pickups and preamp for fretless

slapn'captain · #1 08-08-2002, 07:47 PM

What do you guys recomend for a fretless im building? its got a maple and oak neck through and an oak body and the fingerboard wood is ulin which is an indonesian hard wood that is similar to ebony.

tell me some of your electronic setups and configurations that work well for you.

Thanks for the help

bgavin · #2 08-09-2002, 04:19 PM

DiMarzio and J-Retro.

Both the Model J and the UltraJazz are 4-wire types, so you can wire them series/parallel, same as the Fender RB5. This gives a very wide variety in tone. Both DiMarzio are bi-lateral (side by side) coils, and are hum cancelling in solo mode.

The Model J are a 6-5-4 (b-m-t) voicing, compared to the scooped 6-5-6 for the Ultra Jazz. The Ultra Jazz is a new design, and the Model J has been around a very long time. The Model J is a BP Magazine Top Tone winner, where the UltraJazz was not.

rekesbass · #3 08-11-2002, 09:01 AM

what type of sound are you looking for?? dark and upright-like or bright and zingy?...I have a fretless jazz bass special w\p-j pups(emg's)and it kinda sounds like Les claypool's fretless sound...your woods used in your bass sounds like it will be a natrually bright and snappy sounding instrument..so if your not into ultra bright sounding bass, maybe the pups mentioned here already might be a good choise.Bartolini's are also a good choise...EMG's have a lot of zing that turn a lot of people off when it comes to fretless.they have more meow than mawh...but you have to decide what sound your after....good luck with your quest...

Doryan · #4 08-11-2002, 09:11 AM

Seymour Duncan - Steve Bailey Fundamental Fretless
these are 2 jazz pick-ups

I had them placed in my Fender fretless Jazz Bass.
Wich were much better than the originals.
These pick give a better sustain and enveloppe.

slapn'captain · #5 08-11-2002, 01:06 PM

thanks guys i think ill go with some bartolini j's and the nbt

bassplayer60 · #6 07-31-2003, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bgavin
DiMarzio and J-Retro.

Both the Model J and the UltraJazz are 4-wire types, so you can wire them series/parallel, same as the Fender RB5. This gives a very wide variety in tone. Both DiMarzio are bi-lateral (side by side) coils, and are hum cancelling in solo mode.

The Model J are a 6-5-4 (b-m-t) voicing, compared to the scooped 6-5-6 for the Ultra Jazz. The Ultra Jazz is a new design, and the Model J has been around a very long time. The Model J is a BP Magazine Top Tone winner, where the UltraJazz was not.

So You're saying that the Model J is what you recommend for 'fretless'?

Thanks

Vern
bassplayer60

xyllion · #7 07-31-2003, 12:33 AM

For fretless, the J Retro is a great preamp. It really helps dial-in THE tone for your instrument. The flexibility of it is just amazing and makes a huge difference with fretless.

BASSnSAX · #8 08-12-2003, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slapn'captain
thanks guys i think ill go with some bartolini j's and the nbt

Good choice! I put the Bart J's in my SX fretless, and I'm possibly thinking of adding a preamp

brock29609 · #9 08-14-2003, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bgavin
The Model J is a BP Magazine Top Tone winner, where the UltraJazz was not.

I think you got that one wrong. I copied and pasted this from BP Mag's reviews...

Quote:

Top Tone awards in the vintage replacement department go to the Aero Instrument MP-181, Basslines Antiquity Jazz Bass I & II, Fender Custom Shop '60s Jazz Bass, and Lindy Fralin JB. All of these models offer real-deal tone, and the Antiquities come complete with an old-school look—the screws are even rusted! Humbucker-wise, the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz takes the prize for impressive J-like sound without hum.

The Model J and Ultra Jazz pickups are both humbuckers, but they gave "the prize" to the Ultra Jazz. Then, they went on to say...

Quote:

For recording, it's hard to beat the Basslines Hot SJB-2, Quarter Pound, Antiquity IIs, and the DiMarzio Model J.