Jaguar Bass Pickup Replacement Options?

ChordMelody · #1 05-27-2011, 07:30 PM

Hey guys, I'm new here... but I was wondering about the pickup replacement options I can put on my Jaguar bass? Any recommendations?

The wiring is sorta complex so it's going to be sorta hard.

I did a search but I couldn't find anything about the pickups that would fit well with a Jaguar bass.

vivifiction · #2 05-27-2011, 07:43 PM

What type of Jag do you have? Fender? Or the Squire lines? Does it have the stand P/J pickups or what? And how much are you looking to spend?

If you're handy with a soldering iron, it's not going to be too hard. every set of pickups i've purchased come with a wiring schematic.

ChordMelody · #3 05-27-2011, 08:50 PM

Sorry! I was out! Fender, the ones crafted in Japan. Everything stock. I'm willing to spend anything that is not ridiculous.

I'm a noobie with the soldering iron, but my dad is pro at it!

Thanks!

maurilio · #4 05-27-2011, 09:09 PM

Complex wiring has nothing to do with pick ups...

In a Jaguar JJ you can install any standard jazz bass pups... it's just a jazz bass with some extra switches

I installed half a dozen of our standard jazz sets, all kind, single coil and splits plus some of our own preamps (takes a little tweaking here), with superb results

ChordMelody · #5 05-28-2011, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maurilio

Complex wiring has nothing to do with pick ups...

In a Jaguar JJ you can install any standard jazz bass pups... it's just a jazz bass with some extra switches

I installed half a dozen of our standard jazz sets, all kind, single coil and splits plus some of our own preamps (takes a little tweaking here), with superb results

Oh! Thanks for the explanation! I thought there'd be some special pickups that only Jaguars can use because of the active/passive property. I'm assuming there's a built in preamp?

Is changing the pickups/preamps worth it?

lbwdog · #6 05-28-2011, 08:10 AM

Any Jazz pickups will work (as long as they're sized right). Just find some you think you'll like the properties of.

Right now i have Dimarzio Model Js on my Jazz. Great Pickup, but
I've been leaning toward Dimarzio Area Js. They supposedly have the vintage single coil tones but are hum-cancelling.

Since you can't try out new pickups, I'd suggest finding used ones to experiment with. That way you can resell 'em if you don't like 'em and won't lose much cash if any.

Joe Nerve · #7 05-28-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChordMelody

Is changing the pickups/preamps worth it?

I've owned a bunch of Fenders and Squiers. American made and imports. Of all that I've owned the Jaguar is the only one I ever held onto and will never let go of. I think it has a really good woodsy natural sound to it in passive mode, and just enough kick to give it exactly the punch and drive I sometimes need in active. Bass sits perfectly in the mix regardless of how I use it, and I doubt I'd ever consider changing a thing on it. I've swapped pickups on several basses I wasn't happy with and bottom line was I was still unhappy. Dropping a couple of hundred bucks into pickups doesn't necessarily mean a bass is going to sound better. Just different.

What is it that you don't like about the stock pickups? If it's the hum (and you haven't already fixed it) theres a super simple tried and true fix for that. It's in the "dang noisy jaguar" thread.

ChordMelody · #8 05-28-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I've owned a bunch of Fenders and Squiers. American made and imports. Of all that I've owned the Jaguar is the only one I ever held onto and will never let go of. I think it has a really good woodsy natural sound to it in passive mode, and just enough kick to give it exactly the punch and drive I sometimes need in active. Bass sits perfectly in the mix regardless of how I use it, and I doubt I'd ever consider changing a thing on it. I've swapped pickups on several basses I wasn't happy with and bottom line was I was still unhappy. Dropping a couple of hundred bucks into pickups doesn't necessarily mean a bass is going to sound better. Just different.

What is it that you don't like about the stock pickups? If it's the hum (and you haven't already fixed it) theres a super simple tried and true fix for that. It's in the "dang noisy jaguar" thread.

That's true man. I really like it the way it is and there's nothing I need that it doesn't have already. I'm sure it still can be improved somehow though, but I'm not sure. Actually... I don't notice the hum. Maybe it doesn't really bother me.

Thanks for the input guys!

Jaga · #9 05-29-2011, 01:19 PM

Try Kent Armstrong lipstick pickups, they look really cool on jags. And have a look at this thread: Jaguar Bass preamp mod

JulienJeff · #10 05-29-2011, 01:24 PM

I had a jag and I put delano pickups in it. It was killer. For my taste, it was way better than the stock pups

metalmariachi · #11 05-30-2011, 01:41 AM

I put Nordstrands in mine and am happy with the sound.

I feel they sound better than the stock ones.

MM

bradisfunky · #12 07-21-2011, 10:11 PM

i thought that maybe i could attach this question to this thread. i just got some dimarzio model j's to drop into my jag because i couldn't deal with the hum anymore, but wasn't expecting them to have 4 lead wires each! does anyone know how to wire up a set of model j's into a jag, keeping the stock switching (including the series/parallel switch)?

Joe Nerve · #13 07-21-2011, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradisfunky

i thought that maybe i could attach this question to this thread. i just got some dimarzio model j's to drop into my jag because i couldn't deal with the hum anymore, but wasn't expecting them to have 4 lead wires each! does anyone know how to wire up a set of model j's into a jag, keeping the stock switching (including the series/parallel switch)?

Don't know anything about wiring the pickups, but this totally cured the hum for my jag. And it's real easy to do. Dang Noisy Jaguar!!! . And the stock pickups sound great.