Choosing pickups and pre-amp for 5 string Jazz bass... Any advice?

[mellowbassist]

Hey guys,

Here's the scoop. I'm the type of guy that doesn't like to spend thousands on a bass. I have found that I can buy a $300-$400 bass and upgrade pickups, strings and sometimes hardware, I get a great sounding bass for less then $1000 when it's all said and done.

Anyhow, on to my next project... I bought a Squier Deluxe Jazz Bass V Active bass. I'm now looking to upgrade the pickups, pre-amp and strings.

I had mainly 2 options in mind:

Nordstrand Pickups... still deciding between Nj5, Nj5s, Nj5f, and Nj5fs (I loved the sound that I got out of the NP4s when I upgraded the pickups on my Squier Classic Vibe 60's Pbass. I also added some La Bella Flatwounds to it... and now it's perfect... I'm not messing with it anymore

or

Duncan Pickups... I'm still unsure as to whether the Antiquity II's are available for 5 string basses.

I've also considered Bartolini's. Basically I'm open to whatever will give me GREAT sound.

I think it might be best if I tell you what style of music I will mostly be using this bass for so you get an idea as to what you might suggest.

I will mostly be using it for Urban Gospel, Contemporary Worship, some Jazz and some Latin music. Much of the other stuff I will use my P-Bass for. Anyhow guys, please feel free to share your thoughts with me. Much appreciated

 

[LaklandBass]

I have an SX 5 string fretless jazz. I just ordered some barts for it. Ill let ya know once they come in.

 

[gumtown]

Pickups and electronics from the latest American jazz deluxe's are awesum.
The PU's are the Samarium Cobalt noiseless type.
You might be able to find someone here that might be selling them, they are good, so perhaps there might not be some going second hand.

 

[Chasarms]

I just put Nordstrand NJ5FS pickups in my American Standard Jazz fiver. I am pretty happy with the upgrade. They are a very pleasing combination of the old-school jazz tone and a tighter bottom/low mid that is associated with a more modern sound.

They are split coil, so they are VERY quiet. I am happy with the bass as a passive bass, but if I add a preamp I am pretty sure I will either install a Sadowsky or Nordstrand preamp. I have used an Audere in the past. If you like a very transparent preamp, they are very useful as well.

The jazz bass that I own I bought used. The prior owner had installed Bartolini 57 CBJ deep tone PUs in it. They were even more modern sounding and less to my preference, but all in all, they were very high quality. I think the best preamp with Barts is, oddly enough, a Bart. I have owned a few basses with varieties of the NTBT/NTMB, and I was always happy with them.