Yeah, I know!
At first i thought I would want a J pickup that is less harsh (as the stock P pickup is good).
But I found out, that using P/J ca. 75%/25% it sounds ok (thanks @Wombat-metal ).
Still, on my ESP (two humbuckers), both pickups were great.
So I either have to accept that the J pickup makes only sense if I use it just slightly in a P/J mix. Or I find a J pickup that does not sound so uncivilized and harsh…
Oh you will almost definitely never use just the J pickup on a P/J. That would sound very thin and overly bright.
Personally I don’t really like J pickups much in general except inasmuch as what they add when combined with a P on a P/J. YMMV.
Or, paired with an MM in M/J. That’s good too.
says the dude who put Ps in his jazz pickup
Yeah they need to be paired with something meaty or punchy. On their own they are just kind of anemic.
The classic J/J isn’t for me either but I can appreciate that scooped tone and it can sound awesome in the right contexts.
An isolated J pickup - no.
And here goes my idea that I really need two pickups! That was born out of my MM experience, and I hoped for a similar experience (but with different tonality) with PJ.
What did I learn?
MM = great!
P = great!
P/J = not really necessary, cuse I (almost) mute the J anyway.
So I could have gotten a P bass instead of P/J…
Ooooooooooooooooor: replace the J with a Humbucker, if that is possible without other modifications. Like a J-style humbucker???!
Or just leave it, nothing wrong with a P/J.
That is not in my nature, @howard. If you don’t like it: mod it!
Well the good news is, if you replace it with a J-style humbucker, it’s in the bridge poition and will pair nicely with the P.
The more interesting question though would be why not just sell/return this and get a bass with a pickup layout you like?
You are reading my mind!
I really like the Sire U5 now, at least in P mode. It’s easy to play and it sounds very grown up. The whole house is vibrating gently, when I play…
So, I am reluctant to return it. But would do it of course…
You do know, that I will flood this forum with further ideas about possibe short scales though? It will become an endless discussion (already is). Who wants that? I don’t 
I would replace the J prickup if I could find a humbucker that fits the J position without modifying the body.
It feels just wrong to make visible modofications on a brand new bass that has this quality…
You could just disconnect the j pickup and have a p bass too.
Yep, well - currently I play the J with a very low volume and P on 100%. I would feel guilty, if I would not use the J at all
But I am amazed, why the J exists at all. It’s just a dirty, harsh sounding pickup. Why bother?
(EDIT Espeically, cause in MM configurations both pickups can sound great, also individually!)
I like the j blended in on my BB. Tightens up the articulation and I like that. I really thought I was going to leave it turned off or disconnect it when I bought the bass too, until I tried it and liked it.
Also sometimes harsh is good.
What I’m saying is there’s no accounting for taste (but also you’re wrong).
I feel like an enabler
First, you need to measure the bridge pickup. J pickups come in two sizes. One which is close to the neck, and one which is close to the bridge. It is common for PJs to use the smaller “neck” pickup instead of the typical bridge. So if you order any pickup as a mod, make sure it’s the right size.
Okay, two options
Fralin makes a single coil P pickup (like on a 51P bass) in Jazz housings. This can absolutely be soloed.
Novak makes a gold foil pickup which should fit without major modifications, if any. Also can be soloed.
No worries! I cannot be enabled as you can’t get those here. But they sure look cool.
I might live with the Sire U5 and ignore the J mostly.
Ooooooooooooooor … get another bass and mod the hell out of that. Just to protest that no bass manufaturer wants to build a proper short scale for me.
Why can’t guys like me, that play badly and are completely unknown NOT get a signature bass model???!
Or embrace long scale
No - not possible. I recently found out that I have destroyed my left shoulder with several bike accidents and some martial arts … and cannot play larger/longer basses for longer times!
I was wondering, where the pain comes from - now I know ^^
There’s other manufacturers that make interesting short scales. Have one in mind will think of the name. They cost though
Ha! We are coming back to the very beginning of my short scale bass voyage…
So - first I planned to get a 230€ bass with about 250€ mods. Let’s say 500€.
Then I saw the Reverend Dub King for about 1100€. So that made me stretch my budget by selling my body in the dark alleyways of the Hamburg red light district.
Then I purchased the Ibanez EHB1005SMS, which is almost 1200€. I returned it.
With this bass I established the event horizon for this bass purchase. 1200€ really is the limit, as I am one of those Dutch unemployed illegal immigrants in Germany, that only bring chaos and mayhem - and has no money ^^
They should have built a wall between Holland and Germany - but now it’s too late. I’m here!
I was kind of hoping to get two basses for the price of one (fretted and fretless) - but please convince me otherwise, mr. Enabler ^^
EDIT for the American readers: some of my statements may or may not be exaggerated “alternative facts”, just to make a point!
Not my fault if you click the link