Aguilar AG 5J-70 very low output ??

[zeb_bass]

Hi all,

I have a set of AG 5J 70s wind (passive Vol Vol tone in a warmoth Deluxe V build) while they sound nice and open ...I am really suffering from very very low ouput with them...(pickup height is already higher than I usally prefer in order to avoid clacking noises from strings touching magnets)
I can crank the gain on my amp (markbass LMII) all they way before it clips (my other passive Js will clip around noon (half way).

I must admit that this axe seems also acoustically quieter!

I had never installed different pickups in this bass as it is a warmoth parts bass and the aguilars were the only pickups I intended to use.

But comparing to my other passive 4 string Jazz Basses I have in rotation the output of the AG5J-70s equiped 5 string is considerably lower. (about half the output of my other Js)

Do you think this could be such a decisive factor ?

Or are these AG 5J-70s known to have low ouput ?

How could I gauge the potential Output of these Pickups?
(Obviously I could get the DC resistance readings but they are meaningless to me especially since they are 5 string PUs and longer coil obviously gives higher readings compared to my beloved vintage Fender 4 string PUs)

As I said the output is really low. In fact it is so low that it starts causing problems with effects and such .....I really need to change it and thinking about getting a differen set of PUs. BUT I´d hate to waste extra money on different PUs only to find out its the bass which acoustically will not put out more!

What else could be the culprit? Wiring?? Tone cap ?
But the wiring seems correct 250 K pots. The only difference to standard Fender wiring would be a thorough shielding job.



Any input is apreciated ! I need more output!



Thanks!

[narud]

if theyre winding them anything like the 4 string set than id say the low output compared to other j's makes sense. from the specs it looks like they actually tried to stay close to what a 70's pickup was in terms of turns rather than an idealized version of what they thought a 70's pickup should have been.

[pickles]

The 4 string 60s version are quite high output ... have not tried the 5ers or the 70s.

[ryognbass]

This certainly seems abnormal based upon my experiences with the 70's. reach out to Aguilar at info@Aguilar.com and they'll set it straight somehow. How long ago did you purchase the set?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by zeb_bass

How could I gauge the potential Output of these Pickups?
(Obviously I could get the DC resistance readings but they are meaningless to me especially since they are 5 string PUs and longer coil obviously gives higher readings compared to my beloved vintage Fender 4 string PUs)

Pickup output is determined by the number of turns of wire (as well as magnet strength, and other factors). Longer pickups will read higher, but that wont make them louder if they are wound with the same number of turns. As an example look at stock Jazz pickups. The bridge unit is slightly longer and reads a little higher, but is not louder.

I must admit that this axe seems also acoustically quieter!

I think that's a contributing factor!

[rummy]

I'm supposed to get the 70s set in the mail today. Let you know if mine sound quiet.

[joelb79]

Maybe the pots went bad when you soldered onto the back of them? I had that happen. Too much heat kills pots. As a troubleshoot, you could wire them 5J-70's directly to the jack and see what happens...

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by joelb79

Maybe the pots went bad when you soldered onto the back of them? I had that happen. Too much heat kills pots. As a troubleshoot, you could wire them 5J-70's directly to the jack and see what happens...

Too much heat on the contacts kills pots. The cans aren't really touching anything important. They work more like heat sinks. But I suppose if you really over heat them that could be a bad thing. I've never had it happen, but then I don't cook them.

But I would also check that the pots are good.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Too much heat on the contacts kills pots. The cans aren't really touching anything important. They work more like heat sinks. But I suppose if you really over heat them that could be a bad thing. I've never had it happen, but then I don't cook them.

But I would also check that the pots are good.

You underestimate my over-soldering! Pun intended!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by joelb79

You underestimate my over-soldering! Pun intended!

Can we get a chorus of "Burning Down the House"?

[zacinaction]

I have the 5J-70 set in my American Dlx Jazz V and I haven't had any problems with low output. I had the stock fender noiseless pickups in the bass before, and I'd say they were about the same output level (but much better sounding).

[rummy]

Got mine. They're not low out put at all. They measure about the same as the stock Geddy pickups and about as loud. 7.8b/7.4n