Aggressive Jazz Bass Pickups?

Geddy Claypool · #1 01-11-2009, 07:17 PM

Before anyone says anything, yes, I saw El-bob's thread about 5 string jazz pickups. My request is a little bit different.

The time has come for me to swap the pickups in my 4-string SX Jazz. The stock ones have truly impressed me, very nice tone, I'm just looking for a bit of a meaner jazz sound.

Somewhat specifically, I'm looking for the most aggressive, growly jazz pickups available. Something with huge mid-punch, but still holds the essential jazz bass sound. I've heard impressive things about the '75 reissue Fender pickups, but being as they are somewhat obscure, I figured I'd get a few more opinions.

Any thoughts?

stevellss · #2 01-11-2009, 07:20 PM

I was looking for the same thing you are for my SX jazz 4 string, I went with dimarzio model J's and I couldn't be happier.

newbold · #3 01-11-2009, 07:25 PM

how'd the Model J's fit?

Did they drop in or did you need to route the body?

I may need to do this in the next couple of months.

Geddy Claypool · #4 01-11-2009, 07:56 PM

That sounds pretty good to me.

Any other thoughts?

joeyl · #5 01-11-2009, 09:08 PM

Aero Js do it for me, I had Model Js but I grew tired of their sound, it does not have the clarity of the J, although it was punchy.

Geddy Claypool · #6 01-11-2009, 09:42 PM

Ahh thanks for the suggestion joeyl, I loved the Aeros when I played a Lakland Skyline. I'll have to look into those.

stevellss · #7 01-11-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbold

how'd the Model J's fit?

Did they drop in or did you need to route the body?

I may need to do this in the next couple of months.

They are a perfect fit. I dropped in the bridge pickup and it fits better than the stock pickup, and the neck pickup just needed a tiny bit of sanding on the pickguard, I didn't even have to make new holes for the mounting screws on the pickups.

Also, yes they are passive, but can be wired in series or parallel to achieve slightly different tones. I don;t know anything about that, I simply wired them the same way the stock ones were.

maybe I will post a pic if I can get a camera.

Geddy Claypool · #8 01-11-2009, 09:47 PM

stevellss, I've heard that the Model J's have a crazy amount of punch and fatness, but do they produce a lot of "growl" as well?

stevellss · #9 01-11-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddy Claypool

Ahh thanks for the suggestion joeyl, I loved the Aeros when I played a Lakland Skyline. I'll have to look into those.

And stevellss, I've heard that the Model J's have a crazy amount of punch and fatness, but do they produce a lot of "growl" as well?

Depends on your amp. I've used them running into a traynor yba-200 tube head and when I turn up the gain and have the tone all the way up, I can get a really good aggressive tone from the neck pickup that I'd describe as a growl. They sound really good clean too, and most importantly, they cut in the perfect spot of the mix. When used with a sansamp DI driver you can get a great attack. Can you give an example of a recorded tone that you want?

Geddy Claypool · #10 01-11-2009, 09:53 PM

I play through an SVT Classic and 810 rig. Thanks for the info, as I'm really hoping to get an aggressive sounding Pup set of this.

As for a recorded sample.....let me look around for a few minutes. I'll edit this post when I get something, should just be a few minutes.

Geddy Claypool · #11 01-11-2009, 10:05 PM

So, I'm having a little bit of trouble getting a clip of what I want.

Essentially I want the bite, growl, and aggression of the traditional jazz bass sound, just emphasized a bit more in each area.

John Wentzien · #12 01-11-2009, 10:21 PM

I just switched the "Duncan Design" PUPs from my VM Squier bass to my 2003 HWY 1 jazz..
I thought the Squier sounded "too" aggressive with the Duncans.
Both basses sound much better now..
The Duncan Design pups are growlier and a little hotter than the stock Fenders.

Ampeg SVT · #13 01-12-2009, 12:49 AM

I would also say Aero's, I had a set of them in a old Lakland DJ and they were HOT.

Geddy Claypool · #14 01-12-2009, 04:41 AM

Do you know if those are Aero 1's or Aero 3's?

Geddy Claypool · #15 01-12-2009, 05:37 AM

http://www.lakland.com/ac_DJ5.htm

Ok, this is pretty close to the tone I want, just hopefully it gets crunchier when you dig in more. It's a Lakland Skyline DJ with Aeros. I guess that's a sign to get the Aeros. But I haven't the slightest idea whether these are the 3's or 1's.

Modern Growl · #16 01-12-2009, 06:25 AM

I would go w/ either the Fender 75' RI's or the Fender Custom Shop Custom 60's pickups. IMO and IME Fender is the only company that goes for raw mid punch and aggressiveness in there pickups.

I had Aero's and thought they were very wide and pristine sounding. Deep lows, smooth high's and the mids were honestly lacking compared to the stock Pups in my Geddy I auditioned them in.

Others I own/tried are Nordstrand NJ4, which go for mid warmth, Fralins that do the same thing. The both have a 'softer' sound to them. Sadowsky Single J's that are supposed to be a copy of Antiquity II's, which I like and own and are presently in both of my Sadowsky's (RV4 and MV4) but they have an upper mid smoothness to them compared to the 75' RI's. Big lows, and a smoother uppermid with an aggressive high treble cut. (I put them in my Fender 75' RI for fun and went right back to the stock pups).

In conclusion, go w/ Fender pickups of some sort. They truly have the most aggressive midrange tone. Custom Shops or 75' RI's. The CS's will give you more lows and low mids with decent upper mid growl, while the 75's go for straight mid and uppermid grind.

Also, go true singles... any hum-canceling pickup will be smoother/warmer with less edge by design.

Eublet · #17 01-12-2009, 06:46 AM

Lakland used Aero Type 1 Pups in their DJ's, not type 3. If you want an aggressive and grindy tone, those pups deliver in spades.

heavyhitter · #18 01-12-2009, 07:52 AM

How about the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder. Id think these would be aggressive... maybe not so much the "jazzy" tone though.

Geddy Claypool · #19 01-12-2009, 09:02 AM

I'm torn between Eublet's and Modern Growl's suggestions. I adore the Aero sound of the Lakland, but the Fender PUPs sound just like what I'm going for as well.

?? I'm stumped.

King David · #20 01-12-2009, 09:24 AM

Here is a bit of an off the wall suggestion. I loved my jazz bass, but could never coax enough grunt/grit/gowl out of it. I did not go through all the trouble and expense of swapping pickups.
I played a Warwick Corvette, and I could never get the sound out of my head and I could never get the sound I wanted.
I tool the plunge with a Corvette 5. I think of it as a jazz bass on steroids. That of course is no disrespect to any bass maker, it is more of a reference point.
The thing is punchier, growlier, deeper than the jazz without being boomy.