EMG-JV anyone compare them to others pickups?

basswave · #1 07-07-2009, 05:01 AM

Well the subject says it all

EMG-JV anyone compare them to others pickups?
Anyone A/B them with Nordy's or anything else?

I know EMG is usually not associated to when folks are looking for the more of classic Jazz bass tone but I condisder these pickups the most Jazz-like that I have right now.

(Then again I'm not running Fralins, SD or Nj4s right now and its been a while since I had Fralins)

Thoughts?

4StringTheorist · #2 07-07-2009, 01:24 PM

From 2000-2008, my bass had a set of EMG-JVs on it.

In the summer of 2008, I swapped them out for a set of Nordstrand NJ4-SVs (the split coil humbuckers that are wound to sound as close to the NJ4s as possible)

The change was precipitated by my choice of an Audere as the new preamp on my bass. The EMG-JVs, being active, wouldn't jibe with the Audere Z-mode preamp, so I did an entire electronics swapout.

So, I've got 8 solid years of my ears knowing the sound of the EMG-JVs and a good year of hearing the Nordies in the same bass.

I've never had what you might call a set of "classic Jazz bass" pickups in my bass, and my bass is a Warmoth with an all wenge neck and a korina body, so the classic Jazz sound isn't quite in the cards. What I can say is the differences between the EMG-JV and the NJ4-SV as I perceive them. All information below is purely subjective, from my ears only.

All told, the tonal differences aren't extreme. On my first moment plugging the bass in and hearing it with different pickups, I didn't go "Oh, what happened? This isn't the same instrument!" I'd had 8 years to absorb the tone of this bass, and being my only instrument (other than a Steinberger that I experiment with tenor/alt-tunings on) I know the tone of this instrument inside out. So in that respect, if the EMG-JVs and the NJ4-SVs are aiming for the same tonal ballpark, it seems they've reached a level of similarity as far as my ears can tell.

The differences I've heard:

The EMG-JVs were darker sounding than the NJ4-SVs. The Nordstrand pickups give more of the high-end treble part of the sound.
It's hard to describe exactly, but the Nordstrands have a nicer sounding midrange character. I can't call it thinner exactly.. in the pejorative gets-buried-under-a-guitar way. It's not that. The NJ4-SVs have a better character to the sound in that vocal-midrange area.

All in all, I prefer the trade.

basswave · #3 07-07-2009, 01:55 PM

Thank You 4ST

Thats exact.y kind of input is exactly what I'm looking for.

I also besides the graphite I like to use have built serval parts basses and becoming a Jazz bass addict once again.

I do plan on building another graphite Jazz but with Nj4's
(but not until the fall most likly) and really wanted to hear Nordstand comparison.

basswave · #4 07-15-2009, 08:25 AM

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to take out the JVs and put some NJ4s in.

I was A/B-ing the other day between this and my main VJ with active barts in a live situation. It felt like I was switching to a P almost with the difference.

4StringTheorist · #5 07-15-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswave

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to take out the JVs and put some NJ4s in.

Right on! I think you'll like the change! As much as I love the sound of a Jazz with the pickups exactly blended, I could have saved a bt of $ and gone for the NJ4s.. but I'm paranoid about the extra noise perhaps... and went for the split-coil humbucking NJ4-SVs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswave

I was A/B-ing the other day between this and my main VJ with active barts in a live situation. It felt like I was switching to a P almost with the difference.

Interesting to hear someone else with the impression of the EMG-JVs as rather dark sounding. All along, I figured I had a very sonically dark bass. Who knew?

basswave · #6 10-16-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringTheorist

Right on! I think you'll like the change! As much as I love the sound of a Jazz with the pickups exactly blended, I could have saved a bt of $ and gone for the NJ4s.. but I'm paranoid about the extra noise perhaps... and went for the split-coil humbucking NJ4-SVs.

Interesting to hear someone else with the impression of the EMG-JVs as rather dark sounding. All along, I figured I had a very sonically dark bass. Who knew?

You know I have really digging the NJ4 with Audere in a soft maple body (which to me sounds like ever so slighty brighter alder and even looks like it) and a maple/maple neck.

Its just killed last night.

As a result I'm changing over the bass in question with the EMG JVs to that NJ4s with the Audere.

pickles · #7 10-16-2009, 08:31 AM

JVs are super round dark and punchy, the exact opposite of EMG-Js. I dig them, but I can definitely see wanting something brighter.

Have you thought about DiMarzio ultra jazz?

basswave · #8 10-16-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

JVs are super round dark and punchy, the exact opposite of EMG-Js. I dig them, but I can definitely see wanting something brighter.

Have you thought about DiMarzio ultra jazz?

Yep I have them in one bass and they are not bad...but I think the NJ4's are a bit more even accross the board with nicer mids.

Honestly I think I'm going to go with the 70's wind is this one bass that that appears to be a little on the darker side anyways.

BTW: Pickles do you guys have some good surf out there right now? Whatcha you doing on line so early...LOL

pickles · #9 10-16-2009, 08:56 AM

Too sore to move from yesterday, stretching and prepping for a lunchtime session

I just mentioned ultrajazz because that is like what is in my Sadowsky. I've tried NJ4s in a Sadowsky and liked the stock pickups better for a bit of extra clarity and a tiny bit fatter almost P-bass like bottom. I love the way my MS4 sits in the mix. I can see why you'd prefer the NJs though, they're both great pickups.

basswave · #10 10-16-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

Too sore to move from yesterday, stretching and prepping for a lunchtime session

I just mentioned ultrajazz because that is like what is in my Sadowsky. I've tried NJ4s in a Sadowsky and liked the stock pickups better for a bit of extra clarity and a tiny bit fatter almost P-bass like bottom. I love the way my MS4 sits in the mix. I can see why you'd prefer the NJs though, they're both great pickups.

Its funny you said that beccause I play flat 99% of the time.
last nights rehersal I used the bass in questions for the tunes that just need a 4 and turned up the bass just a hair and it was perfect. Even my singer was like WOW.

Cool...We have Nor'Easter coming and this weekend should be BIG. I'm stoked.