Where could i buy stock Highway One Jazz Bass pickups???

trjazzluva05 · #1 09-08-2009, 04:47 PM

I own a Fender Highway One Jazz Bass which I've had for three years. I had it stock and it sounded great until both pickups died within a year. I've tried Fender Noiseless and Bartolini pickups but can't get that warm, crisp thump that my originals or the american stock pickups seem to have. Would I be able to buy some American standard stock pickups anywhere????

BigOldHarry · #2 09-08-2009, 05:03 PM

MFsells them... Which means GC does, and Zzounds likely does.

You say both p'ups DIED? I have never had a p'up up and die like that, and I've been playing for over 30 years.... Could it be a wiring issue???

Defacto · #3 09-08-2009, 05:04 PM

I know it might sound a bit obvious, but maybe you could ask fender.

**line6man** · #4 09-08-2009, 05:05 PM

Yeah, I don't see how a pickup could die? Especially two pickups within a year.

Maybe you could get a short in the coil or something, but the chance that it would happen to both pickups is very unlikely.

Can you have the pickups rewound maybe?

trjazzluva05 · #5 09-08-2009, 07:30 PM

Well the bridge pickup was working one day, I left my bass at my church for a few days had a rehearsal and the pickup didn't work. So I got it replaced by the store but they cheated me and put a cheap mexican jazz bass pickup in it. I never got the old pickup when I got my axe back. The other pickup lost output shortly after so I bought some Barts and they dont sound better. Then I got noiseless pickups and neither do they. I checked MF and all they have is the 60's and both kinds of noisless pickups. I guess ill have to call Fender.

**line6man** · #6 09-08-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trjazzluva05

So I got it replaced by the store but they cheated me and put a cheap mexican jazz bass pickup in it. I never got the old pickup when I got my axe back.

Um, they owe you a new pickup then.
That's ridiculous.

#include <MK> · #7 09-09-2009, 12:44 AM

A couple of options:

- buy a single coil set, not noiseless pickups as they're not the same deal

- mentioned already, rewind the existing pickups. Personally, I'd avoid this option entirely for a stock hwy1 pickup

I have a hwy1 jbass and I personally think the stock pickups that came with it sound like crap. I replaced them with a set that I made in the style of the early 60s single coil jbass pickups and that was a great improvement IMO.

Showdown · #8 09-09-2009, 02:38 AM

1. Watch eBay, or

2. Become a supporting member and post a wanted ad in the Wanted: Bass Guitars, Amps, and Accessories forum here. There is bound to be someone that has replaced the pickups on their Highway 1 and would sell you the old ones.

trjazzluva05 · #9 09-09-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #include <MK>

A couple of options:

- buy a single coil set, not noiseless pickups as they're not the same deal

- mentioned already, rewind the existing pickups. Personally, I'd avoid this option entirely for a stock hwy1 pickup

I have a hwy1 jbass and I personally think the stock pickups that came with it sound like crap. I replaced them with a set that I made in the style of the early 60s single coil jbass pickups and that was a great improvement IMO.

Hey man are the Custom Shop 60s jazz bass pickups in the Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller basses??? I like the pickups sound on the Marcus Miller bass.

mcnach · #10 09-09-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trjazzluva05

I own a Fender Highway One Jazz Bass which I've had for three years. I had it stock and it sounded great until both pickups died within a year. I've tried Fender Noiseless and Bartolini pickups but can't get that warm, crisp thump that my originals or the american stock pickups seem to have. Would I be able to buy some American standard stock pickups anywhere????

Pickups, save EXCEPTIONAL circumstances, do not die. It is a very rare thing, especially if they're just sitting on the bass and you're not fiddling with them in a way that can physically damage the coils.

I'd try to figure out what went wrong, because chances are both pickups are still ok and the problem is in teh wiring somewhere. A loose/broken connection, some terminal touching ground (especially if you had it shielded).

mcnach · #11 09-09-2009, 06:40 AM

I just realised that you don't have at least one of the pickups. They should have given you the old one, but too late for that.
As for teh second pickup losing volume: bad connection, it smells of a bad connection.

BUt if you love H1 pickups, keep an eye on eBay. A lot of people, including me, don't rate them very highly, so they're frequently found on eBay when people upgrade.

Good luck!

#include <MK> · #12 09-12-2009, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trjazzluva05

Hey man are the Custom Shop 60s jazz bass pickups in the Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller basses??? I like the pickups sound on the Marcus Miller bass.

Well, this is the thing. Fender specs state "Vintage Jazz Bass Single Coil", but I ask what in the world does "vintage" mean

- nothing that's what. So much for specs. For example, which "vintage" year do they mean...LOL.

Anyway, the Custom Shop 60s are made using similar parts to the 60s jbass pickups (ie. they're not the cheap plastic bobbin based sets).