Pickup replacement for Classic 60s Jazz Bass.

[Balkan]

Hi -

I've been thinking about replacing the stock pickups on my new Fender Classic 60s Jazz bass, although I'm not sure yet. I've been reading up on both Fralins and the Antiquity II's and I have a sense of the differences between those two pickups. What I don't know is how the stock pickups compare to either option. Is the stock sound already closer to one or the other of those two options?

Just FYI - this is the MIM 60s Jazz, not the USA 62 reissue.

[Willicious]

B,

I just replaced the stock pups in my 60s Classic with new Fralins.
I got the ones with staggered poles on the A and D strings, to help
compensate for the smaller vintage radius neck.

I'm not very good at describing a pickup's various sonic characteristics,
but to my ears, the Fralins are giving me a warmer, fuller, clearer
representation of the instrument. Just a really nice overall improvement.
Some of the improvement may be from the new
Wymore stack knob harness I installed.

I read quite a few opinions on here before pulling the $160 trigger
on new pups. Here are some great options ( in no particular order ):

Fralin
Lollar
Nordstrand
SD Ant II

Good luck!

[troyus]

I went with a set of Nordstrand NJ4's and they sound pretty beautiful, very warm and balanced.

[Ryan Mohr]

Antiquity IIs

[Jim Carr]

My choice was Fralin split coils for my '60s classic. I like them, but YMMV, natch!

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by Willicious

B,

I just replaced the stock pups in my 60s Classic with new Fralins.
I got the ones with staggered poles on the A and D strings...Some of the improvement may be from the new Wymore stack knob harness I installed.

Wow! That is one sweet image. The fingerboard is so dark, and the grain in the body wood looks like Ash. The Stackpots are sexy and a very nice pickguard. Amazing!

[Willicious]

Thanks Jim.
This is my first MIM, and so far, I'm really impressed with the quality.
The neck on this thing is amazing.
Loving the stack pots over VVT, too.

[Balkan]

Thanks guys - I ended up deciding to try Lollar pickups. Not as period accurate as the Fralins sound to be, but it sounds like these pickups have a warmer tone that I should like. The bass is at the shop right now. Of course, now I want to learn how to solder so I can try out different options on my own without having to pay a professional each time I want to switch!

[Willicious]

I came very close to choosing the Lollars.
May try them soon just to compare with my Fralins.
Let us know how they perform.

[selowitch]

I have the MIM 60s Jazz Bass, too, and there is something to be said for keeping the stock pickups. I think they sound great, especially if you take the time to shield the pickup and control cavities with copper tape and make sure the bridge is properly grounded.

[punkanidea]

nj4 is the best. even fender stock pup is beaten by it. wanna have a bell like tone with punching low??

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by Balkan

Thanks guys - I ended up deciding to try Lollar pickups. Not as period accurate as the Fralins sound to be, but it sounds like these pickups have a warmer tone that I should like. The bass is at the shop right now. Of course, now I want to learn how to solder so I can try out different options on my own without having to pay a professional each time I want to switch!

+1 to DIY soldering. I'm almost there. I'm doing pretty much everything else. Kind of glad I didn't with my last swap, DiMarzio Ultra Jazz's, because they are humbuckers with extra wires, but it's really just a matter of reading the instructions and getting in there and doing it. Kind of like the first time I did a truss rod, or saddles, or filling and drilling for new tuners, or anything else.
Good luck with the swaps and tones.

S.

[jongor]

Balkan, how did this turn out?