WANTED: More Clarity and Grind for a Fender Custom Shop 64 Jazz

[chris818]

Hey guys...had my Custom Shop Jazz 64 for about a month now. Friken love the bass but I gotta admit, I'm not crazy about the pups it came with. They're not bad by any stretch but I am used to a little more output.

My MIA Jazz has Duncan Hot Stacks and in that particular bass, those pups just kill.

The CS 64 Jazz is a bit different with smaller frets, a different neck (obviously) and a general much mellower, vintage tone (plugged and unplugged) and feel. Acoustically, it feels and plays fantastic. I strung it up with new DR Fatbeams...same strings I've been using for 8 years...it's not the strings, it's the pups.

I'd like to get more grind and clarity out of her. Which pups do you recommend?

Any help is appreciated.

*My Nash (sold) came with Lollars. They were clear as a bell with some grind too. I'm leaning towards Lollars but would like some info from you guys. Any Fender CS owners with replacement pups in their bass?

Thanks.

[warnan]

handwound kent armstrong jazz pickups.

[walterw]

try keeping the stock ones, but switch all the pots to 500k. "clarity and grind" is just what that should add. the stock pickups should actually be louder and livelier than the duncan stacks, once the circuit is sorted out.

(you'll want linear tapers for the volumes and audio for the tone to keep a usable sweep with the higher-resistance pots.)

[chris818]

So, I went with the handwound Kent Armstrongs. They should be here any day now. Very excited to install 'em and hear the difference. I told Kent what I was looking for and he said he could solve my problem.

I'll post a review once they're in.
Thanks for the recommendations.

[acebase62]

I second walterw's advice.

Try 500k on the volume pots.

FWIW, I have a Warmoth JJ with SD Hot Stacks and 500k pots, and have plenty of clarity.