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Anemic J vs P

KeithPoker

KeithPoker

Guest
Apr 18, 2011
701
117
Santa Monica Beach, CA
#1
My J just sounds anemic compared to my P. They are both strung up with TIs and have Fralins on them. There aren't many differences besides that my J is MIM and P is MIA. I think it's a combination of bad stock, the fact I'm comparing MIM to MIA, and just the nature of single coil vs split. Can anyone relate? Does anyone think it's more one of the above mentioned more than the other?
 
#3
Try wiring your Jazz pups in series - that'll increase it's output volume, mids, and low end a bit... I own a couple of Jazz basses, and both have series/parallel switches that pretty much live in the series position... A quick and easy way to try series out is to clip off the black wire coming from the neck pup, the white wire from the bridge pup, and splice them together...


- georgestrings
 
#4
^^Here you go^^

The most expensive Jazz Bass will sound anemic compared to the cheapest Precision Bass copy. It's because of the design of the pickups and their placement.
The series/parallel thing is a good place to start.

Also, have you tried simply backing off on the bridge volume? That will help some mids pop out.
 
#6
Thanks, it's kind of a DUH question (isn't a lot on here?) but I am interested in the input and any more is appreciated. Series is a good idea.

Yes I've adjusted pickup volumes as well as EQ. I think a MIA J would cut the difference enough to satisfy me. I've played better Js for sure, this one is just a bit muddy/unfocused and anemic. So maybe I'll call this issue overall MIM including the weak bridge. The rest I'll say is simply single vs split coil.
 
#7
KeithKlaxwell said:
Thanks, it's kind of a DUH question (isn't a lot on here?) but I am interested in the input and any more is appreciated. Series is a good idea.

Yes I've adjusted pickup volumes as well as EQ. I think a MIA J would cut the difference enough to satisfy me. I've played better Js for sure, this one is just a bit muddy/unfocused and anemic. So maybe I'll call this issue overall MIM including the weak bridge. The rest I'll say is simply single vs split coil.
Click to expand...


If your MIM plays well, then an upgrade to the pups and a series/parallel switch is probably all you need to change... IME, the electronics are typicaly the weakest link on the MIMs - the bridge isn't at fault... Depending on what sound your going for, slap in a set of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz or Model J pups, wired in series - and that thing will be thumpin'...


- georgestrings
 
#11
It's also the difference of two pickups picking up string vibrations several inches apart, with all their inherent differences (especially transients) and combined. Even in series it's not the same as a single pickup getting the one location. As a diehard P favorer when I play my J I always use nearly all one pickup or the other, never much of both for that reason.
 

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