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Simple Poll - Do you like the sound of a PJ ?
- Thread starter TonyP-
- Start date
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- Tags
- pj pj bass pj bass pickups
I like most PJs. The ones I don't like have a nasty honk, but I have found that honk can disappear with a pickup change.
I'm not a fan of the hollow, scooped, phased out sound that usually comes from blending pickups. It reminds me of the phase issues I work hard to GET RID OFF in the studio when recording bass with amp+DI. Yes I know, we're only supposed to blend in a tiny amount of the J-pickup for a tiny bit of scoop and more upper mid presence. But how many PJs have you played where this doesn't require 0.001mm precision to find the sweetspot? I can say the same for most J-basses and many other basses with more than one pickup too btw. Blending pickups just doesn't work for me (on MOST basses, there are a couple of exceptions but PJs are definitely not one of them). If I want scoop and/or more upper mids from a PJ I change to different strings, use the tone control or eq the sound downstream. If I want phase issues... well, I don't!!!!
I'm also not a fan of the thin, nasal sound of bridge pickups soloed, at least not with a passive bass where the lack of lows can't be dealt with "on board".
I do however LOVE the sound of a P-bass pickup.
Which means that I love the sound of a PJ as long as the J-pickup is turned all the way down.
I don't mind the negligible difference between a P-bass and a PJ with the P-pickup soloed. They both sound like a P-bass to me. If that's what this poll is about then I LOVE the sound of a PJ.
But if the poll is about whether I like blending P+J then NOOOOOO, I absolutely hate that phased out sound. If this is what the poll is about I HATE a PJ.
So what should I vote?
(I do of course realise that lots of people love both the sound of a bridge pickup soloed and the scooped sound of blending pickup so as always: YMMV, just my personal opinion, etc.etc.)
I'm also not a fan of the thin, nasal sound of bridge pickups soloed, at least not with a passive bass where the lack of lows can't be dealt with "on board".
I do however LOVE the sound of a P-bass pickup.
Which means that I love the sound of a PJ as long as the J-pickup is turned all the way down.
I don't mind the negligible difference between a P-bass and a PJ with the P-pickup soloed. They both sound like a P-bass to me. If that's what this poll is about then I LOVE the sound of a PJ.
But if the poll is about whether I like blending P+J then NOOOOOO, I absolutely hate that phased out sound. If this is what the poll is about I HATE a PJ.
So what should I vote?
(I do of course realise that lots of people love both the sound of a bridge pickup soloed and the scooped sound of blending pickup so as always: YMMV, just my personal opinion, etc.etc.)
I don't know what polarizing thread you're talking about. But here's the simple truth. Unless your PJ has the P pickup in exactly the same spot as a P bass, it will not sound exactly like a P bass.... period.
.that being said, I own two PJ basses like that and they sound fine. They do their own thing, and are NOT "the best of both worlds" from a P and a J. But they are great in their own way.
I own one PJ that has the P bass pickup in the actual P position and it sound like a P bass when I solo that pickup.
.that being said, I own two PJ basses like that and they sound fine. They do their own thing, and are NOT "the best of both worlds" from a P and a J. But they are great in their own way.
I own one PJ that has the P bass pickup in the actual P position and it sound like a P bass when I solo that pickup.
The PJ sound of my old Yamaha BB with both pu’s at 100% is my main sound. To me that sound is the whole point of a pj.
I’m always amazed at how many words and energy some people put into explaining how a pj is neither a p or a j, or how blended pickups don’t sound to their linking. There’s a whole world of pu combinations out there I personally do not prefer. I’ve never felt the need to share those opinions.
I’m always amazed at how many words and energy some people put into explaining how a pj is neither a p or a j, or how blended pickups don’t sound to their linking. There’s a whole world of pu combinations out there I personally do not prefer. I’ve never felt the need to share those opinions.
I vote yes but the PJ is not my favorite bass. And not all PJ basses are created equal. Most of them I don’t like.
The ones I do like are the Tony Franklin, The Yamaha BB2000, Yamaha BB3000,Yamaha BB5000, and MusicMan Caprice.
The ones I do like are the Tony Franklin, The Yamaha BB2000, Yamaha BB3000,Yamaha BB5000, and MusicMan Caprice.
Yes and no.
I'm a fan of the P pickup sound but I'm not a fan of bridge pickups and I never use them. So if a PJ works for me with just the P pickup then I like it. For example, my Mustang LE PJ has the best P sound I've ever played.
I'm a fan of the P pickup sound but I'm not a fan of bridge pickups and I never use them. So if a PJ works for me with just the P pickup then I like it. For example, my Mustang LE PJ has the best P sound I've ever played.
Sort of an odd question because the whole point of a p/j is that it's got more than 'the sound', which implies one sound.
A p/j can have a whole bunch of sounds, some of which you may like and some not.
Maybe '"Do you like the sounds you can get from a p/j" would have stated it better.
A p/j can have a whole bunch of sounds, some of which you may like and some not.
Maybe '"Do you like the sounds you can get from a p/j" would have stated it better.
My only PJ is an EMG Geezer set in an Aerodyne bass. I like it just fine, usually with both pickups at 100% volume but occasionally I back the J pickup down 10-20% for a little "thicker" sound.
When the pickups are full on I like the PJ but not as much as a Jazz bass, or Precision bass. I feel like it adds to much treble to the D and G strings.
No, and I have a Don Grosh custom with Lindy Fralins and an Aguilar pre. All the parts are there , but just can’t dial in a sound that works...and yes, I have 3 j’s and a P bass, and have had P Elite and Deluxe with same results. Don’t know why...God knows, I wish it would work!
