$60 Jazz 5 pickups from Amazon…

[Big Louzer]

I just picked up a Squier Affinity Jazz V, and I want to upgrade pickups.

I’m on the fence about spending $190 - $250+ on Duncan 67/70’s or Aguilar HC’s because they cost more than the bass did, but I’ve had them both before and I loved them.

Then I came across these…
Generic No-name AlNiCo pickups, look pretty good…but hesitant if the actual product is as good as how the photos look…

$60 for Amazon pickups is kind of unusual, too. Often, they are about $30.

https://www.amazon.com/5-String-Alnico-Pickups-Pickup-Strings/dp/B0H5QMJNSL/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=2SFQ5W4BC3RN1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LsZe5vnOTK7TbFPxcl0YmkFEyRLfeQSsf1iPMoLQVvAK3_ezLmwXyVYJ6bpu51jE8j9Sq-RiF2ulHumCdp3g-3D69-bmCba9NDDReJdMAtZOJ-0GBIxGhzeEF15g8S1gwNhNWkFrvJZUU2ig6S4MqYaUOmpZYDtUxzsbuomwZn6tZDhbc3j0AqLdGgmGnbBSkVHKDmWTN-l4cfy-OKh3Cg.GTQyku7c7Zfz8mR8F07ME0OrACjQBnfHS1W2sIaiYds&dib_tag=se&keywords=5-string%2Bjazz%2Bpickups&qid=1787284672&sprefix=5-string%2BJazz%2Bpuckups%2Cmusical-instruments%2C167&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1&th=1

I’m surprised that they even list DC resistance specs
“Neck pickup is 9.6(9-10)K,Bridge pickup is 11.1(11-12)K.”

Thoughts?

 

[ctmullins]

If you feel like gambling, get them and find out.

If you know you love the Duncans and the Aguilars, and don’t want to gamble, then get the Duncans or the Aguilars and stop worrying about the price.

 

[buldog5151bass]

How long are you planning on keeping the bass? If you plan on keeping it a while, get the pickups you like.

If not, don't even waste $30.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I would go with some Wilkinson pickups instead. They will be about the same price but they will sound just right, like a jazz bass should sound.

 

[ardgedee]

How long are you planning on keeping the bass? If you plan on keeping it a while, get the pickups you like.

Not even certain that matters. Get the pickups you want, keep the original pickups. When selling the bass, put the original pickups back.

A buyer won't be willing to pay cost-of-bass + cost-of-extra-pickups anyway. If OP doesn't want to keep the replacement set after all, they'll get more money out of selling them separately.

 

[mcnach]

If you feel like gambling, get them and find out.

If you know you love the Duncans and the Aguilars, and don’t want to gamble, then get the Duncans or the Aguilars and stop worrying about the price.

It's uncertain whether those cheaper pickups are going to be any better than the ones you already have. If you know you like the SD or Aguilar ones, get those instead. The price of the recipient bass is irrelevant, what matters is the whole.

 

[PrestoZoom]

What don't you like about the stock pickups?

 

[ScarfFace]

It's uncertain whether those cheaper pickups are going to be any better than the ones you already have. If you know you like the SD or Aguilar ones, get those instead. The price of the recipient bass is irrelevant, what matters is the whole

This exactly. You say you want to upgrade the pickups, but there is nothing to suggest these pickups will be any better than what's already in the bass. Get the ones you know you like!

 

[Stewie]

Mostof the stuff I have bought recently from Amazon has been junk that I just had to send back use the.knobs on your amp, won't cost anything

 

[TonyP-]

Interesting…Even in “generic” pickups are Alnico.

I wish there ere 5 string cermaic Pickups available.

A 5 string version of the Dimarzio model J would be killer.

 

[FatOwlBass]

The stock pickups are probably better quality than the amazon pair. Unless you are going to a hum cancelling pair or active (EMG) set, I would leave it stock.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Artec pickups is what you're looking for. I bought some to put in a bass I was selling and almost couldn't let it go.

I'll throw out that you may want to try pickup height adjustment and different strings first though

 

[Thumpin6string]

What makes you think those cheap pickups will be any better than the cheap pickups that are in the bass? If you want to UPGRADE, you don't but cheap.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I just picked up a Squier Affinity Jazz V, and I want to upgrade pickups.

I’m on the fence about spending $190 - $250+ on Duncan 67/70’s or Aguilar HC’s because they cost more than the bass did, but I’ve had them both before and I loved them.

Then I came across these…
Generic No-name AlNiCo pickups, look pretty good…but hesitant if the actual product is as good as how the photos look…

$60 for Amazon pickups is kind of unusual, too. Often, they are about $30.

https://www.amazon.com/5-String-Alnico-Pickups-Pickup-Strings/dp/B0H5QMJNSL/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=2SFQ5W4BC3RN1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LsZe5vnOTK7TbFPxcl0YmkFEyRLfeQSsf1iPMoLQVvAK3_ezLmwXyVYJ6bpu51jE8j9Sq-RiF2ulHumCdp3g-3D69-bmCba9NDDReJdMAtZOJ-0GBIxGhzeEF15g8S1gwNhNWkFrvJZUU2ig6S4MqYaUOmpZYDtUxzsbuomwZn6tZDhbc3j0AqLdGgmGnbBSkVHKDmWTN-l4cfy-OKh3Cg.GTQyku7c7Zfz8mR8F07ME0OrACjQBnfHS1W2sIaiYds&dib_tag=se&keywords=5-string%2Bjazz%2Bpickups&qid=1787284672&sprefix=5-string%2BJazz%2Bpuckups%2Cmusical-instruments%2C167&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1&th=1

I’m surprised that they even list DC resistance specs
“Neck pickup is 9.6(9-10)K,Bridge pickup is 11.1(11-12)K.”

Thoughts?

If you can reliably do the soldering and work to try them, then you're only out your $60 and your time and effort as-convenient. If you cannot reliably do the soldering and work, the $60 pickups will have X dollar install price, and if for some reason, you don't like them, or like them enough to keep them, then not only do you have X dollar install price, and X dollar removal price, but now you can't return the pickups you bought which are now used, and you'll take a bath on that. Adding up to a cost... likely within striking distance of pickups you already know, trust and like the sound of.

Choose wisely.

 

[Jefenator]

I'm not saying there is zero chance of those pickups being Lollar-killers?
But I'll let you go ahead and try them first...

 

[moles]

Aguilar?

Aguilar DCB-5J 5-string Dual Ceramic Jazz Bass Pickup Set

The Aguilar DCB-5J 5-string Dual Ceramic Jazz Bass Pickup Set introduces a new and unique voice for Jazz style basses.

aguilaramp.com

IDK how they compare to Dimarzios, but thems is ceramic.

EDIT: Replying to TonyP

 

[moles]

Interesting…Even in “generic” pickups are Alnico.

I wish there ere 5 string cermaic Pickups available.

A 5 string version of the Dimarzio model J would be killer.

 

[kodiakblair]

I wish there ere 5 string cermaic Pickups available.

Oh they are out there in the affordable range Tony, just not so common.

Artec have a couple.
JOC 5 - 80/95. Those have big ugly MM style pole pieces. 80 = 8mm slugs, 95 = 9.5mm slugs. 6.5k/6.9k and 6.3k/6.3k.
JDC 5. A closed shell with a bar magnet. 7.2k/7.2k.
Choice of black, white, ivory shells

Despite the man sadly passing away earlier this year, Alan Entwistle pickups are still operating.
Just the one product, JBX-5. Black shell. Screw pole pieces. 6k/6.3k.

Donlis have the DJ504. It's a single blade. 7.6k

Roswell have a few.
JB59. Closed shells. 7k/7.3k
JM5. Big MM slugs. 5.25k/5.35k
JHR5 Those are rail humbuckers. 6.64k/6.76k
JBCR. Wound to 9k/9.4k. Those use C-8 magnets like the old Peavey 'Super Ferrite'.

Warman Guitars have the J Bass Stealth.
Concealed rail. Black shell. 9.5k/10.22k.
Wonder of wonders, Josi is one of the few who list the inductance
5H for the neck, 6.1H for the bridge.

Lastly there's Trev Wilkinson.
M- Series WOJB5. 9.4k/10.4k.
No uniform magnets with these. Trev's ""Vari-gauss"™ Technology" is a fancy term for weaker strings get boosted by having thicker magnets below the pole pieces

 

[climber]

Photos have nothing to do with sound…

 

[dfp]

I’ve owned at least 3 different Affinity J V’s so I’m pretty familiar with their stock ceramic magnet pickups and the shortcomings of the tones they inherently possess. Likewise, I am also of the opinion that every Alnico V jazz type pickup I have tried sounded head and shoulders better than the stock Affinity ceramic magnet pickups. This includes multiple generic Chinese eBay 30$ish dollar Alnico V sets, four string and five string. Always sounded a lot better than the Affinity stock, always sounded pretty much like a classic J bass pickup. It’s not magic, it’s just the correct materials made to reasonably predictable, known specifications.

I’ll add, I put Seymour Duncan Apollos in an Affinity V, after first trying the generic ebay Alnicos, and while the Apollos were a good sounding pickup, and yes noise canceling, they did not truly nail the classic chiming top end of a single coil Alnico V j pickup. For me, I was happiest with the tone of the generic Alnico V pickups. YMMV!