Simple Poll - Do you like the sound of a PJ ?

Do you like the sound of a PJ ?

  • Yes

    Votes: 631 79.6%
  • No

    Votes: 162 20.4%

  • Total voters
    793
  • Poll closed .
I voted yes because I have two PJ basses that I like a lot. But honestly I’ve played some that I didn’t like.

The same could be said for any pickup layout, electronics suite, neck/fingerboard wood, or any other specific single parameter. I have tried basses with that feature/material that I liked, and others that I didn’t.

When evaluating a bass the overall functioning of the various components together as a group is what matters to me, not each individual component. I see the reductionist analysis of what makes for a good or bad bass as not very useful.

Evaluating a particular bass as a whole, getting a feel for the gestalt of an instrument, just seems more meaningful to me. In my experience each bass is somewhat unique.

As an example, I have certainly experienced wide variety between all of the Jazz basses I have ever checked out, to the point that I feel that generalizing about Jazz basses is not terribly meaningful.
 
Exhibit A - 1997 California Precision Special


Exhibit B
Jeff-1200_3387.jpg
 
When I was an EMT in VT, I slept with my uniform on when I was on call. Younger slept nude, now just big tee and boxers. Last time I had P/J's was when I was 10.

Ah bass pickups! Why of course yes! In fact I have the "be committed" 3 way switch, no blending for me on my Fender Jazz Special as well as the Pedulla Buzz.

And the bridge soloed being thin and nasally or what not, that's the sound I am going for so no do not ask me to put a humbucker or musicman pickup in the bridge position.
 
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YES because I actually found the pickup configuration I enjoy.
SPB-1 + STK-2Jb (Both fully on 90 percent of the time)
 
Once you throw in a noiseless Jazz pickup, it's better than a single J or P IMO.

However, where PJs sometimes lack is pure aesthetics. Some color combos / models just don't look right. I like how they look with a black pickguard, since it kind of "hides" the one pickup and makes it look more subtle.