The perfect P/J set

brock29609 · #1 12-22-2006, 10:20 PM

I belive I have found it. I never thought I'd be singing the praises of an active pickup, but the Seymour Duncan APJ-2 Lightnin' Rods are truely something special. I bought them used with no intention of playing them. They were to go into a bass that was going up for sale, but now I'm keeping them in my #1 player.

They're sitting in an American Deluxe Jazz bass that has been converted into a P/J bass, with Dean Markley flats. No sparkly harsh highs like I expected from an active pickup. Very woody vintage tone. Very even volume from string to string. DEAD quite. Not one ounce of hum in any setting. Many more useable sounds than all the other P/J pickups I've experimented with.

With the other combinations I've tired, the two pickups sounded like they were coming from two different basses. Not with these. The two pups have a very similar voice.

Now who knows. With a set of rounds maybe that annoying active sparkle might come out, but I don't think so.

These sound very quick, sharp, percise, not overly hot, and earthy like a P-bass should. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

They come with V/V/T pots, each 100K. Since I have an extra hole available, I wired them with a master volume pot, a volume pot for each individual pickup, plus tone. I used 250K pots on the master vol and tone, and left the two pup volume pots with the stock 100K. Hopefully that keeps me near the total recommended resistence. Am I right? Sounds great!

62bass · #2 12-23-2006, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brock29609

I belive I have found it. I never thought I'd be singing the praises of an active pickup, but the Seymour Duncan APJ-2 Lightning Rods are truely something special. I bought them used with no intention of playing them. They were to go into a bass that was going up for sale, but now I'm keeping them in my #1 player.

They're sitting in an American Deluxe Jazz bass that has been converted into a P/J bass, with Dean Markley flats. No sparkly harsh highs like I expected from an active pickup. Very woody vintage tone. Very even volume from string to string. DEAD quite. Not one ounce of hum in any setting. Many more useable sounds than all the other P/J pickups I've experimented with.

With the other combinations I've tired, the two pickups sounded like they were coming from two different basses. Not with these. The two pups have a very similar voice.

Now who knows. With a set of rounds maybe that annoying active sparkle might come out, but I don't think so.

These sound very quick, sharp, percise, not overly hot, and earthy like a P-bass should. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

They come with V/V/T pots, each 100K. Since I have an extra hole available, I wired them with a master volume pot, a volume pot for each individual pickup, plus tone. I used 250K pots on the master vol and tone, and left the two pup volume pots with the stock 100K. Hopefully that keeps me near the total recommended resistence. Am I right? Sounds great!

I've heard many similar recommendations for these pickups. That's great. How difficult is the job to do?

If it sounds great, you must have done it right.

**David Wilson** · #3 12-23-2006, 06:22 AM

Yeah, they're great pickups.
When people think active pickups, they think of the stereotypical EMG sound with their eq pre-shape causing boosted high end. I personally LIKE that sound, but I know it's not for everyone.

But these pickups just sound like great passive pickups do, and as mentioned they're dead quiet. I'm definitely thinking of trying a set of the lightning rod J's out.

brock29609 · #4 12-23-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62bass

How difficult is the job to do?

Not much tougher than installing a set of passive pickups. With these, the wire is kind of a pain because each pup has three wires wrapped up in a rubber sleeve and foil shield. It just takes a little more patience. The pups come with all the parts you need, and the wiring diagram is up on their web site and easy to follow.

62bass · #5 12-23-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brock29609

Not much tougher than installing a set of passive pickups. The wire is kind of a pain because each pup has three wires wrapped up in a rubber sleeve and foil shield. It just takes a little more patience. The pups come with all the parts you need, and the wiring diagram is up on their web site and easy to follow.

Thanks.

LoveThatBass · #6 12-23-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brock29609

Not much tougher than installing a set of passive pickups. The wire is kind of a pain because each pup has three wires wrapped up in a rubber sleeve and foil shield. It just takes a little more patience. The pups come with all the parts you need, and the wiring diagram is up on their web site and easy to follow.

That really depends on the pickup in question. Some just have a plain white and a plain black wire with no shield.

GaryLC · #7 01-24-2008, 06:34 AM

Do these pickups use a battery?

Drucocu · #8 01-24-2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryLC

Do these pickups use a battery?

yes, they do need a battery, or...wait..

...maybe I could bring my hamster to walk in the wheel to generate the needed DC for the Pickups!!!

:-)

GaryLC · #9 01-24-2008, 07:12 AM

Wise guy!!! .....although I figured that was coming...

I just thought that maybe they used an internal "one time" cell, or something like that. I bought an MIM P-bass that has these pickups in it, and the output is very low. I better check it.

Ach · #10 01-25-2008, 12:36 AM

[quote=davidmwilson;3648587]
When people think active pickups, they think of the stereotypical EMG sound with their eq pre-shape causing boosted high end. QUOTE]

Actually EMGs were designed to provide flat as possible response, without sharp mid peak which usually associated with passive pickups. In anyway human brain will associate such "flat" sound as a high-boosted (in compare with other pickups)