which pick-ups for the job?

Snakeman1066 · #1 04-12-2008, 09:18 PM

Ok gang i'm looking to build my first Jazz bass and i want it both active and passive...

I want a p-bass pup configuration in the neck position and a jazz style pup in the bridge position....

which pickups and pre-amp would you choose for the job and why?

Snakeman1066 · #2 04-13-2008, 11:02 AM

seriously 35 views and not one opinion?

basslyon · #3 04-13-2008, 11:05 AM

what kinda sound you after? SDs, nordies and a million other brands are all good? I'd go a sd quaterpound and hotstack into an audere but that's just me

fullrangebass · #4 04-13-2008, 11:14 AM

What kind of sound are you after? or what sort of ground do you want to cover, music genre speaking

SuperDuck · #5 04-13-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

seriously 35 views and not one opinion?

Based on the information in your first post, I would recommend pickups by EMG, Bartolini, DiMarzio, Fender, Nordstrand, MEC, Seymour Duncan, or Rio Grande, paired with a preamp from Aguilar, Sadowsky, Audere, J-Retro, Seymour Duncan, EMG, Bartolini, or Fender.

Gintaras · #6 04-13-2008, 11:53 AM

I've gone through a few preamps and finally settled into a J-Retro. I have read great reviews on the Dimarzio J and have one in my Geddy Lee Body in the neck. I routed out the bridge and put in a Nordstrand MM4.3. I love the sound of my whole rig.

But all said....pickups are such a personal choice.

here is some things to read.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...ic+Bass+Pickup

Snakeman1066 · #7 04-13-2008, 12:31 PM

Well I wanted a lot of lexibility sound wise....while i like the p-tone i also wanted the J sound hence the double configuration.

This bass will be used mainly in my bar band, mostly blues, and blues inspired rock, with a few radio cover tunes thrown in...

I'm a big fan of the passive sound but wanted and extra bit of boost when i needed it hence the active/passive set up

so again i ask if you were building what pickups and pre-amp would you use....leaning towards a three band but i suppose a two band wouldn't be out of the question...

kraigo · #8 04-13-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

Well I wanted a lot of lexibility sound wise....while i like the p-tone i also wanted the J sound hence the double configuration.

This bass will be used mainly in my bar band, mostly blues, and blues inspired rock, with a few radio cover tunes thrown in...

I'm a big fan of the passive sound but wanted and extra bit of boost when i needed it hence the active/passive set up

so again i ask if you were building what pickups and pre-amp would you use....leaning towards a three band but i suppose a two band wouldn't be out of the question...

I think I'd just get a G&L L-2000 and be done with it. And I don't even have one.

KO

Snakeman1066 · #9 04-13-2008, 12:55 PM

don't like the look of G&L's overall....

I'm building a retro 70's inspired Jazz bass.... bound and blocked neck etc....all black with black hardware

anyone else?

kjpollo · #10 04-13-2008, 09:01 PM

I currently have a Jazz-based bass being built for me. Like you, I like the P sound but I also like the sound of a Music Man and I'm going with Duncans for both spots. I chose the Quarter Pounder for the neck and the SMB-4A (MM Style) for the bridge and I'm matching them up with a Bartolini 3 band preamp. I didnt choose the active/passive option but I still think I should get a lot of tonal flexibility out of this setup.

I've had more EMG's in my basses than any other pickup but I just felt its time for a change. This will be my first experience with both Duncan and Bartolini products and I'm looking forward to both.

Just my 2 pesos...hope its helpful.

On The DL · #11 04-13-2008, 09:17 PM

I've had barts in a fender p and just put bart j's in my spector 5. I've never played a bart p/j combo, but seperately, I've liked them very much. I have a bart j/hum and a bart pre in my carvin 5 and I love the growl, focus and punch of the combo. I've been impressed with the quality and tone of every bart pickup I've owned.

strauboids · #12 04-13-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

Ok gang i'm looking to build my first Jazz bass and i want it both active and passive...

I want a p-bass pup configuration in the neck position and a jazz style pup in the bridge position....

which pickups and pre-amp would you choose for the job and why?

I've been playing an american made Fender P-Bass Deluxe for the last 10 years and I've been nothing but happy with the traditional Fender tones you can coax out of it. The stock setup has no active passive switch, but I think if you take a look at the setup it should give you a pretty good idea of the direction you want to go. (Split P in the middle, Jazz HB in the bridge and a three band eq with pan-pot to select). I've also seen a number of setups that utilize a single P and two single coil jazz pickups by shifting the P a little closer to the bridge. This does slightly change the dynamic of the "P tone" and besides I prefer to keep it to 2 or less pickups myself. Otherwise you wind up fumbling for a switch. That was one of the reasons I got rid of my Roscoe Beck V. A blade switch and multiple mini toggles?! My ultimate goal is to be able to will the tone out of my bass without the use of electronics at all, but I digress.

strauboids · #13 04-13-2008, 09:44 PM

Here's another Fender to give you some ideas...
http://www.fender.com/customshop/ins...tno=0158400806