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aggie or model j?
- Thread starter tcald2004
- Start date
The downside of the Model Js is the lack of high end (which may not be a big deal for your based on the adjectives you're looking for). To me, with the Model J bridge pickup soloed, it still sounds like a Jazz bass, but with more low end and less high end, and plenty of midrange. With the Model J neck pickup soloed, to my ears, the bass no longer sounds like a Jazz bass. It's a bit too boomy and muffled. Right now, I've got the model J in the bridge, and an Area J in the neck position. It's a nice combination. The Area J sounds great — a bit fuller than the original pickup, but with nearly all the high end of the original, and one of the lack of definition of the Model J. Despite the fact that it's a humbucker, it sounds really close to a single coil.
I'll probably try an Area J in the bridge (because I wouldn't mind just a little more high end), but the Model J really does sound great (and the other bonus is that the Area J and Model J are totally silent).
I'll probably try an Area J in the bridge (because I wouldn't mind just a little more high end), but the Model J really does sound great (and the other bonus is that the Area J and Model J are totally silent).
hey jonathan,
curious, have you tried nordstrand nj4sv's? i think they're similar to area j's in that they're also buckers but supposed to be single coil like...
thanks,
tony
curious, have you tried nordstrand nj4sv's? i think they're similar to area j's in that they're also buckers but supposed to be single coil like...
thanks,
tony
thanks, guys! looks like model j will be goid for me. im looking for p qualities in a j, so this sounds like my best bet. though ive heard villex clips that were nice. :0)
Hey Tony,
NJSV4s are actually the only other pickup I've tried. I have them in my fretless Jazz bass. Unfortuantely, i never tried them in my fretted Jazz, so I can't make a direct comparison (although both basses are American Standard models with rosewood fingerboards, and D'Addario Chromes). But the Nordstrands probably fall somewhere in between the Model Js and the Area Js. The bridge pickup sounds very Jazz bass-ish. The neck pickup sounds a lot woodier. It reminds of the tone Percy Jones got on the stuff he did with Brian Eno. One thing I don't like about them is that they seem to be more microphonic. If I'm playing directly over a pickup and hit the cover, it's more obvious than on other pickups.
Even though I only have an Area J neck pickup in my fretted bass, I think the Area Js come closer to a single coil sound than the Nordstrand.
NJSV4s are actually the only other pickup I've tried. I have them in my fretless Jazz bass. Unfortuantely, i never tried them in my fretted Jazz, so I can't make a direct comparison (although both basses are American Standard models with rosewood fingerboards, and D'Addario Chromes). But the Nordstrands probably fall somewhere in between the Model Js and the Area Js. The bridge pickup sounds very Jazz bass-ish. The neck pickup sounds a lot woodier. It reminds of the tone Percy Jones got on the stuff he did with Brian Eno. One thing I don't like about them is that they seem to be more microphonic. If I'm playing directly over a pickup and hit the cover, it's more obvious than on other pickups.
Even though I only have an Area J neck pickup in my fretted bass, I think the Area Js come closer to a single coil sound than the Nordstrand.
