make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

[Progbusters]

I looked the last 5 pages, no answers. How can I make my J-bass sound like a P-bass? I have a Squier J-bass that I want to use in recordings. I either use a small solid state Ampeg or plug into computer. For rock and metal. Thanks!

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

The only thing you could do on the bass itself without any modification is to switch to the pickup closest to the neck, maybe roll off the tone a little and tweak the amp til it sounds acceptable. Frankly though, it doesn't do it justice to me. The design is too different. The only other option would be a pickup replacement by either routing it out for a p pickup or swapping it to another j pickup that will do the job for you. I don't know how picky you are with it though. Something tells me you have already tried soloing the neck pickup and aren't satisfied.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

I had been looking for some info on this same topic when I bought my jazz bass, I had been waffling regarding P vs J.
Some people say in addition to the above suggestions you can get even closer by using a series/parallel switch.

many, many people say nothing sounds like a P bass but a P bass. I'd say just get as close as you can, working the tone control, favoring the neck pickup, and plucking near the neck, and make it a goal to get a P bass sometime. Best of luck.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

Something you could think about getting is a Jbass pickup with split wound coils. Basically a pbass pickup in a Jbass housing. I know that there's a company that does this I just can't think of it off the top of my head. It'll get you a hum cancelled sound similar to a Pbass if I'm not mistaken. I could be though.

 

[blueman335]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

I have a MIM Fender Jazz bass with two split coils PU's, the Blacktop model. Not expensive. There's also the Modern Player Jazz Bass with two HB's. Of course, you could always just buy a P bass.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

i may just trade it in for a pbass. I saw a video where a guy was using the electro harmonix mole pedal to make his jbass sound like a pbass. He also just used the neck pickup and tone down.

at the store yesterday, the $500 Pbass and the $800 Pbass sounds the same. The Squire PJ bass didn't sound like them.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

I think some of it comes down to individual basses, try to find a few more Squire P basses, I bet you'll find one that stacks up well next to the high dollar ones.
I a/b'd my squier with a $1300 am. std. and it felt and played about the same (to me). Maybe you just played a PJ bass that wasn't a shining example of what Squier is capable of?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

these will do it:
http://www.bartolini.net/product/9j1-ls/
split coils like a p bass pickup, but squashed into a j bass style housing. An industry standard for many years.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

Something you could think about getting is a Jbass pickup with split wound coils. Basically a pbass pickup in a Jbass housing. I know that there's a company that does this I just can't think of it off the top of my head. It'll get you a hum cancelled sound similar to a Pbass if I'm not mistaken. I could be though.

There are bunches of them.
Aguilar
Bartolini (look for split-coil or dual in-line coil)
DiMarzio All pickups are hum cancelling
Delano Some single coil, some split-coil
Nordstrand
Seymour Duncan doesn't have any off-the-shelf split-coil J pickups, but you can get the from the Custom Shop. Fender used to make a good one, but for whatever reason, they quit making them.

I should add that putting these pickups in a Jazz bass will not make it sound exactly like a P, but it will allow you to solo the neck pickup without additional noise, and it probably will sound closer to a P than a single coil J pickup would.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

+1 for the dual coil Bartolini "deep" sounding model for the neck position. I'd combine this with the "bright" sounding model for the bridge position.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

@Progbusters. Have you taken a look under the pickguard of your Squier Jazz Bass?

It is possible that, rather than the traditional pickup-shaped rout, the Squier has a fairly generous rectangular cavity. When present, this is intended to assist the fitting of inaccurately cut replacement pickguards. The side benefit of this is that it may be possible to fit an EMG35-sized "soapbar" replacement pickup.

http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/extended-series/4-string/35p4.html

With your bass guitar modified to accept this pickup, the Quik Connect™ wiring harness brings the option to change to other similarly-sized pickups at will.

http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/extended-series/4-string/35tw.html
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/bass-pickups/soapbars/4string/45_string_black/

 

[jeremy]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

right, check the cavity under there. the first thing id try is wiring the two pups in series

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

Two J single coils connected in series is an interesting sonic variation but it does not sound like a P.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

@Progbusters. Have you taken a look under the pickguard of your Squier Jazz Bass?

It is possible that, rather than the traditional pickup-shaped rout, the Squier has a fairly generous rectangular cavity. When present, this is intended to assist the fitting of inaccurately cut replacement pickguards. The side benefit of this is that it may be possible to fit an EMG35-sized "soapbar" replacement pickup.

Not saying you're wrong, but how on earth does a bathtub route help with inaccurately cut pickguards?

 

[jtougas]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

Another option is to put on a Babicz Full Contact bridge... I had one on my Jazz, and that's precisely why I took it off. There was still a difference in tone, but not nearly as drastic as there had been with the stock Squier cheapie piece.


Sent from my iPad using a bunch of electrons, copper, and probably some fiber optic cable

 

[jeremy]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

if the pickgurd is cut wrong and the pup is in the wrong spot, it can be a real pita if there is a tight rout for the pickup in the body.

i wasnt suggesting that the two jazz pups in series sound anything like a p bass, just that its the first thing i would try if i wanted a fatter tone since its free

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

if the pickgurd is cut wrong and the pup is in the wrong spot, it can be a real pita if there is a tight rout for the pickup in the body.

If I'm reading this correctly, you're suggesting that in the event a $20 pickguard has the pickup hole in the incorrect spot or alignment, a large route in the $200 body of the bass allows the pickup to be installed incorrectly on the bass, in order to to accommodate the incorrect pickguard?

I have seen bath-tub routes on many Strats, Squier and others, to accommodate the different pickup arrangements -- SSS, HSS, HSH, HH, etc. I have only ever seen one bathtub route on a bass, and that is in one of my own basses, routed by the previous owner for exactly the same reason, to accommodate an unconventional pickup arrangement (JPP). And for that bass, I made a custom pickguard to accommodate the pickups.

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

Just get a P!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: make a j-bass sound like a p-bass

In order of extremeness (and preference, for me):

1. Don't worry about getting it to "sound like a P-Bass." Just get it to have a tone that you like. Turn tone knobs on whatever device until you get the tone you want.

2. Use flatwound strings for a more "classic" and less tinny/twangy/metallic sound.

3. Install a split J-Bass pickup. P-Bass pickups are split humbuckers, while J-Bass pickups are not. A large part of the difference between J and P comes down to single coil vs. humbucker.

4. Add a noise filter, as an alternative to the above.

5. If you want a P-Bass, make it into one. Just dupe the wiring of a P-Bass. Install a P-Bass pickup. In addition to the J and P pickups being different types, the extra pickup and pots are not there on a P-Bass, so yank those too.

6. Buy another bass that inherently sounds like you want it to sound.