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Dimarzio pickup club

I used a Split-P on my 5-string, and I can definitely recommend it. Goes deep and loud and very full.

Oh, man that would be awesome!

That makes me think about the ONE purchase I really regret and that was when I was getting my first 5 string. I had the choice between a Spector Rex Brown and a Jackson Concert V. I thought I made the right choice with the Rex Brown (it was shinier...must have distracted me :D), but I could never get it to sound, play, or feel right at all. My biggest issue with it was the pickups--passive EMG soapbars. They turned out not to be my bag in the slightest. Everything else about the instrument taken into account, those pickups were the one thing that really got in the way of me loving it. Anyway, the Jackson had a P/J setup. A 5 string P/J Jackson...that's a 5 string I might actually play! I would have loved to have gotten it and eventually, I would have replaced the pickups with a Split P and Ultra Jazz 5.

Still kicking myself for that one. I haven't seen one on eBay for a long time, either. Maybe someday.
 
Yeah, I have yet to find a 5er with a P/J setup that sounds good. So I find a bass I like that plays and feels good, and slip the split-P in there and its heaven.

If you wanted, you could even use a WillPower pickup--the pole pieces are really tightly packed compared to the Model P (think Carvin pickups) and they'd probably cover a P/J five string's string spacing just fine.

Im actually thinking of building a 5er with dual Split-Ps-kinda like an old BC Rich.

Do it. That would rock. I've said it before, but the only thing better than a Precision pickup is two Precision pickups. :)

I really dig BC Rich, especially because of the models with DiMarzios. I played a CS Ironbird once and it blew me away.
 
TBH, I don't remember many of the recordings (this was some time ago as I've bene using Dimarzios for a while) but what I do remember clearly is Slayer, that guy had some FINE BC Rich basses, tracks like Live Undead, Spill the Blood and Seasons in the Abyss.

Its metal so you don't hear prominent bass very much, but there are def. points where you hear the really nice deep grinding sound of bridge and neck Model P's on those early BC Riches I'm sure live recordings from that time would be easier to make it out in the mix, I'll post more tracks if I remember them.
 
TBH, I don't remember many of the recordings (this was some time ago as I've bene using Dimarzios for a while) but what I do remember clearly is Slayer, that guy had some FINE BC Rich basses, tracks like Live Undead, Spill the Blood and Seasons in the Abyss.

Its metal so you don't hear prominent bass very much, but there are def. points where you hear the really nice deep grinding sound of bridge and neck Model P's on those early BC Riches I'm sure live recordings from that time would be easier to make it out in the mix, I'll post more tracks if I remember them.

Mmh, good call. I love Slayer. I finally saw them last summer and it blew me away.
 
Hey all,

I just bought a used 2001 American Deluxe jazz that was modded by the PO - Badass III, Audere pre, Dimarzio J's and a detuner - beautiful instrument.

Anyway, to get the action lowered to where I want it (not excessive) puts the strings too close to the bridge pup (less than 2mm on the E string), and I can't lower the pup any further - it's a 1.1" deep item in a 5/8" deep hole. I'm wondering if I should get the cavity routed a little deeper or is there is a less invasive fix? I would need shielding I suppose, any other knock-on effects to consider? Would it reduce the resale value of the instrument? Am I better off just finding some stock pups, or an aftermarket set with a lower profile?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Hey all,

I just bought a used 2001 American Deluxe jazz that was modded by the PO - Badass III, Audere pre, Dimarzio J's and a detuner - beautiful instrument.

Anyway, to get the action lowered to where I want it (not excessive) puts the strings too close to the bridge pup (less than 2mm on the E string), and I can't lower the pup any further - it's a 1.1" deep item in a 5/8" deep hole. I'm wondering if I should get the cavity routed a little deeper or is there is a less invasive fix? I would need shielding I suppose, any other knock-on effects to consider? Would it reduce the resale value of the instrument? Am I better off just finding some stock pups, or an aftermarket set with a lower profile?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Are the pickups in your bass Model J or Ultra Jazz pickups?

Model Js have adjustible pole pieces. Find the right size allen wrench and adjust the pole pieces until they're at the proper height. You can screw them a reasonable distance into the pickup, as long as you don't mind the idea of the pole pieces being at different heights and some of them screwed into the pickup. If you have a set of allen wrenches handy, that should take all of about 5 seconds.

However, if you have Ultra Jazz pickups or if you don't want the pole pieces to be sunk under the covers, then you would have to make the cavity deeper. Whether or not that would be worth it as opposed to just getting new pickups is up to you. Is the sound worth the effort? If you wanted, you might be able to get away with deepening the cavities with chisels and a Dremel, but when it comes to woodworking, I'm a total hack (just like I am at everything else), so you might want to get a second opinion on what to do if you don't have Model Js (with the adjustable pole pieces).
 
but I didn't realize I could screw the pole pieces into the PUP - I thought flush to the surface was as far as I could go. I wonder how deep I can go? I figure I need another 3 or 4 mm, more if I put in some foam to keep the pup off the ground screw at the cavity bottom.

The sound is worth any reasonable effort, but there are those who would argue I should just screw the poles as deep as possible, raise the action as much as possible and be happy. That's pretty much what the PO had done, and it did sound great, but had ridiculously high action.

I have a router and some woodworking skills, but it's hard to make that first cut in such a fine piece of wood! If I go that route (pardon pun) I'll probably get a local shop to do it, I know a dude who does great work.

thanks for the reply!
 
but I didn't realize I could screw the pole pieces into the PUP - I thought flush to the surface was as far as I could go. I wonder how deep I can go? I figure I need another 3 or 4 mm, more if I put in some foam to keep the pup off the ground screw at the cavity bottom.

The sound is worth any reasonable effort, but there are those who would argue I should just screw the poles as deep as possible, raise the action as much as possible and be happy. That's pretty much what the PO had done, and it did sound great, but had ridiculously high action.

I have a router and some woodworking skills, but it's hard to make that first cut in such a fine piece of wood! If I go that route (pardon pun) I'll probably get a local shop to do it, I know a dude who does great work.

thanks for the reply!

I tried it out really quick on the E string pole pieces last night before I posted on my Ibanez Roadster and I could screw them at least that far down. Try it out for yourself on your pickup and see if it helps. The worst that could happen is that you find that you can't screw them in deep enough, but I don't think that'll be a problem.

It goes to show how versatile DiMarzios are. Gotta dig 'em. :cool:

You could also make a shallow wedge for the neck and get your action that way. and still have plenty of clearance on the p'up. And completely un-invasive and un-doable.

That, too. As long as the bridge's saddles can raise up however much you shim the neck, you should be golden and not have to cut in to your beloved instrument.