Jazz bass humbucker question

niceguy · #1 02-17-2010, 01:40 PM

Hi, I would like to borrow some of your collective expertise, if I may:

I'm interested in replacing the bridge pickup in my jazz bass with something like the humbucker in an MIA Deluxe Fender P-Bass - essentially two jazz single coils stuck together, right? My first question is if any manufacturer makes something like that. My second question is whether I can have something like that wired in series hooked up to one volume control and use it with the neck single coil in series to the other volume control.

Thanks!

honestjohnny · #2 02-17-2010, 01:49 PM

What are your tonal goals with this? If you want humcancelling, there are several pickups from many manufacturers that can achieve this without routing your bass for a full-size humbucker. Many of these companies have make these pickups with different tonal flavors from classic J single coil sound, to heavily overwound. Check out bestbassgear.com for some ideas. Good luck!

KeithPas · #3 02-17-2010, 01:49 PM

I cannot be of any help with wiring questions but I did purchase a Fender double jazz humbucker off ebay and it is a great pickup.

niceguy · #4 02-17-2010, 01:57 PM

Good question - my goal isn't to eliminate hum, it's more to get a ballsier, fatter pickup toward the bridge (but not as far back as on a Fender Deluxe MIA P Bass), wired in parallel, and to be able to use that pick up as if it were a standard jazz bridge pickup (ie in combination with the neck pickup). Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by honestjohnny

What are your tonal goals with this? If you want humcancelling, there are several pickups from many manufacturers that can achieve this without routing your bass for a full-size humbucker. Many of these companies have make these pickups with different tonal flavors from classic J single coil sound, to heavily overwound. Check out bestbassgear.com for some ideas. Good luck!

honestjohnny · #5 02-17-2010, 02:01 PM

I'd recommend you get a Dimarzio Model J and wire that in parallel instead. It has a fatter output and will drop into your bass with no routing. Or consider getting a set of them and wiring up the various combinations. Cheers!

Actually, have you tried wiring your existing J's in series together with a DPDT switch? You'd get more output that way, too. Just a thought.

Otherwise, I think Rio Grande makes the pickup you want, as do Nordstrand.

niceguy · #6 02-17-2010, 02:05 PM

Hey! Thanks for the great suggestion. I may end up going that route. Your comment, of course, reminded me of another goal of putting a "wider" pickup in that spot, which is to pick up some of the tone from closer to the neck - in other words to put, say, a Musicman-type pickup in there with the rear coils where the bridge pickup would be, and the front coils directly adjacent to that on the neck side (which would require some routing), to catch some more of the fundamental from that spot. I don't want an EBMM pickup in there, though, because I think that looks strange. Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by honestjohnny

I'd recommend you get a Dimarzio Model J and wire that in parallel instead. It has a fatter output and will drop into your bass with no routing. Or consider getting a set of them and wiring up the various combinations. Cheers!

KeithPas · #7 02-17-2010, 02:09 PM

I snagged my Fender double Jazz for something like $40.00 shipped and had a local repairman drop it in for $50.00.

BritPicker · #8 02-17-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honestjohnny

Actually, have you tried wiring your existing J's in series together with a DPDT switch? You'd get more output that way, too. Just a thought.

I did this, works a treat, nice and fat!

Growly Lytes · #9 08-08-2010, 09:51 PM

This is what ive been trying to find out about.Ive got a Deluxe Lyte with Double Jazz p/u.Its got no balls what so ever. Its getting ripped out !!
Im going to get either 2 of the best Jazz p/u i can find & stick them together or get what you got from Ebay.There is people selling original Fender double Jazz pickups on Ebay, i just saw them.
Im not sure if they are the same pickups used in the Lyte bass but they are the same size.
I dont think Fender would have put the same double jazz pickup thats in the Lyte in the MIA deluxe basses or would they ?????Theres no info, only that they Fender Special design !!

topcat2069 · #10 08-09-2010, 08:46 AM

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/b...upseconomy.htm

Second line on the far left....... but I have an Am. Deluxe P-Bass with the Fender hum-bucker and I find it's not as strong as I would think it is.... but I love the sound of the two pickups in balance. Also, have you thought of, maybe, a S.D. hot jazz stack ?

Growly Lytes · #11 08-09-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topcat2069

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/b...upseconomy.htm

Second line on the far left....... but I have an Am. Deluxe P-Bass with the Fender hum-bucker and I find it's not as strong as I would think it is.... but I love the sound of the two pickups in balance. Also, have you thought of, maybe, a S.D. hot jazz stack ?

Hi dude, can you tell me what you mean by....
S.D Hot Jazz Stack ????

pbass2 · #12 08-09-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honestjohnny

I'd recommend you get a Dimarzio Model J

I second this---I'm raving to everybody about the Model Js I just dropped in my Geddy. They are simply PHAT. I have the Ultra Jazz in another bass, but I like these better. Makes the bass VERY versatile.

Growly Lytes · #13 08-09-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbass2

I second this---I'm raving to everybody about the Model Js I just dropped in my Geddy. They are simply PHAT. I have the Ultra Jazz in another bass, but I like these better. Makes the bass VERY versatile.

Has it upt the output by much ? What about the thick top-end ? My main thing is the Top-end thickness is not there & the output could be much more so thats what im after...
Oops dont forget more Midrange Growl too !!!

malicous · #14 08-09-2010, 10:05 PM

I have a Bartolini CBC J dual coil (stacked hum-cancelling, I believe) and it sounds way thicker in the low mids and has more presence in the high mids than the custom single coil J it had originally. The treble and bass response seem about the same as before (which was similar to a standard fretless J bass).

acebase62 · #15 08-10-2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

Hi dude, can you tell me what you mean by....
S.D Hot Jazz Stack ????

Seymour Duncan Hot Stack for Jazz Bass pickups (STK-J2).

I have a set of them in a J-J bass, and also use the bridge version in a P-J bass along with a Seymour Duncan SPB-1.

I have 500k volume pots and a Fender TBX tone control in both instruments. I get a good variety of tones from both basses.

Growly Lytes · #16 08-10-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acebase62

Seymour Duncan Hot Stack for Jazz Bass pickups (STK-J2).

I have a set of them in a J-J bass, and also use the bridge version in a P-J bass along with a Seymour Duncan SPB-1.

I have 500k volume pots and a Fender TBX tone control in both instruments. I get a good variety of tones from both basses.

After reading this i went & did a bit of reading on the SD site.These pickups seem to be overwound for extra output.Is this true do they have a hot output, because thats what im really after ??
Because i have a double jazz at the bridge im thinking of getting two Hot Stack Jazz Pickups & glueing them together !!

Only alot of the reviews are 50/50.For everyone thats positive theres a negative

How do you think wiring two Seymour Duncan HotStack Jazz p/u together as one would go ? This has to be done because the bass has a double jazz @ the bridge.

Or i could use 2 SD Quarter Pounder Jazz pickups wired together.

acebase62 · #17 08-11-2010, 01:23 AM

I would classify the SD STK-J2 as moderate output and balanced tone (bass/mid/high).

I like the 500k volume pots, because they seem to let more high mids come through when I emphasize the bridge pickup.

When both pickups are on full, you can get a good slap sound with more scooped mids. I am able to get good tones by making slight adjustments to the instrument tone control as well as the graphic EQ on my amp. The rest I get from my hands.

I have no experience with wiring 2 of these pickups or the QPs together, so hopefully someone with experience can provide some information. (I have never used any QPs but some players really like them for a more aggressive tone).

acebase62 · #18 08-11-2010, 11:31 AM

Back to your original question:

Since you are wanting to replace a "double J" type humbucker on your Fender, it would probably be easier to fine an aftermarket humbucker/soapbar/etc that would drop in.

I have no experience with replacing that type of pickup, but hopefully someone else here cold give you good advice...

Growly Lytes · #19 08-11-2010, 07:21 PM

Yeah this is pretty much dominating my life now.
Ive been reading on pickups non-stop for over a week.I just want to fix it to sound better.Its got no balls this pickup, though the neck p/u is o.k ?

saintx · #20 08-11-2010, 07:37 PM

I haven't heard the Dimarzio Model J yet, but from what I've read it would do exactly what you want.

Have you tried raising up the current pickup as far as it will go?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

Yeah this is pretty much dominating my life now.
Ive been reading on pickups non-stop for over a week.I just want to fix it to sound better.Its got no balls this pickup, though the neck p/u is o.k ?