SD Quarter Pounders or Dimarzio Model J's?

AshenBassist · #1 03-08-2007, 10:57 PM

Hey everyone! I'm buying myself a squier jazz (1970's one with block inlays) in april and having already played it
I know it'll need new pickups. Thing is in terms of electronics I have next to no knowledge so I was hoping someone here would be able to help me.
I'd like to be able to get a real thick tone, tight bottom and i really don't care to much for highs. Lots of punch however. Honestly though, my tastes change by the week, so i don't want a one trick pony. It'll be for rock, that i know for sure.

Someone recomended I try either QuarterPounders or the Dimarzios. What do you think?

Also, i've been kinda toying with the idea of putting a single coil p pickup in to replace the neck j pickup, not sure about that yet, if i someone gives me some encouragement i'll go for it for sure.

PunkerTrav · #2 03-08-2007, 11:02 PM

I've had both those pickups in my fretless. The model J's sound, to me, exactly as you've described you ideal tone. Interestingly, I thought the QPs sounded thumpier, almost P-bass esque.

Scott in Dallas · #3 03-09-2007, 02:52 AM

I've only had the Dimarzios. Good rock tone is a great description of it, and it doesn't have the highs of the single coils.

You probably already know this, but if you put a P in the bass, you will probably want to either shield the bass or put in a humbucking J in the bridge to keep it from buzzing.

62bass · #4 03-09-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenBassist

Hey everyone! I'm buying myself a squier jazz (1970's one with block inlays) in april and having already played it
I know it'll need new pickups. Also, i've been kinda toying with the idea of putting a single coil p pickup in to replace the neck j pickup, not sure about that yet, if i someone gives me some encouragement i'll go for it for sure.

If this is a real, original Squier from the original issues made in Japan, they are very good basses, at least, based on my experience with them. The ones I tried, both P and J models, were every bit as good as the American models of that time. One of my neighbours has a pair of early Japanese Squire Js that he's owned since new. They sound great as they are.

So before you go routing one for a P pickup, check to make sure you're not altering an already good bass that you'd like down the road as you get more experience.

As far as J pickups- some guys like DiMarzio better than SD. You'll never get any agreement between the two. Just read the countless threads on the subject. It's going to be a matter of personal taste. Take your pick. If you like them, great. If not, sell them at a slight loss and try another brand.

Personally, I prefer Seymour Duncans. I've always had great results with them. I have the Quarter Pounder in my old Fender P. I like it a lot. The sound, not the weight or neck dive of the bass. Those old ash bodies can be pretty heavy.

roger winkler · #5 03-12-2007, 07:39 PM

I just installed QP's in my MIM P-Bass Special, installed the split coil neck pups only, and OH MY GOD!!!

These things are awesome, to say the least. The new pups transformed a mediocre bass into a real ball-buster. I'm probably gonna take the next step and replace the bridge jazz pup with a stacked QP and then make someone's eyes bleed when I gig with it.

I definately recommend the quarter pounders.

4Mal · #6 03-12-2007, 09:16 PM

Personally I don't what the over wound sound does. You lose a lot of detail and nuance in your tone. My thought would be a more vntage sounding pickup. Punchy and balanced tonally and get your balls from the rig.

Duncan SJB-1's are great, plentiful in the used market and not terribly expensive new. Next step up would be the Aero Type 1.

I wouldn't plan on changing the neck J for a P pickup. They are totally different shapes. I wouldn't bother putting that kind of work into the bass.

Do the pickup swap, do a good setup - if it's that old you might want to see a luthier and have the frets cleaned up. Do a shielding job and call it good.

My 2 cents and worth approx .0236 CDN!

AshenBassist · #7 03-12-2007, 10:01 PM

Hmmmm, i suppose i was a little unclear about the bass i'm buying. It's the 2006 model "Vintage Re-issue" or "Modified" or something like that. It's not from the 70's. Sorry about the mix up.

62bass · #8 03-13-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenBassist

Hmmmm, i suppose i was a little unclear about the bass i'm buying. It's the 2006 model "Vintage Re-issue" or "Modified" or something like that. It's not from the 70's. Sorry about the mix up.

Okay, in that case modify away. If you decide to do all the routing and new pickguard you'll need for a for a P pickup in the neck position, then get a stacked humbucker for the bridge pickup. The single coil noise can be annoying.

Philbiker · #9 03-13-2007, 11:45 AM

I had Quarter Pound pickups in a MIM Jazz bass a few years back. They sounded very hot and modern, not really what I was after, but you might love 'em. I'd suggest seeing if you can find a store with a Fender "Jazz Bass 24" and trying that with the EQ set flat to get a little bit of a taste of what they sound like. If you like LOUD, HOT, MODERN, they do that quite well. If you like SMOOTH and VINTAGE, they do not. My understanding is that the QP P-bass pickup is a very different animal than the QP Jazz bass set.

62bass · #10 03-13-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I had Quarter Pound pickups in a MIM Jazz bass a few years back. They sounded very hot and modern, not really what I was after, but you might love 'em. I'd suggest seeing if you can find a store with a Fender "Jazz Bass 24" and trying that with the EQ set flat to get a little bit of a taste of what they sound like. If you like LOUD, HOT, MODERN, they do that quite well. If you like SMOOTH and VINTAGE, they do not. My understanding is that the QP P-bass pickup is a very different animal than the QP Jazz bass set.

Yes, in my experience they are, but they are different because of pickup type. They're bound to sound different like the difference between another brand's J and P.

They're certainly hotter than stock pickups but not at all insanely so. I don't find them too modern. I like the old original 60s P sound very much. My '62 P sounded great. The QPs sound a bit more edgy and thicker than that. I can easily get rid of the edge with EQ. I've recorded with my P with QPs a number of times on different styles of music and the guys paying me always loved the sound. Engineers too.

I had the DiMarzio P in this bass before the QP. The DiMarzio was pretty good but I thought a little thin sounding by comparison.

But, it's all up to personal taste. You have to decide for yourself.

sunbeast · #11 03-14-2007, 09:06 AM

Are you talking about installing a split- coil or single coil P pickup in the neck position? The single coil might not require much if any routing (never tried an SC precision before)...

Karl

AshenBassist · #12 03-16-2007, 12:50 PM

yeah, i was thinking about putting in a single-coil p pickup (like on the sting bass or 1951 p basses.) in the neck slot to thicken the tone up a bit. Would routing be required, or should i just try a jazz set first then go from there?

Subculture13 · #13 03-16-2007, 12:54 PM

I had one of those myself, would still have it and it would be my #1 bass were it not stolen.

From experience, having put both pickups in it already in experimenting, I can flat out tell you you need to put Bartolini's in it. Get them off Ebay for a fair price. You'll be readinh to rock.