Dimarzio VS Dimarzio

erikmilan1987 · #1 02-15-2010, 09:36 AM

Hi ppl, few weeks back i posted a poll to decide what humcancelling Jazz Bass pickup would be nice for my bass... i ended up with 3 options because i received great feedback of them and also they are the cheapest avaliable on the market when it comes to HC Jazz Pickups... So here they are:

1. Dimarzio Ultrajazz Set
2. Dimarzio Area J Set
3. Dimarzio Model J

I know that many ppl here have tried all 3 sets so would be nice to hear feedback from them.

EDIT: the sound that i am looking for is sort of a vintage j but with a little more punch and output... think of it like Geddy Lee sound... my current tone its perfect for that but i want to eliminate the hum and get a similar tone to the one that i recorded in the following link

LINK: http://rapidshare.com/files/351488375/Fender.rar.html

Hear the clips and tell me which of those pickups would fit bether on that tone (The bass its a 2009 American Highway 1 Jazz Bass)

akmusicfreak · #2 02-15-2010, 09:58 AM

You might want to explain the sound you are going for. All three of those pick-ups have different sounds ranging from Vintage-ish to modern.

In the order of Vintage-ish sounding to modern sounding I'd place them. Area J (most vintage sounding of the three), UltraJazz (middle ground between vintage and modern)
and Model J (Modern sounding jazz pickup).

I voted for the Area J's but the Model J's are a close 2nd for me.

Good luck.

erikmilan1987 · #3 02-15-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akmusicfreak

You might want to explain the sound you are going for. All three of those pick-ups have different sounds ranging from Vintage-ish to modern.

In the order of Vintage-ish sounding to modern sounding I'd place them. Area J (most vintage sounding of the three), UltraJazz (middle ground between vintage and modern)
and Model J (Modern sounding jazz pickup).

I voted for the Area J's but the Model J's are a close 2nd for me.

Good luck.

Sorry about that... thanks for the description though; the sound that i am looking for is sort of a vintage j but with a little more punch and output... think of it like Geddy Lee sound... with of those 3 pu's would work bether for that

Tusec · #4 02-15-2010, 12:12 PM

How big a difference is there between the Area J and the Ultra Jazz? Has anyone A/B'd them? Are they both side-by-side coil humbuckers?

mmbongo · #5 02-15-2010, 12:49 PM

I can't vote because I've only experience the Ultra Jazz. I can tell you that they simply nail the 'Moving Pictures' Geddy tone which is why I went with them. You can also wire them for series/parallel switching. They are not side by side humbuckers, they are end to end humbuckers.

erikmilan1987 · #6 02-15-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I can't vote because I've only experience the Ultra Jazz. I can tell you that they simply nail the 'Moving Pictures' Geddy tone which is why I went with them. You can also wire them for series/parallel switching. They are not side by side humbuckers, they are end to end humbuckers.

Ic... but how did you got that tone with these since most of the tracks of moving pictures where recorded with a rickenbacker ?...

I think that they fit more to the tone that geddy has on 'Test for Echo' or 'Snakes and Arrows'

FunkMetalBass · #7 02-15-2010, 07:01 PM

Ultra Jazz pickups have way too much mid scoop compared to the Model Js or Area Js. I voted Area.

mmbongo · #8 02-15-2010, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Ic... but how did you got that tone with these since most of the tracks of moving pictures where recorded with a rickenbacker ?...

Might want to check your facts

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Rush_equipment

BSOD · #9 02-15-2010, 07:53 PM

Well I can't comment on the UltraJazz pickups as I have never heard them, but I can tell you that they are hotter than the Area J's. From memory the rated outputs of the two are

Area J 155
Ultra Jazz 250

I orginally replaced the SD designed pickups that came with the Squire Jazz VM fretless with a pair of Bartonlini pickups, but I just didn't like the sound they gave. I was planning on getting a pair of Dimarzio UltraJazz but the Area J's just came on the market and opted for those.

I have to admit I did notice a significant drop in output levels, so I assume the Barts were a high output pickup, but I soon got used to it and the sound of the Area J's just sounded so much better to my ears. From all accounts they are very similar to the Nordstrands pups, though I can't attest to this myself, just going by what another forum member stated in another thread.

I also opted to wire them in thir "dual sound" mode which gives you some more options as to the sort of sounds you can get. Baiscally I think it lets you switch between series/parallel wiring per pickup.

From your requirements it sounds like the UltraJazz might be more what you are after though.

Good luck,

Craig

erikmilan1987 · #10 02-15-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Might want to check your facts

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Rush_equipment

Hey ! thats a great Rush resource page.. thx for that buddy; but really i heard a geddy lee interview were he told that the rickenbacker 4001 was his main bass for recording moving pictures... i be dammed that i cant find it now but when i do i will post it here.

Now we are going a little off topic here

... anyways do you think that yo can get an 'snakes and arrows' tone out of those ? (Picture it like the tone used for "Malignant Narcisism" on that album)

erikmilan1987 · #11 02-15-2010, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSOD

Well I can't comment on the UltraJazz pickups as I have never heard them, but I can tell you that they are hotter than the Area J's. From memory the rated outputs of the two are

Area J 155
Ultra Jazz 250

I orginally replaced the SD designed pickups that came with the Squire Jazz VM fretless with a pair of Bartonlini pickups, but I just didn't like the sound they gave. I was planning on getting a pair of Dimarzio UltraJazz but the Area J's just came on the market and opted for those.

I have to admit I did notice a significant drop in output levels, so I assume the Barts were a high output pickup, but I soon got used to it and the sound of the Area J's just sounded so much better to my ears. From all accounts they are very similar to the Nordstrands pups, though I can't attest to this myself, just going by what another forum member stated in another thread.

I also opted to wire them in thir "dual sound" mode which gives you some more options as to the sort of sounds you can get. Baiscally I think it lets you switch between series/parallel wiring per pickup.

From your requirements it sounds like the UltraJazz might be more what you are after though.

Good luck,

Craig

U did a great choise there because many ppl dont think that the ultrajazz set its not good for fretless basses because of the little mid scoop they have compared to the others in the line... however many have praised the model j because they perform really sweet on fretless.

paganjack · #12 02-15-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Ultra Jazz pickups have way too much mid scoop compared to the Model Js or Area Js. I voted Area.

I've only used the ultra jazz of those three. It does have some serious mid-scoop going on.

HEADLE · #13 02-15-2010, 09:29 PM

I'm a long time user of Dimarzio. I'll agree with the midscooping on the Ultrajazz. I use Model P's and Model J's almost exclusively. They are dang hot! I typically couple mine with a Spector Tone Pump and they are almost untameable. The sweet spot is glorious though!

H

erikmilan1987 · #14 02-15-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Might want to check your facts

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Rush_equipment

Ok mmbongo i think you won that one

... i screwed up

Found the interview video of Geddy Lee talking about the evolution of his basses and he told that the Jazz was used mostly for 'Moving Pictures'... however he stills said that on certain song he used the ricky... anyways that video is worth checking out heres the link

http://www.zoom-in.com/blog/music/to...bass-evolution

akmusicfreak · #15 02-16-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Sorry about that... thanks for the description though; the sound that i am looking for is sort of a vintage j but with a little more punch and output... think of it like Geddy Lee sound... with of those 3 pu's would work bether for that

I'd say the Area J's will give you more of a vintage-ish sound similar to Geddy, but the output on these are not super hot on these pickups. If you want you want a nice hot output with a bit of "in your face" tone the Model J's are the way to go.

I don't find I miss the extra output with the Area J's, they actually designed them that way reduce magnetic pull on the string. which equates to more sustain and less effect of the pickup on string vibration. Area J's might not be loud pickups, but they do pick up a lot of subtleties in your playing.
I guess what I'm getting at is if your technique is sloppy it will show with the Area J's more so than with the Model J's even though they have a hotter output.

ColinB · #16 02-16-2010, 05:40 AM

You may find this link useful. It's about the Area Js and it has some sound-clips included.

Ezbass · #17 02-16-2010, 07:20 AM

I loved the ultras in my old J bass, they get my vote

erikmilan1987 · #18 02-16-2010, 11:34 AM

I uploaded into rapishare a file with 4 clips of my current tone so you guys can have an idea of what im looking for...

I love everything about my tone right now... the only detail its the hum when i solo the pickups (reason for swap)...

So which of those dimarzio pickups would fit more into my current tone and succefully eliminate the hum

LINK: http://rapidshare.com/files/351488375/Fender.rar.html

erikmilan1987 · #19 02-16-2010, 04:49 PM

Come on guys download and listen to those clips...

mmbongo · #20 02-16-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikmilan1987

Ok mmbongo i think you won that one

... i screwed up

Found the interview video of Geddy Lee talking about the evolution of his basses and he told that the Jazz was used mostly for 'Moving Pictures'... however he stills said that on certain song he used the ricky... anyways that video is worth checking out heres the link

http://www.zoom-in.com/blog/music/to...bass-evolution

Hee heee, no problem. You don't want to get into a Geddy discussion with me, I could go on for days

That being said, I despise his 'Snakes' tone. I don't even consider it tone. Just sounds like steels into a digital amp to me. Some bottom, tons of highs, and no mids. I can't stand it! I wish he'd go back to his Wal basses.