Fender MIM P-Bass Deluxe Active Question

[Johnny Lenin]

A friend lent me his Fender Deluxe P-Bass Special Active (God! What a mouthful) while I decide whether I want to buy it from him. So far I like the bass, but the bridge pickup (the J-bass pickup) is really weak. Is this normal with this bass? Is there any way to make it hotter? I like the sound and control of the P-bass pickup, but I wouldn't mind having that extra pickup... after all, it's there...

 

Any experience with this?

[RSBro]

There isn't a J pickup on the P-Bass Deluxe.

 

Do you have the P-bass Special or something else? I have the American Deluxe P.

 

It has P and humbucking/soapbar pickups.

[Davedblyoo]

In my experience with P/J basses, if the J pickup is a true single coil, it won't be able to keep up with the P pickup in output. The pickups will sound fine by themselves, but the second you start blending them, the overall volume will drop and a thin whiny tone will issue forth. I'm sure this can be overcome with some judicous EQ'ing. The only exception to this that I have noted from my experience is my Peavey Unity, which has a Seymour Duncan Hot P in the neck and a Seymour Duncan Classic Jazz Stack in the bridge position. The Jazz Stack is a stacked humbucker and can keep up with the P pickup better than a traditional single coil. Personally I think a P/J setup with a single coil in the bridge is the epitome of useless, but your mileage may vary. This isn't to say that the P/J setup is crap, I'm sure that there are many people using with great results. What I am saying is that it doesn't work well for me, and I personally will never purchase another P/J again, and if I do, I am sure it won't be because of the J pickup in the bridge.

[ThudMaker]

What I have run into with just a pickup switch is that the P pup does offer a bit stronger output, but more importantly has a fuller bass response. In a vol/vol/tone setup with both volumes on full, I have had the experience with one bass of becoming thin. Perhaps a sign of phasing issues. As soon as the volume was dropped back on one or the other, the fullness came back. Most of the time, I just run the P with these, but I do like to add the J for additional flavor.

 

[bassred]

 

There isn't a J pickup on the P-Bass Deluxe. Do you have the P-bass Special or something else? I have the American Deluxe P. It has P and humbucking/soapbar pickups.

 

Yes, there was. I had one in the early 90's. it looked like basses #2 and #4 in the post above this. It was pretty sweet. didn't have too much trouble with the J pickup, but I used the P or 'Both" as my favorite settings.. I kind of miss it... but it was a 4 string

[Johnny Lenin]

There isn't a J pickup on the P-Bass Deluxe.

It's the current model Fender Deluxe Active P-Bass Special, made in Mexico. This one:

I'm mostly a keyboardist so I can't really justify spending a lot on a bass, so this seems like a good deal. The problem is that the J pickup is very weak. I'm glad this is not uncommon. I like the instrument and need a bass so what the Hell. I'd like to get more output out of the pickup, and I'll probably replace it at some point, but for now is there anyway to get more out of it as it is?

[GRANKOR]

It's the current model Fender Deluxe Active P-Bass Special, made in Mexico. This one: I'm mostly a keyboardist so I can't really justify spending a lot on a bass, so this seems like a good deal. The problem is that the J pickup is very weak. I'm glad this is not uncommon. I like the instrument and need a bass so what the Hell. I'd like to get more output out of the pickup, and I'll probably replace it at some point, but for now is there anyway to get more out of it as it is?

 

use a compressor

[azacher]

I have to know more about the basses in pic #2 and #4. They look totally different than the current deluxe active p's available, and I have a chance to buy one but I cannot find any info on them whatsoever. Please if anyone can help, it would be appreciated!!