• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dimarzio Model J experience anyone?

S

SwpBass

Supporting Member
Dec 25, 2008
36
1
Los Angeles, CA
#1
Hi TBers,
I just got a Fender USA Deluxe Jazz Bass. I was wondering if you all think it would be a good idea to put in Dimarzio Model J's and what differences it would make. I traded a P+J Bass for it, and I really like the sound of P+J. I am looking for a zingy sound that still has supported bottom end. (I like attack in my sound). Are the Model J's the one for me? I like my Model P+J that I have in another bass, do the Model J's sound similar? Is it worth it to route for a P+J setup?
Thanks in advance!
 
#3
I really like Nordstrands. They have 3 different versions of jazz pups and you might want to check out what TB members have to say about them. I have NJ4SE's in my Corvette fretless and NJ4's in my MTD Grendel. These both added zing but kept the bottom. Obviously this is an opinion based on my ears :hmm:
 
#5
Oh yeah, model J's bite alright, they just aren't quite as scooped as most Js. Almost like a PJ sound. They give you the option to wire them in humbucker or single coil mode for a more traditional sound. Definitely big on the huevos.
 
#6
The Model J's sound almost like humbuckers - they're really fat for J pups.

You may want to have series/parallel options for each pickup and in summing both pickups...in which case you could come close to the p/j setup with the neck pickup in series and the bridge in parallel (summed parallel of course)

They're great pickups, especially for the money.

If you want a P/J setup in a j-bass you're gonna have to figure whether or not you want to ever sell that bass.

Personally, I'd sell the bass for a P/J jazz bass if I had a deluxe or just switch to pickups like the ModelJ...swapping out pups is easier and rewarding when they play as well with others as the ModelJs do.

Just remember: ModelJs don't sound like typical J pups.
 
#8
FWIW, J's have MORE bottom end but Ps (split singles) tend to be wired in series which gives more oomph, feeling like there's more bottom while it's more mids and low mids than bottom.

Single coils tend to have a wider frequency range, and thus also have more top end - which is more apparent, and shifts your perception to bite and sparkle.

Since 2 single coils are essentially 1 humbucker, the way they're wired makes a difference in their tone.

If you have split singles, the way you can sum individually can add a lot of control to the party.

For example: if you wanted a more aggressive bridge pickup and a big fat neck, you couldn't really do that with a typical P/J style, but using split singles or stacks can bring that to you, and that's just summing them parallel.

A zingy sound that has a supported bottom end? You can get that with plain old single coils summed parallel.

If you want your J bass to be able to sound more like a P then you can get closer with ModelJ's (or other split singles, stacked hums, 2 coil soapbars, etc)

I think that where you'll most like these pickups is their pole pieces. They individually raise/lower. Very nice added touch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigtone23
#9
I put a model J in the bridge position on my Geddy Lee and didn't really like it all. Went back to the stock pickup. Maybe it would be different if I had replaced both pickups, but I found I lost a lot of girth in the low end, which I thought was strange since it was the bridge pickup. Anyone else ever just put one in?
 
#10
Daveomd said:
They give you the option to wire them in humbucker or single coil mode for a more traditional sound.
Click to expand...

They can't be wired single coil because they are side by side humbuckers -- you would loose half of your stings :) They can be wired series or parallel for each pickup. I think they are impressive when you first hear them, but the sound gets old pretty quickly. I prefer traditional single coil Jazz pickups.
 
#13
king_biscuit said:
They can't be wired single coil because they are side by side humbuckers...They can be wired series or parallel for each pickup.
Click to expand...

We both know what you mean, but side by side would be traditional humbuckers and these are split singles like a P bass or other 'hum cancelling' single coils.

they only lose their cool factor if you get them for one 'thing'...otherwise they're great fat sounding split singles with individually adjustable pole pieces that come in black or cream coloured covers.

Even individually summed Parallel these pickups sound fatter/mid-rich. Not exactly what people expect from J pups.

I like traditional style single coils too, but wish I could get these in a 5 string model. The UltraJazz is not a 5 string ModelJ.
 
#16
I like the model Js, I was after a fatter sound after all so it was OK with me, mine is all maple jazz so I guess its a good compromise.
As said they can be wired in two different ways. One thing to keep in mind is they are a bit taller than normal single coils. Dimarzio recommends 500k pots and .022 cap

Just realized this is a really old topic. Anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chechunka and PawleeP
#18
I have played Model J's on and off since they were a new pickup with a "PAF" sticker on the bottom. Growl. These are not your pretty boutique esoteric J pickups. They drive. They rock. Low mid grunt. A little rolled off the top. I like them with a .033 tone capacitor instead of the .047 to get more grind. Being end-to-end or split-coil (whatever you call them) humbuckers, no noise. Back them off for a nice round tone. I use the 250 pots to keep the top end tamed, but at the same time they don't go dark unless you use a .068 tone capacitor and roll it off to dub.
 
  • Like
Reactions: chechunka and rojo412
#19
When I bought a set of Model J's a million years ago, they didn't even mention about changing pot values and I never did. Many here say that using 250 K pots really brightens the sound and you can always turn the tone control down. I find that with 250K pots, I use nearly the same treble EQ with a stock P or J. I don't want one bass to be much brighter than the others.

Here's a loaded question. What pups have you used that had the beef and overall tone of Model J's, but were a different brand? I've not been all that happy with the pups in my G&L and miss the tone of my old Jazz with these.
What I don't miss is the weight and ski jumped neck on the Fender and the G&L is 7.75 lbs.

Have two basses with the exact same aftermarket pups, or one slightly different?
 
  • Like
Reactions: chechunka
#20
Jim C said:
When I bought a set of Model J's a million years ago, they didn't even mention about changing pot values and I never did. Many here say that using 250 K pots really brightens the sound and you can always turn the tone control down. I find that with 250K pots, I use nearly the same treble EQ with a stock P or J. I don't want one bass to be much brighter than the others.

Here's a loaded question. What pups have you used that had the beef and overall tone of Model J's, but were a different brand? I've not been all that happy with the pups in my G&L and miss the tone of my old Jazz with these.
What I don't miss is the weight and ski jumped neck on the Fender and the G&L is 7.75 lbs.

Have two basses with the exact same aftermarket pups, or one slightly different?
Click to expand...
That's super helpful. The only one that has come close to me is the SD Hot Stacks (STK-J2).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim C

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back