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5 String USA Deluxe jazz, replacement Pups and Pre-amp?

Asomodai

Asomodai

Jan 21, 2006
771
70
41
London UK
#1
Hey guys.

I love the playability of my USA Deluxe Jazz bass. The wider string spacing is just what i need!

However the sound is a bit too... polite.

I am looking for a far growlier sound, one that would cut through in dense guitar situations. Something like a Geddy Lee tone, but active. Maybe something more grindy?

One of the biggest problems is the Deluxe 5's unmatched pickup sizes and i am unsure what pups i should be looking at. Also i would prefer pickups with pole peices showing!

The pre-amp needs something that will run on 18Volts.

I am currently running through a Ampeg SVT IIP, Crown power amp and 2x15 tweetered Barefaced Vintage cab. The Jazz has a maple fingerboard. I like lots of treble. I am predominantly a fingerplayer.

Rob :)
 
#5
If I read the OP correctly I'd say start getting thos p/u's closer to the strings unless they're real close already.

Also, I wouldn't diagnose this as a pickup problem right away either. If a ballsy low end is what you're missing then try a set of tapewound strings. I say this because I've played more than a couple of those basses and I thought they were one of the least polite Jazzes I've heard.
 
#6
[QUOTE="Q";9426623]If I read the OP correctly I'd say start getting thos p/u's closer to the strings unless they're real close already.

Also, I wouldn't diagnose this as a pickup problem right away either. If a ballsy low end is what you're missing then try a set of tapewound strings. I say this because I've played more than a couple of those basses and I thought they were one of the least polite Jazzes I've heard.[/QUOTE]


Pickups are already pretty close, tapewounds? Really not what i am after mate.

Still looking at different options, i am just worried they wont drop in considering the wide string spacing!
 
#8
[QUOTE="Q";9426623]If I read the OP correctly I'd say start getting thos p/u's closer to the strings unless they're real close already.

Also, I wouldn't diagnose this as a pickup problem right away either. If a ballsy low end is what you're missing then try a set of tapewound strings. I say this because I've played more than a couple of those basses and I thought they were one of the least polite Jazzes I've heard.[/QUOTE]

amdx jazz.....yup polite ime
 
#9
does it have either the "noiseless" pickups or the "SCN" types?

those are both vertical stacks, so will tend to be "polite" sounding. the preamp actually adds a little bit of treble and gain to try and make up for the pickups, so if you just put some real singles in there (even the fender american standard jazz Vs, say) the bass will be all kinds of aggressive.
 
#10
Also what year is the bass? They've made alot of changes to the american deluxe line over the years. The earlier ones had a real savage mid control when you ran any boost and I was disappointed when they took it out later.

But +10 to what walterw is saying. I can't see any way that some real singles won't be a step in the right direction.

Also DR strings have a great clarity to them. So do GHS progressives if they still make them tho its more of an upper mid thing. You might play around with a lighter gauge if you're tied down to a certain brand too.
 
#11
walterw said:
does it have either the "noiseless" pickups or the "SCN" types?

those are both vertical stacks, so will tend to be "polite" sounding. the preamp actually adds a little bit of treble and gain to try and make up for the pickups, so if you just put some real singles in there (even the fender american standard jazz Vs, say) the bass will be all kinds of aggressive.
Click to expand...

Mine are the noiseless types.

I guess some actual single coils are the way to go!

The bass was made in 2002.
 
#15
are we sure? 5-string jazz pickups have an annoying habit of not being built to any standard size; fender's own stuff is different-sized depending on where it comes from.

measure twice, order once, i say.
 
#16
Asomodai said:
Hey guys.

I love the playability of my USA Deluxe Jazz bass. The wider string spacing is just what i need!

However the sound is a bit too... polite.

I am looking for a far growlier sound, one that would cut through in dense guitar situations. Something like a Geddy Lee tone, but active. Maybe something more grindy?

One of the biggest problems is the Deluxe 5's unmatched pickup sizes and i am unsure what pups i should be looking at. Also i would prefer pickups with pole peices showing!

The pre-amp needs something that will run on 18Volts.

I am currently running through a Ampeg SVT IIP, Crown power amp and 2x15 tweetered Barefaced Vintage cab. The Jazz has a maple fingerboard. I like lots of treble. I am predominantly a fingerplayer.

Rob :)
Click to expand...

I've got the four string version, I just put in a j retro deluxe and a pair of nordstrand nj4sv's this week.

The bass sounds absolutely badass, you wouldnt believe the transformation! Highly recommended!!
 
#17
walterw said:
are we sure? 5-string jazz pickups have an annoying habit of not being built to any standard size; fender's own stuff is different-sized depending on where it comes from.

measure twice, order once, i say.
Click to expand...

By all means measure it. From my expirence with my own bass ('97 Deluxe 5...replaced the original Suhr's) the Nordy's fell in. They also sound pretty fantastic. Good luck.
 
#18
I'm sure you've done this.....have you tried using just the neck pickup? I have two Jazz basses (a 4 and an MIM 5 string) and get a pretty good "grind" from just the neck pickup on either.

Still too polite sounding on yours?
 
#19
Asomodai said:
Hey guys.

I love the playability of my USA Deluxe Jazz bass. The wider string spacing is just what i need!

However the sound is a bit too... polite.

I am looking for a far growlier sound, one that would cut through in dense guitar situations. Something like a Geddy Lee tone, but active. Maybe something more grindy?

One of the biggest problems is the Deluxe 5's unmatched pickup sizes and i am unsure what pups i should be looking at. Also i would prefer pickups with pole peices showing!

The pre-amp needs something that will run on 18Volts.

I am currently running through a Ampeg SVT IIP, Crown power amp and 2x15 tweetered Barefaced Vintage cab. The Jazz has a maple fingerboard. I like lots of treble. I am predominantly a fingerplayer.

Rob :)
Click to expand...

That's why I picked up a Bongo 5 - wider spacing, aggressive sound. I just don't use it as much as I thought (which is why it's for sale). If Fender made the J with wider spacing, I'd check it out....
 

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