SX (Essex) Pickup Questions

ErebusBass · #1 03-26-2009, 02:56 PM

I have an SX SPJ-62. Shortly after I bought it, I gutted/rewired it. EMG Selects and new pots, jack, everything. Long story short, I put the stock pups in a different bass, and they really opened it up, so today I decided to put the stock pup's back in the SX. I'm really pleased with the P pickup. It sounds fatter and warmer than the select, but I'm pretty disappointed with the J pup. It sounds thin and in general seems to kill my tone. In addition, the highs are really harsh. Like... disgustingly harsh. I can't turn my tone know up above two or three, and I usually run it about halfway.

Has anyone else noticed these things?

Can anyone recommend a different J pup for the bridge?

EagleMoon · #2 03-26-2009, 04:44 PM

In my experience, SX J pups are pretty think sounding. Their P pups are pretty good I agree. There are a lot of J pups you could try. A SD 1/4 pounder would be one of more common choices.

fender3x · #3 03-26-2009, 09:48 PM

I have an SX SJB-62 (which I just noticed is about $20 cheaper than when I bought mine. Like you, I gutted the electronics, and replaced everything. Instead of EMG's tho, I put in DiMarzio Js--which sound great. You might try a J in the bridge position. It's a side-by-side humbucker, and fatter than a standard Jazz pup when in series mode. If you install a switch, you can also put it in parallel for more of a traditional jazz-bridge sound. Not a bad option for around $55.