I have a little extra money this month and...

billiam5billion · #1 10-30-2010, 11:57 PM

I'd like to get new pickups for my MIM Fender J.

There's really nothing wrong with the pups in there, I"m just doing the switch to learn how to do it. I figure this '96 MIM isn't gonna have any resale value for a couple of generations, and I'd like to learn how to correctly swap pups myself, so why not try it out?

That, and I'd like to see really how much difference there is in changing pups as far as recording goes. My band has a demo recorded with my stock setup, and we're gonna go and do some new tracks, and I'd like a side-by-side comparison.

I'm going for a super vintage sound, like as close to double bass sound as I can get. Any suggestions?

Marton · #2 10-31-2010, 12:26 AM

IMO, a jazz bass sounds nothing like a double bass, but for a vintage tone, you should get some fralins !

m.oreilly · #3 10-31-2010, 12:48 AM

any of the cheaper single coil/"vintage" style dimarzio pups will do 'vintage fender' well, but to attempt more of an upright sound, play toward the neck, favor the bridge pup, and goof with your mid settings

billiam5billion · #4 10-31-2010, 01:04 AM

I've been getting really close to the sound I'm thinking of by dialing the bridge up all the way, rolling off the tone about a 1/4 turn, and playing right on top of the muted neck pup. Flats did a heap of good too, but I still feel like there's something missing, like there's just not enough ass in it.

m.oreilly · #5 10-31-2010, 01:09 AM

a variable/parametric mid does wonders in this situation, though i ended up going fretless to get what you are talking about

billiam5billion · #6 10-31-2010, 01:15 AM

Ah, maybe in the near future, but right now I think I might go with the model J's. The price is just right.

m.oreilly · #7 10-31-2010, 01:20 AM

with the mim body, check that the dimarzio bridge pup will fit in the existing route

billiam5billion · #8 10-31-2010, 08:13 AM

Oh, it won't. I already know that my year MIM has identical pup routes, but I'm gonna go ahead and try my hand at a dremel.

tysonh · #9 10-31-2010, 10:24 AM

I very happy with the SCN pups I just installed in mine, I would'nt say that they are vintage but the overall sound improvement was like going from talking through a bottle neck to full range live sound.

Make a note of the body alterations needed to make any jazz pups other than Mexi's fit in a MIM J.