who likes DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups?

[joeyl]

I do, I just installed some used ones I bought off the classifieds here. They replaced the stock MIA pickups, which are gig-ready but not great sounding. The Ultra Jazz have more output, more presence and more balanced. They also look like stock Jazz pickups. Some people complained of not enough mids, but they sound just fine in an ash bass. So who else likes them?



yeah my pickguard is shrinking, bass is about 11 years old.

[tplyons]

I like 'em plenty, but I personally prefer the model J's.

[RareBear]

Come on, screw in the pickguard before the photo. Neatness counts.

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by RareBear

Come on, screw in the pickguard before the photo. Neatness counts.

does it really?

[Seattle_BassMan]

love my ultra-j's with my J-retro preamp. They're soooo much better than the stock MIA.

[GinoBass]

I've got a set in my MIM - a world of difference. Quiet, powerful, full bodied. And only $85 - Gino like!!!

[James Hart]

Ash bass with some Ultras hidden under the wood covers...



Killer pickups! I ran them with a Demeter pre for a while... but replaced it with a Suhr (better booty and punch)

[joeyl]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Ash bass with some Ultras hidden under the wood covers...



Killer pickups! I ran them with a Demeter pre for a while... but replaced it with a Suhr (better booty and punch)

really, I thought there were some super-duper custom pickups underneath those wood covers. Nice.

[Stinsok]

I put some in one of those Brice Ash bodied 5 strings (don't sell them anymore.) At certain volume settings, it sounded like a cow's "moo." Strange.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by joeyl

really, I thought there were some super-duper custom pickups underneath those wood covers. Nice.

there was a time when DiMarzio was considered super-duper custom

[greenboy]

Originally Posted by James Hart

there was a time when DiMarzio was considered super-duper custom

They could fix that if they came up with the right name appeal to market them under - a DiMarzio Elite by Enzio™ - or something - and jacked the price at least 250%. Claim they were handwound painstakingly, aged magnets, in partnership with Monster Cable or Tara Labs with leads with special punch electrons already installed.

Pickups with basically the same winding and magnet structure variations come and go in cycles, are really a faddy marketplace with much mojo imagined.

But one thing is clear: almost anything will beat the factory pickups in cheap Fenders/Squires ; }

[greenboy]

Oh, yeah, forgot: I have an UltraJazz in the bridge position in one of my basses. I haven't removed it after a few years, so I must think it does the job.

[UBU]

Originally Posted by greenboy

They could fix that if they came up with the right name appeal to market them under - a DiMarzio Elite by Enzio™ - or something - and jacked the price at least 250%. Claim they were handwound painstakingly, aged magnets, in partnership with Monster Cable or Tara Labs with leads with special punch electrons already installed.

Pickups with basically the same winding and magnet structure variations come and go in cycles, are really a faddy marketplace with much mojo imagined.

But one thing is clear: almost anything will beat the factory pickups in cheap Fenders/Squires ; }

QFT. Its mostly smoke, mirrors and imagination. Anything that keeps you from playing is an obstruction. Less thought of gear leaves free thought for music. just play the friggin thing

[HMZ]

I like the model J DiMarzio's better more aggressive tone.

[ScubaSteve]

I'd like to try a Model J in the neck position and an Ultra Jazz at the bridge. Has anyone ever done this ?

[1kinal]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

I'd like to try a Model J in the neck position and an Ultra Jazz at the bridge. Has anyone ever done this ?

Your question reminded me that I always wanted to try this. I've had the Model J in my SX for about a year but I happened to have a bridge-position Ultra Jazz around.

I did the switch tonight. From what I can tell for now, it seems like a really good match. I'd say the Ultra Jazz is really more clear than the Model J. The Model J sounds more like a P-Bass pickup when compared to the UJ.

The lows and highs on the UJ are more clear. There's less mids than the Model J for sure.

The slap sound also seems better. With the two Model J, it sounded to me like I was slapping on a P-Bass. Now with one of each, the slap sound has the thump of the MJ with the attack and clear lows and highs of the UJ.

I just wished the UJ had adjustable pole-pieces like the MJ. I definately hear a better string-to-string balance on the Model J.

Finally, for now, it really seems like a neck MJ with a bridge UJ is the best of both worlds. I'll see tomorrow in a band setting.

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

I'd like to try a Model J in the neck position and an Ultra Jazz at the bridge. Has anyone ever done this ?

I would do it the other way around J in ultra in neck J in bridge.

[Arthur U. Poon]

Originally Posted by tplyons

I like 'em plenty, but I personally prefer the model J's.

+1.

I have a set of Model J's in my fretted Jazz and I like them a lot. Overall I prefer single coils in a Jazz, but IMO a Jazz with a set of humcancellers works well in a club with crappy wiring.

[Thurisarz]

Are the Ultras humcancelling?

[jobo4]

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

Are the Ultras humcancelling?

Yes.