American Std Jazz bass pickup upgrade ?

bassarch · #1 10-07-2011, 03:32 AM

I recently bought a brand new 2011 Fender American Std jazz bass .I am still exploring it .No major complaints yet ,just have the feeling the beefines*? is lacking .The tone doesnt sound as thick as my previously owned American 2004 jazz bass ( sold it unfortunately , big big big mistake ..)

So the thing is ,I have 3 spare set of pups ; Dimarzio Ultra jazz , Dimarzio Model J s and Seymour Duncan AJJ-2 Lightnin' Rods

So do you think an upgrade is worthy ?Shall I upgrade my jazz bass with either one of those to reach that 'thick tone ' , if so which one would you suggest ?

thx

HMZ · #2 10-07-2011, 03:41 AM

I have a 2010 American std Jazz and I was thinking the same thing but don't know if I want to change anything yet. If I did I was thinking a set of Dimarzio Model J's

bassarch · #3 10-07-2011, 03:47 AM

The only experience I had with Model j s is that , once I had a Warwick Fortress one and tried Model J s in it ..the tone became sooo thick that it was disturbing , the lows were too much boomy,and the highs were almost lost ( in a warwick can u imagine )., I immediately returned to the MECs..but that was a Warwick
I dont know how would the result be in the Fender jazz ..

Vincent P · #4 10-07-2011, 04:00 AM

Nice set of spare pickups bassarch; if it were me, I would spend a Saturday swapping them out to see which sounded the best. You may also if this is not your main gigging bass, leave a set in for a week at a time and then make your decision.

bassarch · #5 10-07-2011, 04:46 AM

Thx Vincent
But I am not that 'techie' guy ,as easy as it may be for you , doing such kind of swapping things I really am totally unskilled

....so I should have someone do it for me , thats why I ask for your opinions

SGD Lutherie · #6 10-07-2011, 06:48 AM

My vote is the Lightnin' Rods, assuming you have room for a battery. They are great sounding pickups.

Emibass · #7 10-07-2011, 06:55 AM

Did you try with changing the strings? Is what I did...the bass came to life.

BTW, mine is exactly like yours.

SGD Lutherie · #8 10-07-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emibass

Did you try with changing the strings? Is what I did...the bass came to life.

BTW, mine is exactly like yours.

+1

Never keep the string on that the bass came with.

invalidprotocol · #9 10-07-2011, 07:59 AM

I have no skills in that area either but managed to pull it off just recently. A bit of reading on TB and a handful of YouTube vids and I had enough confidence to try. I didn't like my 08 Jazz pickups either but for different reasons. After the results I got I was so glad I tried and it felt empowering.

Before I ever tackled that I experimented a bit with different strings and for a long period of time actually. I found the string changes impactful although it never fully solved my problem. I think the string exploration is worth your time, at least a string change at minimum since it can really change the character of the bass.

So a +1 to the string change.

bassarch · #10 10-07-2011, 08:14 AM

I also thought about the string change at first ,but the strings that came with the bass felt very fresh to me as if they are new..Maybe I should give it a second thought u may be right

any other suggestions ? about the pups ,shall I upgrade or stick to stock ?

djaxup · #11 10-07-2011, 09:01 AM

i like the US Fender Stock PUs.

jnewmark · #12 10-11-2011, 12:55 PM

This does'nt help the OP, but, it never ceases to amaze me the tonal differences in stock pickups in MIA Jazz basses from year to year. I have a '96 that sounds totally different than my '98. I've played other MIA Jazz basses that were just a year apart, and sound different.

walterw · #13 10-11-2011, 07:14 PM

the american standards are decent pickups, but can certainly be improved upon. (the bass itself is a home run, though.)

if you want "thick", the ultra jazz will have more bottom and power.

i recall the lightnin' rods as being nice, but kind of an odd duck, in that they were active pickups designed to sound close to vintage passive pickups. made them an uphill battle to sell to customers ("why do i want these if i can get that sound without a battery?")

DWBass · #14 10-11-2011, 07:30 PM

Subscribed.

I have an 07 US Jazz with the S1 switch. I'm getting this weird chorus like effect on my E string. I use different strings and it's the same. I'm thinking of changing pups and also getting rid of that S1 circuit. I don't use it anyway! Possibly going active. I have a set of Fender Noiseless I may try first and I may add an Audere pre. Had that combo in another bass and it sounded pretty good.

walterw · #15 10-11-2011, 07:34 PM

the fender noiseless were kinda dull (typical "stack" sound), while the dedicated fender preamp that went with them was bright and edgy to compensate. i wouldn't wanna use one without the other.

DWBass · #16 10-11-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

the fender noiseless were kinda dull (typical "stack" sound), while the dedicated fender preamp that went with them was bright and edgy to compensate. i wouldn't wanna use one without the other.

What do you recommend? I'm a Funk/R&B guy who slaps a lot. I need top and bottom end. I'm still getting rid of that S1! The guy who's building my custom is really high on EMG pups and preamps.

Jim Carr · #17 10-11-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassarch

...So do you think an upgrade is worthy ? Shall I upgrade my jazz bass with either one of those to reach that 'thick tone,' if so which one would you suggest?

I concur with those who say change the strings. The stock strings are not so bad, but I think a nice set of DR Low Riders, or Sadowsky Blue Label round wounds might fatten it up just right.

What sort of music and rig are you doing?

SkiFor3 · #18 10-11-2011, 08:01 PM

+1 on the subscription. I just got a 2010 american standard and have been wondering about upgrade pups. To me my E string sounds kinda flat. I havent changed the strings yet so that will be my first priority, then maybe a pup upgrade. Also was wondering how much a good setup would help.

funkyjudge · #19 10-11-2011, 09:16 PM

I happen to love Aero Jazz pickups, if you want to keep it passive, but of course that would mean spending more money. For MY money, nothing beats the Aeros (I have them in my Nash JB-63, and my wife has an Aero pickup in her '78 MusicMaster). Unless you hear them, you cannot believe what an improvement these pickups make!

fhm555 · #20 10-12-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassarch

Thx Vincent
But I am not that 'techie' guy ,as easy as it may be for you , doing such kind of swapping things I really am totally unskilled

....so I should have someone do it for me , thats why I ask for your opinions

Soldering is an acquired skill so if you can learn a bass part by heart, you posses the requisite skills to learn to solder. Go get you a good iron, roll of solder, flux, wire strippers, etc, and a roll of 20 gauge wire, then read a few how to's and practice, practice, practice.

For what you will pay to have a single set of pups installed, you can get what you need to swap all the pups (and pots and caps and...) you want.

If I can do it...anyone can.