Pick-ups for basswood?

Ragist · #1 03-04-2009, 08:08 AM

Hi guys!
I have a MIJ JB-45 Fender jazz bass, and was thinking about changing the pick ups.
Since the body is basswood, I'm wondering what kind of pickups would complement it, I'm looking at a nice warm tone.
Or should I just change the body, I've heard that basswood bodies don't really have the nice tone, but I can't hear it, I'm not a pro myself.

lug · #2 03-04-2009, 08:38 AM

Basswood sounds a lot like alder. It's bad rep stems more from the fact that it's a cheap wood than what it actually sounds like.

ctmullins · #3 03-04-2009, 09:52 AM

Play the bass unamplified for a while, to get the "natural" tone of the instrument. Then decide whether you like this tone, or whether it needs more highs, more lows, etc. Then choose pickups accordingly. There are lots and lots of quality pickups from reputable manufacturers, and you're sure to find something that suits you.

Ragist · #4 03-05-2009, 10:50 AM

Oh, alright Thanks!
I shall try that, but it definitely feels lighter.
Well, I'm not really familiar with the sounds of different pickups, but are Lindy Fralins good?

ctmullins · #5 03-05-2009, 11:45 AM

Fralins have a good reputation around here, as do lots of other manufacturers' pickups. The best thing to do is to visit their websites and read their own descriptions of their various offerings. Then come here and do a search to get some independent opinions.

NOVAX · #6 03-05-2009, 06:40 PM

Fralin's Goood. I have a basswood Fender MIJ jazz bass special loaded with a DiMarzio P
and an Ultrajazz and boy is it BRIGHT! Even with a rosewood board, those pups bring out the highs like nobody's biz. I've got the 250 going on and not 500 so the
top end is a natural thang. I'm always thinking Fralins, though.
Nordstrand, Barden, Barts- so many choices, so little dime.
Pickup choice for me always requires a leap of faith.
I mean- how are you going to tell unless you actually wire them in and string it up?
My experience with basswood tells me DiMarzios CAN be bright.
EMG passive kind of in the middle.
Bartolinis on the dark side (although I have these wired active)
Stock MIJ Fender pups kind of 'blah'
My guess is Seymour will offer up a lot of variety.
but in the end:

FRALIN-heads NORDSTRAND-tails

flip a coin

Z3r0_G · #7 03-06-2009, 03:58 PM

I stuck antiquity IIs in a JB 45 hoping that it'll give me a nice vintage tone but ended up instead being super bright. I stuck the same antiquities on a Mex alder jazz and it sounded way better. I have since sold off the MIJ.

Ragist · #8 04-17-2009, 01:15 AM

Okay, i've decided to go with lindy fralins.
But i wanna know whether overwinding the jazz standard pickups help in reducing the brightness of the tone that has been the concern of the jb-45 that you used to have. i saw from the web that overwinding increases the mids and volume, and decreases the highs. Should I go ahead with ordering it in overwind? And how much k's above should it have?
And also, what difference does steel poled ones make?

Help much appreciated, thanks! (: