DiMarzio Ultra Jazz vs Duncan Hot Stack

thelimey · #1 11-09-2009, 05:43 PM

Which one do people think are better and why?

johnek · #2 11-09-2009, 09:45 PM

Duncan hot stack. The name is way cooler

walterw · #3 11-09-2009, 09:49 PM

the ultra jazz will be louder and will sound like a real jazz pickup, though.

thelimey · #4 11-09-2009, 10:06 PM

When you say real jazz pickup what do you mean? I was talking to Bass NW today and they said they sounded similar/were comperable. The Hot Stack appears to have a balanced tone (not favoring a particluar frequency)
Is that what you mean?

BSOD · #5 11-09-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnek

Duncan hot stack. The name is way cooler

Well I don't know about the name being cooler, but it certainly makes me think of pancakes with maple syrup! Hmmmmmm pancakes.

Craig

walterw · #6 11-09-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelimey

When you say real jazz pickup what do you mean? I was talking to Bass NW today and they said they sounded similar/were comperable. The Hot Stack appears to have a balanced tone (not favoring a particluar frequency)
Is that what you mean?

just that vertical over-under stacks like the duncan have a lot of loss, as the two coils actually fight each other, dulling the sound and canceling some output. any duncan stack wired to shut off the bottom coil gets louder and clearer sounding (and hums of course).

the hot stack has like 25k worth of wire wrapped on it, and it's no louder than an 8k single coil jazz pickup. likely weaker, in fact.

the dimarzio is a side-by-side design, and so doesn't have the losses of the duncan. it's actually as loud as real single coil jazz bass pickups, and a little more aggressive, not less.

thelimey · #7 11-09-2009, 11:17 PM

Would you say the Dimarzio gets you closer to a P-bass type tone?

GeoffByrne · #8 11-10-2009, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelimey

Would you say the Dimarzio gets you closer to a P-bass type tone?

It will if it's a Model J.

Getaway Driver · #9 11-10-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffByrne

It will if it's a Model J.

so then the question becomes.... Dimarzio Model J or Ultra Jazz?

SGD Lutherie · #10 11-10-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

the hot stack has like 25k worth of wire wrapped on it, and it's no louder than an 8k single coil jazz pickup. likely weaker, in fact.

Yeah, the phase cancelation removes a lot of low end, and then you have to over wind them to get them fuller sounding... etc.

I had some of the Duncan stacks on a Strat once, and they sounded very nice.

NickInMesa · #11 03-28-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Getaway Driver

so then the question becomes.... Dimarzio Model J or Ultra Jazz?

Walterw and I disagree. My experience, switching from the Ultrajazz to the Hot Stack shows the SDs beating the DMs in mids and "hotness", which also depends on your gear, of course.

I play a Tour 700 into either an 810 (at the studio) or a 210.

Now, this is me, my opinion, my experience.

I'd say both sets are great, but the "scoopiness" of the UltraJazz got complaints from band mates, who did not like the lack of mids, as well as the audience, who thought I sounded thin, even with the graphic EQ in a frown pattern.

With the Hot Stacks, the graphic EQ is in a smile pattern (more like a Mona Lisa smile, if you see what I mean).

As for output, the Hot Stacks have the same volume as the Ultrajazz(es). If there is a difference, I did not notice it. Automatically, the fingering technique adapts to the sound, and I could not detect any type of finger fatigue.

I personally think I sound better. The SD Hot Stacks are are very good value, good all-around pickups which allow you to balance between pickups without buzzing at all.

That's my opinion

erikmilan1987 · #12 03-28-2010, 10:51 AM

Well i must say that i have my set of SD Classic Stacks, i was going to replace single coil pickups in my american jazz bass and after replacing i noticed a little drop in output and the frecuency response got cut a great deal... i ordered a dimarzio ultrajazz set (still on the way) because i was not happy with the SD and in the mean while i returned to my original pickups as i dont really give a f*** to the noise if the PU get me good tone... i really think that the dimarzio ultrajazz's are a great choise but you can also try the dimarzio model J's if you whant a deep tone or the dimarzio Area J's if you whant more balanced tone. Hope it helps

walterw · #13 03-28-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

Walterw and I disagree.

I'd say both sets are great, but the "scoopiness" of the UltraJazz got complaints from band mates, who did not like the lack of mids, as well as the audience, who thought I sounded thin, even with the graphic EQ in a frown pattern.

With the Hot Stacks, the graphic EQ is in a smile pattern (more like a Mona Lisa smile, if you see what I mean).

As for output, the Hot Stacks have the same volume as the Ultrajazz(es). If there is a difference, I did not notice it. Automatically, the fingering technique adapts to the sound, and I could not detect any type of finger fatigue.

no, that makes sense.

with your rig, apparently the tone of the pickup matters more than its actual output (technically, the ultras are louder), and the mid-scoop just wasn't happening.

is the bass itself active? that would tend to even out hot or quiet pickups.

i like the new area Js because they don't have the mid-scoop, sounding more like a good barky jazz pickup.