it smooths out the sound too much. I guess maybe that's because of the mid-scoop? On my bass, I get all the nasty midrange I could want at the two extremes, and there is a blend range of non-scooped-sounding tones I like near those extremes. The really scooped tones toward the middle of the range don't see much use, but even those work in some situations.

 

[Real Soon]

It'd be fun to do sort of a P/'Ray configuration, though I guess you'd need to attenuate the humbucker a bit. That could be achieved via internal trimpot or something.

Or a triple-coil pickup like in the Ibanez ATK's (don't recall who they got the idea from) for some cool switchable tone control.

 

[big_teee]

I would stilck with another humbucker in the bridge position.
A Double J, MM, or a Multi-coil in a soapbar, or MM cover.
T

 

[Smoove-Groove]

I've been considering that setup for my next build. Looks like you have VT and a pickup selector, how does that pickup configuration sound to you?

It actually sounds good. The Ferrite tames the P quite nicely and give the bass a more modern tone. The Quarter pounder is a hotter pickup that can get a nice grindy sound. But with the SF combined ,it smooths it out. Gives a good slap tone and looks cool too. Im thinking about changing it over to a vol/vol tone configuration rather than the 3 way switch.

 

[bobpond]

I'm thinking for my next Warmoth build I going to do a Gecko 5 string and use EMG 40TW pickups so what will that be?

(Sound wise of course not aesthetic)

P/P, J/J, P/J, J/P?

 

[Ric5]

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Fender offered that for years - but everyone wanted the old arrangement - and having had both, I agree. The fact is, a honest-to-goodness "PJ" has a unique and excellent sound that a P-"Fat J" just does not.

Interestingly, I bought a Fender "California Special" PJ a while back for my GF's kid (yeah, I'm a nice guy). This bass is cheap US passive PJ that... plays and sounds great. The pickups are really well balanced so that the J isn't overwhelmed by the P - it sounded freakin' killer. I nearly kept it - true fact.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

My favorite year for a J, specifically the early '66 dot/bound/pops version. Would love to own one in Burgundy Mist Metallic, but I can't justify the cost such an example would go for... so I built my own trib in Oly wht.

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