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Another "which pickups should I get?" thread

bassnyc1

bassnyc1

Jun 3, 2006
1,624
1,396
A native New Yorker living in Japan!
#1
IMG_2765.jpg
Hi everyone,
(Get yer popcorn, this is long...)
Yes, in the 10+ years I've been a talkbass member, I've read all the stickies, done lots of searches and read numerous threads. So many times, I've learned things and been steered in directions that helped me make purchases I otherwise wouldn't have made or even known about. Unfortunately, that isn't the case for my Jazz bass.
It's a Fender Japan JB-75 Jazz Bass. It's a model that sells only in Japan and the retail is around US$1,200
It was an engagement present from my (now) wife in 2003. Of course I knew how respected the CIJ Fenders were/are and this one doesn't disappoint. It also was marketed with decals on the pickguard that said it had "U.S. pickups"
Which U.S. pickups? I have no idea.
Bottom line, it's built like a tank (and heavy!) but the hardware and electronics were second rate. That's why over the years I've done the following mods:

-3 Hipshot tuners
-Hipshot D-tuner
-New Bone nut
-Back of the neck sanded down
-Dunlop dual design straplocks
-New pickguard screws
-BadAss II bridge
-CTS pots, including a push-pull pot for series/parallel
-047 Orange capacitor
-Switchcraft jack
-New Wire
-New knobs
-Full cavity shielding

So, the only thing I haven't done was change the pickups. This should have been the first thing, right? Well, I think it's because I can't decide. There are too many great products out there and like many, a person with limited funds can't make mistakes. I know it's hard to get it right the first time so that's why I'm asking you, the TB community.

The bass: ash/maple. It's supposed to be a 70's reissue but it has '60's pickup spacing(???)
Sound I'm looking for: powerful, hit your head with an sledgehammer with lots of mids. No scoop.

Before I say brands I have considered in the past, I'll wait and see what you suggest.
Thank you for reading my long post. I look forward to replies.
 
Last edited:
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#2
bassnyc1 said:
View attachment 963855 Hi everyone,
(Get yer popcorn, this is long...)
Yes, in the 10+ years I've been a talkbass member, I've read all the stickies, done lots of searches and read numerous threads. So many times, I've learned things and been steered in directions that helped me make purchases I otherwise wouldn't have made or even known about. Unfortunately, that isn't the case for my Jazz bass.
It's a Fender Japan JB-75 Jazz Bass. It's a model that sells only in Japan and the retail is around US$1,200
It was an engagement present from my (now) wife in 2003. Of course I knew how respected the CIJ Fenders were/are and this one doesn't disappoint. It also was marketed with decals on the pickguard that said it had "U.S. pickups"
Which U.S. pickups? I have no idea.
Bottom line, it's built like a tank (and heavy!) but the hardware and electronics were second rate. That's why over the years I've done the following mods:

-3 Hipshot tuners
-Hipshot D-tuner
-New Bone nut
-Back of the neck sanded down
-Dunlop dual design straplocks
-New pickguard screws
-BadAss II bridge
-CTS pots, including a push-pull pot for series/parallel
-047 Orange capacitor
-Switchcraft jack
-New Wire
-New knobs
-Full cavity shielding

So, the only thing I haven't done was change the pickups. This should have been the first thing, right? Well, I think it's because I can't decide. There are too many great products out there and like many, a person with limited funds can't make mistakes. I know it's hard to get it right the first time so that's why I'm asking you, the TB community.

The bass: ash/maple. It's supposed tinbenan70's reissue but it has '60's pickup spacing(???)
Sound I'm looking for: powerful, hit your head with an sledgehammer with lots of mids. No scoop.

Before I say brands I have considered in the past, I'll wait and see what you suggest.
Thank you for reading my long post. I look forward to replies.
Click to expand...
I would check the Aguilar or nordstrands
 
#4
A set of Super55's, powerful, not scooped, won't get buried in a mix, they still have a Jazz bass kind of sound, only...no hum. Lot's of growl on my Jazz, with 70's spacing, my guess is similar with 60's spacing. (Model J's are another good choice, they are hum-free too, but have black pole pieces.)
 
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#5
You could also consider the Lace Man O' War, which are true single coils with greatly reduced hum. They have less treble and thicker mids than regular J-bass pickups, with very little scoop, so in a band mix my G&L JB functions almost like a P-bass. For overall use I prefer the Lindy Fralin Split-Jazz in my Fender, but the Laces definitely sound fatter.

Just curious -- you're not getting enough thickness in series mode? I have a Fender with the S-1 switch, and in series mode with the stock pickups it had nice, fat mids and extra thump. If that's not enough, maybe you do want something extra hot like the DiMarzio Model J.
 
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#6
Nedmundo said:
You could also consider the Lace Man O' War, which are true single coils with greatly reduced hum. They have less treble and thicker mids than regular J-bass pickups, with very little scoop, so in a band mix my G&L JB functions almost like a P-bass. For overall use I prefer the Lindy Fralin Split-Jazz in my Fender, but the Laces definitely sound fatter.

Just curious -- you're not getting enough thickness in series mode? I have a Fender with the S-1 switch, and in series mode with the stock pickups it had nice, fat mids and extra thump. If that's not enough, maybe you do want something extra hot like the DiMarzio Model J.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, Man O' War, as long as you like that no pole look, are A+ pickups.
 
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#7
I have these pickups in my basses, all great, depends on sound your looking for.

Delano JC 4 ALJazz Bass Single Coil Series
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The DELANO JC series are retrofit pickups for standard Jazz Bass™ type instruments and can be installed in any kind of bass with similar pickup routings. All JC series four and five string pickups use standard fourstring size shells (covers). Special five string JCs will fit into Fender USA™ five string Jazz Basses™ made after the mid nineties. They are available only upon request. Please inquire.

The JC4 AL (alnico single coil) is our well revised version of the classic JB pickup™ .We examined the best vintage basses from 1960 to 1977 to create a harmonious blend between the woody low mid growl and warm articulate midrange early sixties pickups are famous for with the funky ‘twang’ of some better seventies examples, then we added a slight embellishment to the deep bass and bright harmonics range. The result is a well balanced single coil pickup that delivers everything from the best old school R&B tones to funky spank on steroids. JC4 AL pickups are available in matched pairs or as single units.


Aguilar AG 4-60
IMG_0703.JPG

The Aguilar AG 4 and 5J-60 pickups are designed to have both clarity and warmth and will reproduce all of the dynamics and nuances in your playing.

These pickups are modeled after a set of mid 60’s single-coil Jazz Bass® pickups and use all the period correct parts, including Heavy Formvar wire and Alnico V magnets. Aguilar developed a proprietary winding pattern to give these pickups great string-to-string consistency while sounding full and articulate. The pickups complement any bass and are a great match with Aguilar’s OBP on-board preamps.

Available as a calibrated neck and bridge pickup set, the AG 4 and 5J-60 pickups are direct replacements for Jazz Bass® style basses. The AG CL accepts a narrower, 17.5mm - 18.5mm string spacing.

Sadowsky Single Coil J/J


IMG_0704.JPG


Sadowsky Single Coil J/J pickup set for 4 or 5 string bass. Classic Vintage tone.

Note: Sadowsky J-Bass 5-string pickups are both the same size as a bridge position 4-string pickup. They are intended for 3/4″ (19mm) string spacing at the bridge. They DO NOT fit Fender 5-string basses.

I have these in my 2000 American Deluxe Jazz along with the Sadowsky pre amp I preferred over the Shur pre and stock pups.
 
#10
For a classic jazz sound without the hum - Dimarzio Model J
For a modern jazz sound - Delano humbucking
Smooth jazz sound - Bartolini 9J
Classic single coils - Mojotone
 
#11
Thanks everyone for the replies. Lots of great suggestions.
This bass has a heavy ash body and it's kind of bright sounding and lacks "balls."
It's modeled after a 70's bass but has 60's pickup spacing.
To tell the truth, I've been leaning towards the Dimarzio Model J's but since I'm so vain, I don't like the black pole pieces.
The other brand I've been considering is Aguilar. I have the 70's pickups in my Valenti bass and they're wonderful. I thought about getting the 60's winds for this bass. I'm looking for a more classic sound.
 
#14
Lace Man-O-Wars are great pickups and what I use in mine. They have an aggressive personality but can lean more traditional with a slight adjustment in pickup height.

I had a jazz 'lacking balls' I'd be all over a set of Dimarzio Model J's. If you don't like the dark pole pieces, keep an eye out for an old set of Schaller JBX pickups. Those don't have the dark poles.

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#18
Ugh!!! That sucks - so close yet so far... and the added expense.

Good luck and looking forward to the update.

I recently pulled a what-the-heck with my Jazz and swapped out DiMarzio Ultra J's for their reputedly more mid-forward sounding Area J's. I've been reading comments for a long time about how this set compares with that set or another in the world of Jazz pickups, so I decided to see whether the grass is truly greener.

The rumors have turned out to be rather accurate and I think that the relative clarity of the mids I'm finding with the Area J's is going to be fantastic for another project I'm scheming. I have a fretless graphite neck that I want to put on its own body and I'll probably put these pickups in there, too. The Ultra J's do have a bit of mid-scoop, but I've learned to love their big warm 'n cozy sound for enough years that I'm going to keep them in this bass.

Hopefully your Aguilars give you something close to that sound in your head. Nice that they offer the same look as the pickups you swapped out. I was going to mention that the Area J's also have that look compared with DiMarzio's Model J's (which I haven't sampled as of yet). Can't say just how big and ballsy these Area J's run - I've practiced with them on my own, but haven't used them in a band/gig setting. Despite their look, the Model J's just might be the DiMarzio that would work best for your wants and needs in case you eventually need an affordable alternative.

I doubt you make a bad selection with your new pickups. If I was going to sample a different brand, I think Aguilar would be my first look.
 
#20
invalidprotocol said:
Lace Man-O-Wars are great pickups and what I use in mine. They have an aggressive personality but can lean more traditional with a slight adjustment in pickup height.

I had a jazz 'lacking balls' I'd be all over a set of Dimarzio Model J's. If you don't like the dark pole pieces, keep an eye out for an old set of Schaller JBX pickups. Those don't have the dark poles.
Click to expand...

A wee word of caution, but I've found that older Schallers can become unpleasantly microphonic. I've had a set of PBX and JBX pickups apiece that have been too microphonic to be usable.
 

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