PJ bass pickup tone

[ferlon]

So, I'm starting a new grunge band with some friends and I'll be playing bass, so i ordered a bass (my first one) and i have no clue about bass tone. The bass I'm getting is the squier vintage modified jaguar bass with p/j pickups. Any recommendations for good pickup combos?

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

Good combo's of what? New pickups? A Combo amp?

If you're just getting into bass don;t worry about swapping pickups yet. See what you get with what you have then decide what you want from there. What's the rest of your rig like?

 

[ferlon]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

Good combo's of what? New pickups? A Combo amp?

If you're just getting into bass don;t worry about swapping pickups yet. See what you get with what you have then decide what you want from there. What's the rest of your rig like?

My bad, i actually meant pickup combos. I am not going to change them immediately, i was just curious
The rest of my gear is just my guitar an overdrive pedal and my practice amp.

LTD TE-212 w/ /Invader neck and Hot Rails bridge pickups
Marshall Bluesbreaker II
Line6 Spider IV 15watts.

It's not much but i guess i don't need much either

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

Ok.

Like I said, best to start with what you have then decide based on what you want different. It's easy to throw out good pickup combo's, but many might not work for you.

Also, be careful with putting bass through guitar speakers. What are you going to get for a bass amp?

 

[ferlon]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

Ok.

Like I said, best to start with what you have then decide based on what you want different. It's easy to throw out good pickup combo's, but many might not work for you.

Also, be careful with putting bass through guitar speakers. What are you going to get for a bass amp?

Due to noise complaints I might get the Blackstar FLY 3 mini bass amp.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

What are you going to use in the band though?

 

[daan]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

If you've just gotta mod your bass, you really can't go wrong with Quarter Pounders. (What? Somebody on a pickup site, wants to change pickups? Shocker!) I would also say "just play it until you know what you want", don't spend $ you don't HAVE to...
That being said, my #1 bass is a PJ with "Select by EMG" pups in it. They're the 80's version of EMG-HZ (passive) pups. The Selects came in lots of lower-end stuff so they get no love, but I think they sound great. Real crisp, almost "hi-fi" sound, super clean. You can always add dirt, but you can't make your clean signal cleaner...
Oh yeah, another thing about PJ setups is the P is a Humbucker, but the J usually isn't, so sometimes the P can totally overwhelm the J, or at least be noticeably louder. The EMG set I have is all Humbucker so they balance well. Lowering the P and cranking the J as close as you can, helps.

 

[Mincer]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

The Quarter Pound set is wonderful for punchy, overdriven, grungy tone. But in the end, research costs nothing but some time. Listen to many players, find a tone you like 9or describe that tone you have in your head) and take the leap. It's fun!

 

[ferlon]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

What are you going to use in the band
well, whatever the studio we go practice has

 

[BRHGM]

Re: PJ bass pickup tone

it's a matter of preference. I have had the Quarter Pounders and they are a really great set. Other people like the vintage sets to get a clearer tone. There are many other combinations in between and active pickups as well.