Bartolini 9J1 Pickups

Love GK · #1 05-10-2013, 08:20 PM

I have a 2006 American Standard Jazz Bass that I have a love hate relationship with. The bass had dead spots and uneven frequency problems from the start but I thought it could be fixed so far I've been wrong. First thing I did I had Fender Noiseless pickups put in it. Then I had a Hipshot bridge put on that seemed to fix things about 60% and now I've had a Warmoth neck put on. It still has uneven frequency problems some notes louder than others. I thought about putting the Bartolini 9J1 pickups in it I understand they have a real nice even responce to them. This is going to be my last thought of trying to fix this problem I'm not doing the work myself I have a qualified luthier do the work. Has anybody ever tried using the Bartolini's and had any luck with them fixing a problem like I have. Really frustrating!!!!! Played some Lakland's today I'm about to leave Fender behind!

MIMike · #2 05-11-2013, 07:27 AM

You said love hate relationship...I don't see much love in the post. I love Jazz basses and I love Bartolini pickups, but I've never used pickups to try and fix a bass that didnt play well.
I think I would look for a good deal on another bass before spending money on new pickups...after all you already tried that. I assume you had it professionally set up when you made the changes? Sometimes unevenness and frequency cancellation can be as simple as wrong pickup height. I bet you could sell you 2006 for more money if you put it back to original condition (parts) than you could in its altered state. That's good news in being able to use some of the upgrades on a future instrument.

Love GK · #3 05-11-2013, 09:04 AM

What I meant by love/hate relationship is I do love the sound of my Fender Jazz and it also has the S1 switching that kind of sounds like a Precision when turned on. "The part I hate" When I play the E note up on the A string towards the body that's where my problems start. "The part I love" from the E note up toward the the headstock it seems to be in balance. I talked to 3 luthiers this week 2 out of the 3 mentioned it could be a problem with the pickups. I feel I might of made a mistake on my new Warmoth neck and that was a costly mistake. My mind set right now is take it back off and put the original neck back on and I'm not here to bash Warmoth I know they have a great reputation but it did'nt seem to help my situation and the bass sounds different.

DWBass · #4 05-11-2013, 09:11 AM

For what it's worth I hated that S-1 switch nonsense! I ripped out the entire electronics and replaced with a full Bartolini active system and now the bass smokes! Oh and I tried Fender noiseless pickups once on another passive bass and unless the bass is active, I felt those were horrible as well.

deckstirparnell · #5 05-11-2013, 09:59 AM

Welcome to Fender basses. Throughout their history and different corporate ownerships no attention has ever been paid to the grain when the necks are manufactured. they are a production line instrument no matter where they are made. Some are great, some are good, some suck and there is nothing that can be done with deadspots and hotspots. Pickups, bridges, etc. can help mask the problem but won't cure it. There are many old valuable Fenders out there in beautiful shape that suck as a player. If you get a good one, hold on to it for life no matter what. If you get a bad one, unload it or learn to live with it. There is no consistency in Fenders and I've had a lot of them over the 48 years I have played.

Love GK · #6 05-11-2013, 10:49 AM

Yeah I have tried everything the only thing left is maybe try the Bartolini's. I called Bartolini to see what they had to say and the guy told me Fender pickups should certainly be replaced. I have to make a decision soon sell the bass or change pickups. I feel like I'm chasing a Bigfoot something that will never be found, as much as I would like it to be found!!