Dark, Dark Model J's

[betardfoosier]

I installed Model J's in my MIM jazz, first time I used 250k pots, and the tone was far too dark and muddy, even with the tone wide open. Now I have wired in all new components with all CTS 500k pots and a new .047 cap, and although the tone is brighter, when the tone is fully closed (dark), it sounds like I have pillows over my amp. It sounds ok with the tone open, but I miss that moderately dark tone of my stock bass with the tone maxed out. I liked how the MIM pups sounded, but I like the hotter output of these Model Js.
Also, when I dial the tone back from the dark end, it's like on-off about 3 degrees from full dark. There is very little variation, just thick and muddy, then clanky with alot of fret noise. Is this the cap I'm using? I know the bass is wired correctly, I wired it according to Fender's diagrams, and I'm pretty decent at soldering. Thanks!

 

[line6man]

Everything you've described sounds perfectly normal.
When you increase the output impedance, to get the same effect, you have to decrease the capacitance of your low pass filter. Try switching to a 0.033uF or 0.022uF cap.

 

[JimmyM]

They're not the brightest pickups ever made. They're plenty bright for me, but they don't compare to a regular set of Fender pickups. Hotter output doesn't matter if you're not getting the tone you want.

 

[Hawkbone]

I suggest going back to the pups you like and use a transparent pre-amp (like Audere)to get a hotter signal.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Use a .033 tone cap, or maybe even a .02. Also, new pickups require you to adjust your amp. You can't use the same settings. Boost the highs and reduce the upper mids if you need to.

You can also try those pickups wired in parallel. I used to use those years ago and found them to be nice and bright.

 

[betardfoosier]

I will try the cap first, and if it doesn't work, I may go back to the stockers. Now I wired them like the factory jazz pups were, is that series or parallel? Each pup is wired to it's volume pot, and grounded back to that pot.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I will try the cap first, and if it doesn't work, I may go back to the stockers. Now I wired them like the factory jazz pups were, is that series or parallel? Each pup is wired to it's volume pot, and grounded back to that pot.

Those pickups have two coils each, which are wired in series by default. They have four wires; red, black, white and green. Right now the black and white wires are connected together, red it hot and green is ground. To wire them in parallel, wire the red and white to hot, and black and green to ground.

This will give the pickup a brighter tone with less mids.

You can do that to each pickup. Try one first and see what you think. I had series/parallel switches wired up when I used those pickups on my fretless bass.

 

[maturanesa]

Model Js are not hotter than fender stock pups. They read about 6K

 

[betardfoosier]

No hotter than the MIM j's? Hmmm, I may go back to my stockers after all. These just cant seem to give me the smooth sould I like, they are super growly.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Model Js are not hotter than fender stock pups. They read about 6K

DC resistance has nothing to do with output. The Model Js have two coils, and use ceramic magnets. So they have more turns of wire than a stock pickup, and stronger magnets.

As a comparison, the Model P is wound exactly like a stock P, but uses steel poles and ceramic magnets, which give it a hotter output and brighter tone.

 

[JimmyM]

DC resistance has nothing to do with output. The Model Js have two coils, and use ceramic magnets. So they have more turns of wire than a stock pickup, and stronger magnets.

As a comparison, the Model P is wound exactly like a stock P, but uses steel poles and ceramic magnets, which give it a hotter output and brighter tone.

Brighter tone? Hmmm...maybe I'm on drugs or something I always thought they weren't as bright as the regular Fenders. But I must admit to not directly ABing them. Guess I have a project for later tonight.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Brighter tone? Hmmm...maybe I'm on drugs or something I always thought they weren't as bright as the regular Fenders. But I must admit to not directly ABing them. Guess I have a project for later tonight.

That's why a lot of people were putting them in their P basses back then. I had two sets in mine.

"...gives your bass a brilliant sound..."