2023 Fender Pro II Jazz bass

[GregSBass]

I recently bought a Fender Pro II Jazz bass. I also have the Fender Pro I Precision bass. The volume on the Jazz bass was really low, I had to push the gain up pretty high. The Precision bass volume is twice the volume of the Jazz bass? I swapped the pickups with Lindy Fralin split coil standard wind, that didn't help, Lindy sent me a new set of Jazz split coil 5% overwind and I replaced the control plate controls with the StewMac pre-wired controls....... I love the sound of the pickups, but I have to crank the gain way up. Is this normal for a passive Jazz bass? I have a 2004 Fender Am Deluxe Jazz bass, unmodified, as my main bass, I just wanted a backup passive Jazz bass, but the volume issue has me stumped!

Is there anyone that has some experience with passive Fender Jazz bass's? Any help or feedback will be much appreciated!

 

[s0c9]

idk.. my Fender Elite Jazz 5-str bass definitely has "lower" output that the active side - at nominal settings.

 

[Barton Lee]

I have an '87 MIJ Fender Jazz with Fralin split coils, standard wind, and it definitely has lower output than any of my other basses and requires more gain at the amp. I can't recall if the Fralins are quieter than the stock split coils (it's been years) but I did wonder if changing the pots or something would improve things. I'm happy enough though with the sounds I get and I never run both pickups full on, favoring the neck pickup over the bridge and avoiding the mid-scoop.

 

[Square]

At the risk of being Captain Obvious, have you looked at pickup height/distance from your strings?

 

[GregSBass]

At the risk of being Captain Obvious, have you looked at pickup height/distance from your strings?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, that was one of the first things I checked, I set the pickup heights and it didn't make any difference.

 

[FirewalZ]

I have two Jazz Bass’s, a 1977 with Bart’s from the 80’s, and a mid 80’s MIJ with nj4’s. Both are lower output than my two other passive P’s. So yea I have to bump up the gain on the first pedal….usually a comp or hp/lp filter.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Put a series parallel switch on the Jazz and in series it will hang with the best of P’s. That is all a P pick up is, two single coils in series

 

[GregSBass]

Thanks for that tip!......Do you have a wiring diagram for that mod?

 

[jmattbassplaya]

IME, Jazz basses tend to be quieter than Precision basses. Might have something to do with Js having a natural scoop to their mids. I can’t say for certain that’s the case for every J bass, but that seems fair as a general statement from what I’ve seen and heard.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I recently bought a Fender Pro II Jazz bass. I also have the Fender Pro I Precision bass. The volume on the Jazz bass was really low, I had to push the gain up pretty high. The Precision bass volume is twice the volume of the Jazz bass? I swapped the pickups with Lindy Fralin split coil standard wind, that didn't help, Lindy sent me a new set of Jazz split coil 5% overwind and I replaced the control plate controls with the StewMac pre-wired controls....... I love the sound of the pickups, but I have to crank the gain way up. Is this normal for a passive Jazz bass? I have a 2004 Fender Am Deluxe Jazz bass, unmodified, as my main bass, I just wanted a backup passive Jazz bass, but the volume issue has me stumped!

Is there anyone that has some experience with passive Fender Jazz bass's? Any help or feedback will be much appreciated!

I also have an Am Pro I Precision and an Am Pro II Jazz. I put stock wound Fralins in both. Like you, the Jazz is quieter than the Precision. I could worry about it but I just turn up the amp.

 

[GregSBass]

Thank you Sonoma Bass for the feedback!!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Thank you Sonoma Bass for the feedback!!

It is possible that pickup positions are affecting the output levels on your basses. The signal gets hotter as the pickups move closer to the strings, and weaker as they move away. You might confirm whether the setup is correct, or have your luthier do this. My bass setups are good, and the Jazz bass still has a slightly weaker signal. Again, this is is simple to correct by slightly boosting the amplifier's preamp/input signal. Every instrument is different.