Are Fender Noiseless Pickups Under-Rated?

I had an MIM Deluxe Jazz with them. They sounded fine, but the output was far less than any of my other basses. I don't know if it is the pickups that were that weak or the preamp in that bass.

 

I've read some good reviews here on the Fender Super 55s.

 

I use Super 55s and they sound just the same as my Custom Shops, but hotter.

 

They're Fender's version of split-coils in a J format. They make them for Strats too.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-super-55-split-coil-jazz-bass-pickup-set

BTW, I always liked Fender's SCN noiseless J pickups, which perhaps were underrated. I haven't been as impressed with the others, but have yet to try those Super 55's.

 

My MIM jazz V had some flavor of Fender "noiseless" pickups. And they really were noiseless too! Excellent in the low noise department. But aweful in the tone department. I hated those things. Yech! Definitely NOT underrated!

I listened to a bunch of boutiques and it was pretty clear that Nordies were what I really wanted to hear. But $$$. Then someone on TB was saying that Fender SCN pups were virtually as good as nordies at a fraction the cost. So I gave it a try.

That bass just came alive in my hands! Positively LOVE it. Of course Fender seems to have this policy that if they sell something and it's too cool, it MUST be discontinued and SCN pups were no exception. I think I managed to buy just about the last pair still for sale on the planet. I can only hope they never go bad!

 

No, I picked up the bass from a pawn shop for $120 because the guy broke the nut at the G string when he was hanging it on the wall. I bought the bass for the soup purpose of flipping it.

 

I used the "Noiseless" pickups years ago when they first came out. I remember them sounding decent at home but seemed to be so-so in a mix. They didn't sound anything like single coil J pickups either. I definitely liked the SCN or Suhr versions better but they weren't what I was looking for either.

All of that doesn't make them bad pickups but they weren't my cup of tea.

 

I actually like the tone of the noiseless ( 1st gen) in my MIM Jazz De Luxe. These do seem to need an active pre to give decent output but are extremely quiet.

I have the SCNs (2nd gen-Bill Lawrence designed) in a fretless jazz. (Passive ) and love them.

Haven 't checked out the N3 s at all, so no opinion.

 

I really liked the SCN's, hated the Suhr designed pup. I was told that the MIM noiseless were actually different than the versions used on the US basses. I was also told that the version used for the Custom Classics were different than the US versions and were made specific for the CC's.

 

Yep, I've played several Custom Classics with the Noiseless and they all sounded great.

 

OK, you lost me when you distinguished between "Noiseless" and N3 pickups. Isn't that what the N3s are?

You also mentioned that the noiseless pickups are split-coil. Fender also makes a split-coil J pickup (as was mentioned earlier) called the Super 55. I have three of those in my bass. (Check out my avatar.) I love them! Crystal clear and utterly without noise.

So in one sense, I agree with you that Fender noiseless pickups are great. In another sense, I don't know what you're talking about.

 

I think there pretty anemic(at least the one that came on the jazz deluxe)...the only split single 8 heard from fender worth a **** came on the victor bailey fretted koa top 22 fret jazz. Those things killed with a tad of mid boost...

 

all fender noiseless versions except the old suhrs with the big single polepieces and the new "super 55" are stacks, not split-coils.

for my money most of them are rated about right though i haven't heard the super 55s yet.

 

They are not split coils, they're stacked.

I have tried them in a couple different basses and was never really that happy with them. I found them to have very low output and rather muffled.
I have been very happy with Area J's (split coil) and have them in both of my Jazzes.

 

I couldn't find a better pickup than the SCN for my 03 US Dlx. I tried, believe me, those pickups were great!