PJ basses.. does having a J pickup change the sound of the P pickup?

[Jazzjames]

PJ basses.. does having a J pickup change the sound of the P pickup?

What I mean is, when the J pickup is turned all the way down, would the bass sound different than if there was no J pickup at all? Is there any electronic reason for it sounding different?

FYI I'm using a Mike Lull PJ5.

And to make the thread more interesting here's a picture...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. James

[skej21]

I'm no electronic wizard but I imagine that the pickups are wired in parallel as standard configuration which means the signal goes through both pickups at the same time and then to the output (where series means the signal travels to the neck pickup then into the bridge pickup before going to the output). If you turn one pickup off, it would simply kill that signal between the pickup and the output and you'd get the sound of the second pickup only. In series, I imagine that if you turn off the volume, the pickup will still have some effect as it would have to travel through a muted pickup in either position before going to the output.

That is what i would expect logically but I imagine it depends mostly on the way they are wired? I'm sure someone will be along soon to explain properly lol.

[afterimage]

I have a p bass a Thomann special run with jazz pickup p j config no problems with either the jazz can help blend with a p split coil very well more tonal option's for you enjoy

Edited August 19, 2015 by afterimage

[Sharkfinger]

I my experience; yes.

It's why I installed a toggle switch in my Precision Lyte. Even with the J turned right down and the P right up, you can hear the difference in tone when switching from the P pup soloed, to the middle position.

[uncle psychosis]

[i]Some[/i] people will tell you that having a second pickup will affect the tone, even if that pickup is totally disconnected electronically, because the magnetic field from it will affect the vibration of the strings. Whether or not you think that that would make any meaningful difference is probably best decided by an angry four hundred page thread.

[chris_b]

My Lull PJ5 has a separate volume for each pick up, so I would expect there to be no interaction other than through the tone control.

I have A/B'ed my bass with another Lull P5 and heard no issue with the sound when the J was turned off.

I only use the P pickup on mine. IMO it just doesn't need the J to sound great.

[Funky Dunky]

I only have experience with a couple of P/J basses, none of them being particularly awesome or of the quality of a Mike Lull (drool) but they sounded fine and not noticeably conpromised by the second pickup to my ears.

A Lull with P/J though.............mmmm.......

[Beedster]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1439994258' post='2847365']
[i]Some[/i] people will tell you that having a second pickup will affect the tone, even if that pickup is totally disconnected electronically, because the magnetic field from it will affect the vibration of the strings. Whether or not you think that that would make any meaningful difference is probably best decided by an angry four hundred page thread.
[/quote]

Ha ha, you mean like the one on Talkbass

[ubit]

The difference would most likely be so small that you wouldn't hear it and let's face it, once you turn up for gigs, no one would be able to hear any difference.

Just my opinion

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1439990669' post='2847307']


And to make the thread more interesting here's a picture...

[/quote]

Playing all the way up there it'll sound more like a Strat anyway

[Beedster]

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1440070370' post='2847998']
The difference would most likely be so small that you wouldn't hear it and let's face it, once you turn up for gigs, no one would be able to hear any difference.
[/quote]

Or care

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1439994258' post='2847365']
[i]Some[/i] people will tell you that having a second pickup will affect the tone, even if that pickup is totally disconnected electronically, because the magnetic field from it will affect the vibration of the strings. Whether or not you think that that would make any meaningful difference is probably best decided by an angry four hundred page thread.
[/quote]

I think the main difference would come from having a second volume control in circuit. If you use 250K pots wired up like a Jazz and solo the P-pickup, it will see a load of 125K ohms from the pots, rather than the 250K it would see on a single pickup bass. The difference would be fairly subtle (it may lose some brightness) and could be got around by using higher value pots or a toggle switch.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Beer of the Bass

[Lynottfan]

Over the years I have had Five P/J configured basses and I have to say Yes it does have an effect, when the J pick up is turned off, so no volume, when compared to a normal P bass configuration, I notice that the P bass sound does lose bit of its treble top end and to my ears sounds a little smoother.

[Jazzjames]

Thanks for all your answers guys, very interesting.

[Travis]

Wie gehts James,

I would wonder, besides any possible change to the signal having to do with wiring, how the location of the P pickup with a J would compare to a straight P setup.

T

[inthedoghouse]

In my experience, it makes no difference at all

[pfretrock]

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1439990669' post='2847307']
What I mean is, when the J pickup is turned all the way down, would the bass sound different than if there was no J pickup at all? Is there any electronic reason for it sounding different?
[/quote]

With the J turned down, there is still the 250K resistance of the J volume pot connected across the jack. In theory, this could reduce treble compared to a situation in which J pickup and pot were not there (the 250k forms a low pass (= treble cut) filter with the p pickup's inductance). But I suspect the difference is subtle to a point where it may not be noticeable, it would depend on all the other components (inductance, resistance, lead length, amp input....)

Assuming it is connected like this:

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=std_p_j_bass"]http://www.seymourdu...ic=std_p_j_bass[/url]

[afterimage]

The joy of tone

[Jazzjames]

Hi Travis. The p pickup i believe is in the 'correct' position, and is the same on the P5 or the PJ5 that I have.

And for the people that have asked, the controls are the normal vol/vol/tone. I did play another pj5 that was actually vol/blend/tone. I prefered my bass but probably it was more an overall impression, not just because of the wiring differences.

And regarding the magnetic pull from the J pickup- it's hum cancelling so the draw is quite weak compared to a true single coil, no?

Edited August 23, 2015 by Jazzjames

[KiOgon]

In spite of all the technobull you are the one playing it - can you hear hear any difference? Or you could 'phone a friend - even ask the audience

[Dood]

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1439994258' post='2847365']
[i]..... [/i]Whether or not you think that that would make any meaningful difference is probably best decided by an angry four hundred page thread.
[/quote]

I'm a bit late to the discussion but I am happy that I got here eventually, otherwise I would have missed this post that has definitely won the internet for August

[Jazzjames]

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1440353655' post='2850039']
In spite of all the technobull you are the one playing it - can you hear hear any difference? Or you could 'phone a friend - even ask the audience
[/quote]

It sounds like a P bass to me. I was just curious. I do tend to have the J pup on a little bit to help add clarity to the B string. If i were to buy another though I'd probably at least try just the straight P5...