I’ve played primarily P basses since 2007, and for a solid 22 years before that played a Peavey Patriot and nothing but.
I’ve owned a few Jazzes since 2007 also, primarily higher end Squiers and a few MIM Standards here and there. None of them really stuck, but I do continue to have a CV60s fretless.
I recently decided it’s time to get a decent Jazz bass, so I went around to several stores a few weeks ago, tried the new Standard, the Player II, Vintera II, and the American Professional II. I found it interesting that the Player II had - in my opinion - the best tone of the bunch, possibly equaled by the Vintera II. I much preferred the playability of the Player II, as well as the difference in price.
I ordered online from the same store chain a Player II in the limited edition 3TS sparkle finish. It was expected to take two weeks to come in.
In the meantime, I also discovered a used American Professional (2018) in a finish I have long adored from afar - natural ash. I bought it, from the same store chain, it was delivered to my house much more quickly than the Player II was taking to do a store to store transfer. I figured I could just return whichever one I liked the least.
The Pro looks amazing. The pickups are ok - no complaints really, pretty standard Jazz bass tones, but nothing to fall in love with.
The Player II however - now that it’s here in my house, I still love the tone I’m getting from these pickups. Warm and punchy at the same time.
I’m kinda thinking I have to keep both now.
Not knowing much about Jazz pickups generally speaking, I’m considering replacing the Pro VMod pickups.
Can you talk me out of doing that?
If not, can you recommend a set that isn’t gonna break the bank but can give me anything from JPJ’s Zeppelin II tone to Geddy Lee? I like a punchy tone, not looking for a lot of highs, but decent lows - except for when I want to play Rush, in which case I want access to high mids.
Opinions on the Player II pickups? I haven’t played this bass with the band yet, so I may be using rose coloured IEMs. Based on my historical experience with MIM Standards, I wasn’t expecting to like these pickups, and certainly not more than stock MIA Fender pickups. The neck is really nice, and the finish is unique, but it’s really the pickups that are selling this for me, but you know how you can sometimes be very attracted to the wrong person for the wrong reasons? I worry that’s the case here, so would like either some validation of my opinion or for some folks to challenge it and give me a shake.
Opinions on the VMod Jazz pickups? I’m pretty familiar with the VMod P set, and in my two 2017 Pro P basses I replaced the pickups almost immediately, but what’s good for a P is not consistent with what’s good for a J (looking at you, S-1 switch and Greasebucket circuit). Should I maybe give them some time and experiment more? I just received it four days ago, and played it with the band once in that time. The bass is beautiful, playability is excellent, and I’d like to keep it.
Yeah, I’ve used search, and there’s a J pickup megathread. Anyone with any experience with databases and SQL queries understands my frustration with combing through that…
*Basically, my palette for Jazz pickups is not very refined, and I’m looking for some help in that area. I don’t slap, I play primarily finger style, occasionally with a pick.
American Professional
Player II (not mine, image stolen from Reddit, but mine is identical and this is a good photo).
I’ve owned a few Jazzes since 2007 also, primarily higher end Squiers and a few MIM Standards here and there. None of them really stuck, but I do continue to have a CV60s fretless.
I recently decided it’s time to get a decent Jazz bass, so I went around to several stores a few weeks ago, tried the new Standard, the Player II, Vintera II, and the American Professional II. I found it interesting that the Player II had - in my opinion - the best tone of the bunch, possibly equaled by the Vintera II. I much preferred the playability of the Player II, as well as the difference in price.
I ordered online from the same store chain a Player II in the limited edition 3TS sparkle finish. It was expected to take two weeks to come in.
In the meantime, I also discovered a used American Professional (2018) in a finish I have long adored from afar - natural ash. I bought it, from the same store chain, it was delivered to my house much more quickly than the Player II was taking to do a store to store transfer. I figured I could just return whichever one I liked the least.
The Pro looks amazing. The pickups are ok - no complaints really, pretty standard Jazz bass tones, but nothing to fall in love with.
The Player II however - now that it’s here in my house, I still love the tone I’m getting from these pickups. Warm and punchy at the same time.
I’m kinda thinking I have to keep both now.
Not knowing much about Jazz pickups generally speaking, I’m considering replacing the Pro VMod pickups.
Can you talk me out of doing that?
If not, can you recommend a set that isn’t gonna break the bank but can give me anything from JPJ’s Zeppelin II tone to Geddy Lee? I like a punchy tone, not looking for a lot of highs, but decent lows - except for when I want to play Rush, in which case I want access to high mids.
Opinions on the Player II pickups? I haven’t played this bass with the band yet, so I may be using rose coloured IEMs. Based on my historical experience with MIM Standards, I wasn’t expecting to like these pickups, and certainly not more than stock MIA Fender pickups. The neck is really nice, and the finish is unique, but it’s really the pickups that are selling this for me, but you know how you can sometimes be very attracted to the wrong person for the wrong reasons? I worry that’s the case here, so would like either some validation of my opinion or for some folks to challenge it and give me a shake.
Opinions on the VMod Jazz pickups? I’m pretty familiar with the VMod P set, and in my two 2017 Pro P basses I replaced the pickups almost immediately, but what’s good for a P is not consistent with what’s good for a J (looking at you, S-1 switch and Greasebucket circuit). Should I maybe give them some time and experiment more? I just received it four days ago, and played it with the band once in that time. The bass is beautiful, playability is excellent, and I’d like to keep it.
Yeah, I’ve used search, and there’s a J pickup megathread. Anyone with any experience with databases and SQL queries understands my frustration with combing through that…
*Basically, my palette for Jazz pickups is not very refined, and I’m looking for some help in that area. I don’t slap, I play primarily finger style, occasionally with a pick.
American Professional
Player II (not mine, image stolen from Reddit, but mine is identical and this is a good photo).
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