Clean, articulate, and smooth (J bass)

[stretchcat]

I am considering replacing the Seymour Duncan SJB-1 pickups in my Warmoth J bass because I am ready for a change. The Duncans have been in the bass for 6 years and I am ready for something a little less aggressive and grindy sounding.

I am NOT trying to duplicate anyone else's sound or recreate a vintage tone. I would like something more modern sounding that would tighten up the inherent "Fender wooliness" of the E string. Something that is clean, articulate, and smooth. Hum cancelling would be nice. Also, this bass is passive and I do some tone shaping with either a Yamaha NE-1 or an Aguilar DB924.

Thanks!

[Mr_Dave]

Dimarzio UltraJazz?

[joeyl]

hmmm, clean, articulate and smooth, you may have to go active with an EMG J set. I have them in one bass and it sounds close to your description.

[4Mal]

Clean and articulate - Bill Lawrence J-45 is a great choice. Smooth ? from a J ? hmmm, the Bart 9J is that. I used them for a while and they worked pretty well. In my case I was running then with the pre from a MIA Deluxe - that was a pretty nice sounding bass - although it certainly didn't sound like a traditional J.

FWIW, my J has SJB-1's and an Audere JZ3 and it's a combination I really like. the bass retains it's essential 'J-ness' and gains the ability to do some tone shaping as well. It's an option you might consider. That and backing the pickups down a little. The SJB-1 isn't a high output pickup though as a trad single coil it can sound a little raw. Backing it down a bit can tame some of that.

[stretchcat]

Thanks, guys.

4Mal,

I actually have the same setup as you with the Audere preamp and Duncan PUs and I agree that it is a great sound. I prefer at this point to make my J passive again.

I just bought some Sadowsky HC pickups from Ibanezcollector in the classifieds. For $85 they are worth a shot and if I don't like them, I'll try something else.

Thanks again!

[jonno1707]

I would recomend a set of Aero's..

[fullrangebass]

Aeros are very smooth IME

EMGs have a more aggressive edge

Villex are worth considering esp the LH model

[kesslari]

Non consensus among us...

I just put a set of Bartolini's (59CBJD1's) into my Yamaha BBG5 (j-pups) and the precise word I used to describe them is "articulate".

[badboy1984]

I say give delano a shoot. They make high quality pickup. They can sound as clean as you want or as dirty as you like. I will describe them as more flexible in term of sound.

I put a set of delano on my warwick corvette and i'm happy with it.
I put the normal vintage style one on my warwick but i'm sure it will sound nasty with the bigger pole piece on my warwick. but i'm still happy with the set i got atm cos it give me more low mid sound which i wanted from a warwick.

[BuffaloBass]

Norstrands NJ's or Aero Type I, they define what you're looking for. I'm calling Larry today as a matter of fact. Not digging the "vintage" tone ( low heavy) in my new J bass.

That " low mid " sound the last poster speaks of is what we call a vintage sound.

Check out SMASH's J pup comparo, a sticky in this forum. Its All there man.

Oh, adn my "woolyness" is a B string, so clarity/articulation , to me, is paramount. If I want warmth, or big low end, I let the tubes in the amp do that for me. They do the warmth thing very very well.

Aero Type Is will let the natural sound of the Lakland come out.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by joeyl

hmmm, clean, articulate and smooth, you may have to go active with an EMG J set. I have them in one bass and it sounds close to your description.

My thoughts exactly. Several years ago, I dropped a set of these into a Carvin LB70 (J-style four-string), thinking they'd probably be pretty edgy and aggressive. To my surprise, while clean and articulate, they're also quite smooth and refined.

Since I happen to like smooth and refined, it didn't take me long to adjust my expectations and simply enjoy. Me like!

MM