Dimarzio Area J vs regular single coils

The Dimarzio Area Js are nice sounding pickups, but like most hum canceling pickups, they loose a little bit of that “edge” that true single coils have. If hum canceling isn’t a priority, then I think the Pure Vintage ‘74 or AVRI ‘75 pickups will give you the more aggressive ‘70s tone you’re looking for. However, the Custom Shop ‘60s are wound a little hotter and are in the same ballpark as the ‘74 and ‘75 pickups. So, it looks like you have narrowed things down to three pretty good choices. When I make decisions like this, I usually start with the least expensive option. That way, when I change my mind later, I take less of a hit.

 

The Area Js are very good, indeed a bit on the vintage, transparent, gentle side. However, they did solve (because of active electronics in my jazz-type bass) a specific problem for me in that they are dead silent (hum definitely got in the way when turning the highs with single coils ).

 

Area J's are great. As reported above, a little soft on the transients, I suspect because of Alnico II magnet. I just hooked mine to a Audere preamp to see if that adds a little edge. I did that with my Nordstrand Big Splits for a similar complaint and having the EQ and the Z-mode really brought out the flavor of the pickups.

 

Where the hell are you getting a set for 80?? May i have a link please

 

I also tried the Area J's in my passive parts-Jazz. I swapped them in to compare them with a set of DiMarzio Ultra J's that were in that bass for several years. I knew after about only 10-15 minutes that I really preferred the Ultra J's in that bass, but that was probably because I've become so used to them.

I also got the impression that the Area J's would make for a happy package if paired with an on-board preamp. I tried that recently when I found an affordable Bacchus WL-434, which came with a B/T preamp. With the Area J's swapped in, that bass made some very good sounds.

I don't have a ton of experience with other J pickups, but wanted to offer this go 'round in case it's useful.

 

Correct - some knock the Ultra J's for delivering an inherently scooped tone, but the lows and highs are such that they seem to be a slapper's dream come true when both pickups are turned full up. I think that tone is really nice - I don't slap much, but I love having it if I want it. But these also give me other sounds that I really love.

One setting is with the neck pickup solo'ed - not as Spanky McSlappy, but more "honk" that can cut through a little more with the band. Not saying the neck pickup solo'ed sounds like a P-bass, but it's more in that direction. I never used to play it like this, but once I started using it I really got to like it. When I need to get a more "poppy" sound even when not slapping, I can just turn up the bridge pickup... and maybe step on my Q-Tron.

Then there's the bridge pickup full up and the neck pickup dialed back just to the point that a little more of that nasally tone starts to come out. Also wonderful. I might give my lows a little bump on the eq at my head, but nothing drastic.

I'm sure that I'll sample a set of Model J's when another oddball J-bass comes into my life. Actually I have a great fretless neck neck that needs a pocket and some pickups to spread the news. That might be ticket...

 

If you want a more raw, edgy tone and want to stay noiseless, IMO Lindy Fralin’s Split-Jazz is the way to go. I’ve had the Fralins in my Fender since 2005, and for awhile I also had a set of Area J in my G&L JB. I liked the Areas, but the Fralins have more character IMO. They really rip at high volume and come very close to true single coil tone.

 

I put the Area J into my Squier VM77J yesterday, compare to stock pickups ( with same EB cobalt Flatwound ), the Area J are notible less output, tone are clean and sweet. Ofcause, hum-free ！！！！

 

For my Washburn Taurus, after some a/b audio comparisons, I ended up choosing the Model Js, and where Area J pickups are polite (and slap-friendly with their contour), Model J ones are rude and ungainly and not pickups you can take on a date. In-your-face mean jazz bass tone, and DiMarzio's hum cancelling technique is impressive.

With the Area Js, a certain balance and the right mid boost ought to make em pretty durn rude, too, but if you're thinking of switching them, I know what I'd recommend.

 

Take the Area J out and reinstalled the stock VM77J pickups.....
No problem with Area J, she sound pretty sweet, but..... I still prefer the growl from stock pup.

 

it's worth trying the area Js with 500k pots, that'll bring up any missing attack or growl. you'll want to use linear volumes or they'll drop off too fast from "10".

 

I like the Area J's and agree that they have a polite tone when compared to single coils. Over the years, I've really liked the tone of the Fender Super 55's if I needed hum-cancelling pickups. I felt they had a similar profile to the Area J's with a bit more highs and a little more aggressive in the bridge. Unfortunately, for me, Fender stopped making them.