What's the most ideal jazz pickups for playing stoner/doom metal? Yes, jazz bass pickups. Not P bass pickups.
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Best Jazz pickups for stoner/doom metal?
- Thread starter Danny McGinn
- Start date
A Dimarzio Model J pair can do a nice grind, has plenty of output, and isn't too $$$.
What other gear are you using? If you're running pedals to get overdrive / fuzz, you may have more options than if you are looking for a pickup with enough output to drive your amp into meltdown.
What other gear are you using? If you're running pedals to get overdrive / fuzz, you may have more options than if you are looking for a pickup with enough output to drive your amp into meltdown.
I've been wanting to upgrade my pickups and stoner metal is in my blood. I actually just play through a bass overdrive pedal and switch between a big muff and a blues driver on top of that.
Sure, why not? I use daddario strings. I have a couple p/pj basses, but I love my jazz and want to do something I love with it.
I wanna put a bridge cover on mine but I do my setups too frequently. It would be annoying to take on and off.
I'm interested in what model jazz and amp/rig and tuning you are using? I have played detuned "Stoney/sludgy" rock, progressive metal and everything in between on a bone stock AS Jazz Bass...it sounded awesome in any context.
My point: I bet you can get what you are looking for with some pedal and amp knob tweaking.
Kudos for rocking the Jazz...IMHO, Leo's most versatile bass.
My point: I bet you can get what you are looking for with some pedal and amp knob tweaking.
Kudos for rocking the Jazz...IMHO, Leo's most versatile bass.
I play a Mexican jazz (I buy sub par basses. It's less stressful that way.
Mexican jazz through a pedalboard with a boss bass overdrive, blues driver, ds1, big muff. And a an Eden 4×10. I'm cycling through different heads. I buy sub par basses because they're less stressful that way. MIM/MIJ Fender, G&L Tributes, Lakland skylines.
Eh, still an annoyance. Plus I kind of belive in not adding aesthetics to an instrument that it didn't come with. Unless different pickguard color or something.
And yes, I played my entire last stoner band with stock pickups in my j bass tuned down to c standard.
I would try a bass specific fuzz or at least a fuzz with a blend knob. Idiotbox blower box is killer for fuzz and Darkglass B3K is cool for svt style dirt/grind.
I learned long ago that cheap effects sound, well cheap...and yes I am talking about Boss, Digitech, EHX. (Just my opinion)
Your MIM jazz is solid...no need to worry about that.
I learned long ago that cheap effects sound, well cheap...and yes I am talking about Boss, Digitech, EHX. (Just my opinion)
Your MIM jazz is solid...no need to worry about that.
- Jan 26, 2014
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- I teach lessons and perform live music in and around San Diego CA. Sometimes I even make money doing it!
I like Dimarzio ultra jazz pickups for pretty much everything. Hint: wire them in series for bigger, fatter output. It essentially turns them into a giant humbucker. I use a series parallel switch myself.
My 2012 stock American standard gets a ton of tone compliments every time we play. Just pick your favorite fuzz pedal and tube amp and your set.
Large pole MEC's Warwick used on the 4-string Corvette they marketed specifically for that purpose.
It came out of the box BEAD with an enlarged nut.
...or you could go with EMG's.
It came out of the box BEAD with an enlarged nut.
...or you could go with EMG's.
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vintage vibe - alleva coppolo set - there's a set in the classifieds right now, big, clear, and warm
active flavor - g&l mfd like in the sb-2 and lynx basses - there's a little sizzle if you want it
active flavor - g&l mfd like in the sb-2 and lynx basses - there's a little sizzle if you want it
Seymour Duncan's Steve Bailey active pickups and preamp. Yes, they where design for fretless bass but they can fit for what you want.
Another vote for Dimarzio model J's. The lack of hum will liberate you in terms of gain/overdrive/etc - you'll be able to access more sounds with the hum out of the way. Plus the sledgehammer output level...
My experience with anything tuned below D is to make sure the mids are bumped, or you end up with a boomy mess. It's why Ric 4003's sound so good through driven tube amps. Be careful with 'hot' pickups because they often lose mids and end up scooped (see Duncan Quarter Pounders).
Another option would be to wire your pickups in series, or at least with a series/parallel switch. Bumps mids, adds clarity at lower registers, and sounds great pushing tubes hard. Even if you pay a tech to do it, it should still be way cheaper than new pickups, and will have a greater effect on tone.
All that said, to me, the secret to a satisfying heavy doom tone is power tube distortion. Were it me, I'd ditch those guitar pedals, get a cheap tube amp of some description (Traynor YBA-200 can be fantastic for doom if you figure out the tone stack, and I paid $350 for mine used at a store), and dime the volume knob, adjusting gain to taste. With that much distortion, the finer points of different pickups won't matter much anyway.
Of course, lots of players have figured out great tones with cheapo gear that nobody else wanted (Boss FZ-2 fuzz and Electric Wizard, anyone?), so whatever, just experiment...
Another option would be to wire your pickups in series, or at least with a series/parallel switch. Bumps mids, adds clarity at lower registers, and sounds great pushing tubes hard. Even if you pay a tech to do it, it should still be way cheaper than new pickups, and will have a greater effect on tone.
All that said, to me, the secret to a satisfying heavy doom tone is power tube distortion. Were it me, I'd ditch those guitar pedals, get a cheap tube amp of some description (Traynor YBA-200 can be fantastic for doom if you figure out the tone stack, and I paid $350 for mine used at a store), and dime the volume knob, adjusting gain to taste. With that much distortion, the finer points of different pickups won't matter much anyway.
Of course, lots of players have figured out great tones with cheapo gear that nobody else wanted (Boss FZ-2 fuzz and Electric Wizard, anyone?), so whatever, just experiment...
I completely agree about boss. It's just that I haven't built it up yet. It's funny you mention darkglass. My old drummer was showing me them. They're pretty much perfect but really expensive. I have a big muff bass petal with blend. And yes, I love my mexi fenders. I've got them $200 or less at pawn shops and fixed them up. I prefer a workhorse than American fender status. Mexi fenders and g&l tributes all day.
