What Jazz pickups am I *really* after?
 

I'm looking for a set of J pups that have a solid punchy low end, grindy upper mids and clarity up the top.

What would you recommend for that?
Single Coil is better for me, more likely to get that snarly quality.

I'm putting them in a 2011 USA Am Std Jazz Bass.

I've read the big thread and have gotten caught between
Antiquity II's, NJ4's and NJ4SV's, and the bass currently has Dimarzio Model J's.

Sounds like the reason I prefer Fralin's..

My Fender CS 60s Jazz pickup are totally like that. Awesome pickup for the price.

whatever Sadowsky uses. Those things are @#$ nice!

My Di Marzio Js are like that. Maybe the John East Retro J helps.

Not to further confuse things, but I have the Antiquity IIs and they have all the great snarly, growly classic Jazz sounds you could ever ask for.

Delano JMVC 4 FE/M2's have that tone that you're looking for but they're quite expensive if you're on a tight budget. The cheaper option is the DiMarzio Model J's you'll get them quicker than the Delano's though.

His 2011 Am St Jazz would already have those as standard. I have them in my Am Jazz and even though I love them, I would describe them more as dark and articulate (rather than the grindy and clear tone that the OP is looking for).

Rio Grande Vintage sounds exactly like what you are looking for.

I missed the cut off for those; mine still has the older pickups stock. It's currently got Model J's in but I'm looking for more snarl and bite in the top end.

Fralin single coils. Beautiful open sound.

+1 ;)

Thanks folks, took your advice on the Fralins; you weren't wrong, they were exactly what I was after!

Crazily crunchy!

Sound clips?

As far as I Know, they started 2012 with the CS 60th PUs...