Jazz bass Pickups - Precision?

[jfabrizio]

I have a MIM standard jazz bass that was manufactured in 2000. I replaced the stock pickups with a set of Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz Bass pickups, and the tone improved considerably. However, I am a precision guy and as you can expect, I simply cannot get the punch out of it that I can from my precisions. I do, however, love the shape and feel of the jazz, much more than the precision.

Rather than selling this for another model, I would like to see if there is any way of getting the P sound from the jazz. I suspect the answer is no, since the only thing that sounds like a precision is a precision, but has anyone tried a stacked humbucking pickup in a Jazz bass? How close would this get me to the precision sound or is it not worth the investment and effort? I was thinking about trying on in the neck position but if it won't give me more punch, than it may not be worth it.

BTW, this is my first post on TalkBass !!

[steveb98]

You can come close, but it will never be exactly like a P-Bass. Nordstrand and Aero both make dual coil humcanceling JBass pickups that will do the job.

[BrandonBass]

MY friend did this to his jazz bass, and in the end he just wasted his money cuz it just doesnt sound like a p. dont know why though

[TrooperFarva]

What about selling your Jazz bass, and getting something with a PJ configuration, like the Fender Aerodyne?



Fender Aerodyne at Musicians Friend

[dcr]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

What about selling your Jazz bass, and getting something with a PJ configuration, like the Fender Aerodyne?



Fender Aerodyne at Musicians Friend

+1, especially since you like the "P" so much. I've got a P/J Franken passive 5 and it's all the bass I could ever possibly want.

I've used a "J5" for years and liked it a lot, but when this one got finished, I saw what I'd been missing. And what I grew up loving.

Now I have the best of both worlds!


dcr

[StringsOf4]

Take your bass to a good luthier/tech and have him rout out a P pup slot in the appropriate position and pop in your fave P pup. BAM!! Instant coolness!

4

[spudmaster34]

that would run a fairly high bill

[Ian Perge]

...or, if you prefer a P-sized neck, the Frank Bello signature:

[The Dave]

If you want a J with a P sound, get the MIM Reggie Hamilton Standard. It's incredibly versatile. P/J pups, 3 band eq, active/passive switching. Oh crap, I'm GASing again...

[thewickedcool]

I might get crucified for this, but you might want to try the Mark Hoppus Signature Bass. Its basically an MIM J with Quarter Pounder pickups, plus it comes in some unique colors if that's your thing. I like pink myself, lol. Everybody else's suggestions have been good too though. Just my 2 cents.

[Grimlock]

You might also want to try the Yamaha BB414.

I started off playing a friend's Fender P-Bass, and when it came time to get my own, I tried the Fender Jazz. I loved the single coil at the bridge, but the neck pickup was weak when solo'd; I really missed the punch of the split pickup. I settled for the Yammy, since it had the P/J combo, had great reviews, and was around the same price as the MiM P and J basses.

P.S. I am not endorsed by Yamaha.

[Thinkarogadum]

Hey, my first post!

Another option is to install a series / parallel switch using a control pot with a DPDT push-pull switch. In series, the output is higher, and the sound is thicker and darker, which might be what you're looking for. I have one installed in my Jazz and there is a significant difference between parallel and series.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by jfabrizio

I have a MIM standard jazz bass that was manufactured in 2000. I replaced the stock pickups with a set of Seymour Duncan Vintage Jazz Bass pickups, and the tone improved considerably. However, I am a precision guy and as you can expect, I simply cannot get the punch out of it that I can from my precisions. I do, however, love the shape and feel of the jazz, much more than the precision.

Rather than selling this for another model, I would like to see if there is any way of getting the P sound from the jazz. I suspect the answer is no, since the only thing that sounds like a precision is a precision, but has anyone tried a stacked humbucking pickup in a Jazz bass? How close would this get me to the precision sound or is it not worth the investment and effort? I was thinking about trying on in the neck position but if it won't give me more punch, than it may not be worth it.

BTW, this is my first post on TalkBass !!

for $10 and 1 hr of wiring...you should do a series mod on your jazz (pulling the knob puts the pickups in series)...it won't get "that precision sound" but it will definitely give your bass a low-mid-punch dimension that most P-players appreciate...

[The Dave]

There's also the new Aerodyne classic P. It's P/J and passive. Looks pretty coo.

[Alivefor5]

My solution to the same problem was a set of DiMarzio J pickups. They have a punchy, meaty sound very close to a P.
The coils are end to end, not stacked, and they use ceramic magnets that are aggresive. With lots of neck and a little bridge you get punch and a near P sound. They are 4 conductor and with two small switches you can get parallel or series with either pickup or both. Parallel is nice for ballads and slap, series for the P punch. These pups are not that expensive new and show up here used quite regularly.

[LoveThatBass]

A J Retro Preamp will go a long way toward what you want.
Plenty of punch and lots of tonal variations. They are a drop fit replacement for the Jazz control panel.
Another thing you should try is series/parallel switch for the pickups.
Wiring them in series fattens your tone and lends some serious punch.

[ScubaSteve]

+1 on the DiMarzio Model J's

These are side by side humbuckers, just like the P-bass pickups except in a smaller package. Wont get the exact P-Bass tone, but it will be close and it will be thick and ballsy.

[Jumbotron]

+1 on the series wiring mod. I've got it on my Fernandes J clone and I always leave it in series. Much thicker.

[jfabrizio]

Originally Posted by LoveThatBass

A J Retro Preamp will go a long way toward what you want.
Plenty of punch and lots of tonal variations. They are a drop fit replacement for the Jazz control panel.
Another thing you should try is series/parallel switch for the pickups.
Wiring them in series fattens your tone and lends some serious punch.

How do you wire the exisiting pickups in series? Do you have a wiring diagram?

[ToneRanger]

Originally Posted by jfabrizio

How do you wire the exisiting pickups in series? Do you have a wiring diagram?

Jazz pickup switching