EMG JV active Jazz pickups?

TimBosby · #1 12-29-2010, 04:00 PM

Thoughts on these?

http://www.emginc.com/products/index/59/25/2

I've never much cared for EMG soapbars but I had an old set of active EMG Js on a Carvin bass years ago that I liked.

I'm thinking of a set of these for a fretless J. I want some good tonal variety, fat warmth, and enough cut to be able to hear my sloppy intonation through the mix

Stinsok · #2 12-29-2010, 04:12 PM

I had a bass with those installed. They were nice, kinda on the dark side. They certainly were not harsh and thin.

rojo412 · #3 12-29-2010, 04:18 PM

I found that they were slightly different than the usual EMG J, but don't expect a night and day thing... they still sound like EMG.

(That's not a bad thing. I love EMGs!)

TimBosby · #4 12-29-2010, 05:28 PM

Mainly I just want to know that the bass will sound like a fretless, with lots of "muah" and warmth. The problem I'm having with my stock Fender electronics right now is that, with the tone all the way up it sounds like a fretted bass. With the tone all the way down it sounds more "fretless", but too muddy.

TimBosby · #5 12-30-2010, 11:43 AM

Well, I just bought a set with a pre-assembled control plate for a fretless jazz I am building so I hope they sound good

I ordered custom from Warmoth though so I won't know for a couple months before it's built.

basswave · #6 12-30-2010, 11:47 AM

I really like this pickups and had set in my 79 Jazz.

I only removed them because I wanted to use an Audere preamp.
So I put in NJ4s, however if I was not using an Audere and building a J these pickups would be a strong contender.

duncbass · #7 12-30-2010, 08:35 PM

I have them in a fretless jazz and think they sound great.

TimBosby · #8 12-30-2010, 08:55 PM

Thanks for the input everybody, much appreciated.

TimBosby · #9 01-02-2011, 09:47 PM

These bad boys will theoretically work with a J-Retro, right? With only one battery for both the pickups and the preamp?

rojo412 · #10 01-02-2011, 10:57 PM

Yep. Not a problem. The J Retro switch that bypasses the preamp wouldn't cut power to the pickups, so you're all good.

You will likely have to modify the coax cable. Basically, soldering a new lead onto the shield jacket, then running the 2 leads like regular, non-coax cables, which is what J Retros seem to be designed around.
Bet it will be an awesome combo, too!

**RaginRog** · #11 01-10-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBosby

These bad boys will theoretically work with a J-Retro, right? With only one battery for both the pickups and the preamp?

I would worry about your cavity room. If you get a body with a standard jazz bass cavity, I'm not sure you'll get it all to fit in there without cramming. I will say that I love the sound of the pickups, and they are a little closer to the "single-coil" sound than my Dimarzio Model Js. I never expected for my Model Js to sound like single coils...so I wanted to have one of my Jazz basses have a little more of a traditional Jazz bass tone...while being hum free.

rojo412 · #12 01-10-2011, 10:10 PM

You can run all 3 things with 1 battery, which on a J Retro is tucked in nicely.