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Dimarzio Model J

B

BoomingBass

Apr 11, 2010
181
4
#1
Yes, I've searched and heard sound clips.

I want some new pickups for my jazz and I think these would be good. I want some high end response and a lot of that focused sounding burpy midrangey growl. Some people have said that the model J's sound dark and closer to a P which I don't want. But from sound clips it sounds awesome and nothing like a P to me. If they do roll off treble I'll definitely use 500k pots and I'm not sure if I'd do the series/ parallel thing.
 
#2
i dont like them. They are dark sounding and have double coil, so the result is far away from a jazz bass tone, sounds more like dark humbuckers, like a Thunderbird bass or something like that... so they suck for soloing, and you lose some presence in the mix. I prefer single coils for jazz basses
 
#6
The regular Dimarzio J;s have been one of the best selling J pup upgrade pups since the 70's. They have a bit darker tone then std fender j's but also a bit more power and imo just as much treble content available. Its just not accented as much as fender J's. But yes they are great dark J type pups imo. Theyd be among my top picks if I was still playing basses with a J or 2 in them. The area J's will have more treble and little less bass then the their std J's. So they would be a bit more vintage sounding then those.
 
#13
darkstorm said:
Yes it could be done but I think youd like the reverse better. Since your not wanting dark and warm the area J may work better at neck for brighter tone and the reg J at bridge so not to bright a bridge pup. Just a thought.
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Someone on TB has done this -- Model J at bridge, Area J at neck -- and raves about the results for exactly this reason. If you run a search for Area J, you might find it.

I just bought a G&L JB, and am seriously considering the Area J. Initially, I thought I'd do a "hot rod" J with something like Nordstrand NJ4SE or Delanos, but the bass has such a vintage aura that the Area J seems more appropriate.
 
#14
maturanesa said:
i dont like them. They are dark sounding and have double coil, so the result is far away from a jazz bass tone, sounds more like dark humbuckers, like a Thunderbird bass or something like that... so they suck for soloing, and you lose some presence in the mix. I prefer single coils for jazz basses
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They are split coils, not double coils and in this they cancel hum so you can solo the bridge pickup AND string tapes on your bass with little worry of getting much noise.

IIRC they can be wired in series or parallel individually which leaves a lot of options for the initial wiring or custom controls.

As for presence in the mix, their fatter more aggressive tone sits them BETTER in the mix 95% of the time. These pickups play really well with others and I wish they made a 5 string version. The Ultra Jazz isn't the same.

These are still singles but they sound like a cross with humbuckers. Classic '70s passive J tone.

They're the best value on the market until you start thinking you should spend $200 on a set of Pickups.

Of course taste is very subjective, but I think you should try them and if they're not for you then you can certainly know that going forward.

Part of the reason 'P' pickups sound the way they do to you is that the split coil is wired in series and another part is its placement. Your Jazz won't sound like a Precision with these pickups and everyone will love to lay back and groove all night with your bass.
 
#15
I want bright hi mid growly and burpy that's sorta vintage sorta modern sound. The description of the Area J's is "warm and clean". I'm just wondering about that.

I also reviewed Ed Friedland's video over the EMG JVX's and I'm thinking that may be a consideration.
 
#16
BigOldHarry said:
In my experience, you really need single coil to get that cool "Burp" (what strat players call the "Quack").

If that's what you really want, look at Nordstrands. I have them in one bass and they "burp" from here to China...
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Did you put in the NJ4's? I ordered a set a put them in my '75 jazz and I gotta say, not what I was hoping for.

They sound nice and full and I could see some people digging them but they don't spit like a good Jazz should IMHO.
 
#17
darkstorm said:
Yes it could be done but I think youd like the reverse better. Since your not wanting dark and warm the area J may work better at neck for brighter tone and the reg J at bridge so not to bright a bridge pup. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I hear what you're saying. That definitely seems like a reasonable suggestion. I was just thinking aloud, since I AM actually wanting a dark, warm lowend :p And my thinking was that with an area j at the bridge, I would have enough higher end being picked up to avoid getting too muddy. I almost never solo my bridge pup, except for when I DO want an almost offensively nasal and trebley sound. Although directly contrary to a proven way of combining the Pups, I think it would be equally interesting to hear/see.
 
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#18
Whatever you do, do NOT wire them in Parallel if you don't want a meaty, mid-range growly tone. To me, I love them and they have excellent presence in that mode, but it might not be to your liking. I like oldschool thump (courtesy of my old 70's 2x15 cab) when I'm playing that bass, but the series wiring will take it down a notch and give it a more distinct, classic J sound.
 
#20
VanillaThundah said:
Whatever you do, do NOT wire them in Parallel if you don't want a meaty, mid-range growly tone. To me, I love them and they have excellent presence in that mode, but it might not be to your liking. I like oldschool thump (courtesy of my old 70's 2x15 cab) when I'm playing that bass, but the series wiring will take it down a notch and give it a more distinct, classic J sound.
Click to expand...

Really? I always thought parallel gave a brighter tone.
 

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