Lakand vs Aero pickups in a DJ4 - soundclips!

1kinal · #1 06-17-2008, 10:42 PM

I've always wanted to hear for myself the difference between the Lakland pickups and the Aero that used to be standard in the Lakland DJ basses.

My DJ4 is a 2007 so it has the Lakland pickups. I recently came across a set of Aero's taken out from a friend's DJ4. Today I made soundclips of both sets using the same bass and strings.

http://www.martinletendre.com/aero_lakland.html

To me they sound nearly identical. So if you've ever asked yourself...you're fine with either one.

What do you think?

LM Bass · #2 06-17-2008, 11:04 PM

Just gave a listen with headphones, and I hear a more focused sound and better low end response from the Aeros. It's subtle, but I do like them better.

1kinal · #3 06-17-2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LM Bass

Just gave a listen with headphones, and I hear a more focused sound and better low end response from the Aeros. It's subtle, but I do like them better.

I also think the Aeros are slightly better. Fuller sound and better low end. The Laklands are thinner sounding...but again, slightly.

PilbaraBass · #4 06-18-2008, 12:17 AM

no appreciable difference to my ears...I'm not going to split hairs...they sound the same...

your bass is quite "buzzy" ...techique or setup? you make the call...

j3b3r · #5 06-18-2008, 12:18 AM

I think the Aeros are better. If you dont want them in your bass, PM me

Spencer! · #6 06-18-2008, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

your bass is quite "buzzy" ...techique or setup? you make the call...

What sound clips were you listening to?!

cigi · #7 06-18-2008, 01:38 AM

I prefer the aero's.

On my headphones the differnces are rather subtle, but I can imagine they will be a lot bigger when they are amplified.

The aero's have a deeper bass and sound growlier to me.

Lakland aren't bad either though

Marcus · #8 06-18-2008, 01:45 AM

Having owned a DJ4 with Aeros, I cannot imagine ever having any other pickups in that bass. Its nice that Lakland is using their own in-house stuff for a more distinct tone for their brand, but man, it hurts when you see something "fixed" when it sure as heck is not broken.

PilbaraBass · #9 06-18-2008, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spencer!

What sound clips were you listening to?!

the same ones you are, mate...

I can hear string buzz...it's definitely more apparent than any difference between the two sets of pups...listen to the second note (the octave off the root), it's buzzing

basadam · #10 06-18-2008, 04:02 AM

I have extensively compared Aeros and Laklands myself - on a Darryl Jones 5-string. The difference is minimal but is there. This comparison is very much on par with mine. Laklands have slightly better bottom-end IMHO especially at bridge, while Aeros are slightly richer. None is better, both is very good. Also Lakland single-coils sound very similar to Nordstrand single coils I have on another bass.

Note that, at old times, Aero equipped DJs had 500K vol pots. Now they (Lakland equipped ones) come with 250K. Thay may contribute the slight difference in bottom end I perceive.

**smperry** · #11 06-18-2008, 11:51 AM

Both pickups sound good to me. I slightly prefer the Aeros, too.

Agreed about the buzzing, PilbaraBass. Not my sound, but it might be intentional.

M

Wilbyman · #12 06-18-2008, 11:55 AM

I had a DJ4 (would like to have another!) with the Aero's. I thought they had a nice low end but the midrange and treble response wasn't all that great. I really thought the Nordstrand pickups were much better than the Aero's (I think I dropped NJ4SE's in). I am not a fanboy of Carey's pickups and will readily agree that they don't work well in every bass. However, the NJ4SE was nice with the DJ.

Shelly · #13 06-18-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

the same ones you are, mate...

I can hear string buzz...it's definitely more apparent than any difference between the two sets of pups...listen to the second note (the octave off the root), it's buzzing

Yep, definitely a buzzy F note there. Maybe the string action is too low on that string (I'm guessing the D string).

BuffaloBass · #14 06-18-2008, 08:46 PM

The Laklands, in my listening setup, sound deeper, but not as articulate. More of a mid bass emphasis. The AERO alnico5 ones seem to be VERY sensitive to height, and you can get them to boom a bit by getting them too close to the string. Unless you like it like that!

The differences on a 5 string, to me, are even more apparent. That 35" Lakland scale, and AERO sub Hz response pups make a beautifully articulate B string experience.

i liked them both, but I did find the AEROs more natural sounding.

roadkill2309 · #15 06-18-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

your bass is quite "buzzy" ...techique or setup? you make the call...

As someone who's been in the same room as 1kinal, playing with his wicked bass collection, I can tell you that there is *no* technique issue there...

Evan_S._Brown · #16 06-18-2008, 09:54 PM

The DJ is a very growly sounding bass. perhaps that is what you may have confused you pilbarabass.

i couldn't really tell them apart on the first listen. but listening to the lakland first then the aero's the aero's came out on top with better response with the low mids.
i'm really digging the aero's a lot better, both sound great tho.

thanks for the comparison

PilbaraBass · #17 06-19-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

As someone who's been in the same room as 1kinal, playing with his wicked bass collection, I can tell you that there is *no* technique issue there...

you made the call

...not knowing 1kinal or ever seeing him play, I still suspected a low action thing happening

some folks dig that "buzz" and it really doesn't detract from anything at all...I just noticed it is all, and with it there it's even more difficult to discern the sound difference between the Lakland pups and the aeros...

evan, I know the DJ is a great Jazz and like most Jazz basses, there IS a definite growl...but I'm not talking about the tone of the bass...there's a bit of buzz on one of the strings...

I can hear the buzz more in headphones than on the speakers, btw...so it is subtle

1kinal · #18 06-19-2008, 06:43 AM

About the buzzing issue...Yeah I hear it too. I consider the DJ4 to be a very growly bass and that's how I use it. Because of that sound, I'm going for a lower setup on this one than on my other basses. This gives some dirty-ness to the sound that I like for some styles. I have other basses to choose from when I want to play clean. You can see my website if you're worried about my technique. Finally, I'm sorry if my sound goal for this particular bass interfered with the point of the pickup shootout.

Getting back to that, yesterday I played a rehearsal with the aeros and I have to say the difference was bigger than it is on tape. I found a more even string-to-string response, bouncier low-end and fatter D and G strings. So far, I really like the Aeros.

Again, the Lakland pickups are wonderful and I would never have thought to replace them if I never came across this set of Aero's.

Psychicpet · #19 06-19-2008, 09:03 AM

aww man,

really making me jones for a gorgeous 5 str. "That 70s Bass" that I've got coming and is almost complete.... it has a set of the Aero DJ5s in it.... awww man.... c'mon AllParts! Send the bridge already!!

(great clips btw, thanks for posting them!)

mbw82 · #20 06-23-2008, 12:41 AM

aeros all the way