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Duncan Designed pickups gone from Squier VM

#43
aparker82 said:
The DD pickups sound lifeless to me and were the only reason I didn't pickup a Jazz VM V, I look forward to playing the Fender designed ones.
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What are you comparing it to? I'm legitimately curious. Admittedly, I haven't ever played the 5-string version, so maybe those are a bust for some reason.

But I haven't seen anything in this price range (or even double this price) that comes with substantially better single-coil J pups.

For instance, I personally own 4 jazz basses with single-coil pups where I haven't yanked the pickups (yet :)):
1) Fender American Special ("Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Single-Coil")
2) Fender Jazz 24 (Seymour Duncan SJB-3 "Quarter-Pound")
3) Fender FSR MIM (standard ceramic single-coil with the newer style raised pole pieces)
4) Squier VM Jazz (Duncan Designed alnico single-coil)

I'd put the DD pickups from the Squier up against any of those stock pups, honestly. They are not high-output like the ceramics or the overwound Duncans, but they sound much more like vintage jazz pups, with great clear jazz tone and good growl from the bridge. If you don't like vintage jazz pickup tone, then you probably wouldn't like the DD's, and should consider getting a bass with dual-coil pickups anyway. :)

Let me also be clear that they're NOT as good as several "upgraded" aftermarket single coil options I've tried, like SD Antiquity II's. But how can you expect them to be that good, when those pickups alone cost more than half of the entire Squier VM jazz!
 
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#47
Troph said:
... But the Duncan Designed jazz pickups are really great pickups for an entry-level bass. They sound amazingly like vintage single-coils, and are far superior to any of the several MIM jazz pups I've experienced.

And I'm not the only one with this opinion... Audere has some graphs buried in that website somewhere that shows frequency response of several varieties of jazz pickups they tested, including several boutique single coils. They also tested a vintage mid-70s US jazz pickup for reference. Of all the pickups they tested, only the Duncan Designed came close to the same frequency response...
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Yep, I saw that the other night when I was looking into an Audere JZ3 preamp for my VM Jazz fretless. They're very close! Either way, I really like these pickups (and they're so dang quiet, too).

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Scroll down to the FAQ, click 'Fender's Single Coil Jazz Pickups Sound Great' and the frequency response graphs are all there. Here's the Squier (dark blue line) compared with an early-70s Jazz pup (light blue), both with the Z-Switch on the middle position. But, of course!, they no doubt 'sound better' in something with a Fender decal.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#48
HI
i found a Squier Vintage Modified Precision Bass with the Duncan Designed PB101 Split Single-Coil a in white at a pawn shop.

they are asking $120 i can get it for $100 or so. it is like new i am going back saturday and check it out closer. just might buy it.

i dont have a p bass. i have not been playing very long and i have a yamaha rbx170 frist bass looking to get something a little batter


Thanks Don
 
#50
Root 5 said:
I don't think you're crazy. When Ed Friedland compared a Squier P to his, if I recall correctly, 60s P - I thought the Squier sounded superior!
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I have a fiesta red 60's P and it came with Fender designed PU's not the DD. But keep in mind the 60's P is the Squire Classic Vibe line not the Vintage Modified but both are very good for the money if you get a good one.
 
#53
Marial said:
The DD pickups on my Squire VM Jazz fretless are pretty good. I'm still swapping them out for SD Antiquity IIs, however.
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Most Jazz pickup enthusiasts on this site whose opinion I respect (Jon Moody, Narud e.g.) recommend those Antiquity IIs. I just ordered a used VM Squier fretless (not too fussy to get pricey pickups for that ancillary bass) but would be VERY dissapounted to get ceramic magnet pups.
 
#54
I haven't played the older basses with DD pickups, but I bought one of the 2014 VM5's with FD pickups. The bass sounded ok passive, but once I dropped a simple, generic 2-band pre into the bass, it's like a I opened the flood-gates of tone across the spectrum (note: I prefer active basses). I can only imagine what it would sound like with a "good" 3-band like an OBP-3 or Audere.
Not only do these FD pickups have a significant amount of clarity and midrange response, but also have a great amount of grit and growl to them. I'm leaving them in the bass for sure.
 
#55
eastcoasteddie said:
I haven't played the older basses with DD pickups, but I bought one of the 2014 VM5's with FD pickups. The bass sounded ok passive, but once I dropped a simple, generic 2-band pre into the bass, it's like a I opened the flood-gates of tone across the spectrum (note: I prefer active basses). I can only imagine what it would sound like with a "good" 3-band like an OBP-3 or Audere.
Not only do these FD pickups have a significant amount of clarity and midrange response, but also have a great amount of grit and growl to them. I'm leaving them in the bass for sure.
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So the FDs have Alnico Magnets?
 
#58
Hank Scorpio said:
I've got a bass with the PJ Duncan designed pups, and one with the new Fender designed PJs. There's definitely a difference, although both are good. I don't think its necessarily a downgrade, more of a different flavour.
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I have pondered this many times over, and have even wondered about the pot circuitry and its effects on tone. On passive instruments, with simple VT configuration it's strange how different one bass can sound from the next with so little difference in the electronics' 'design.' BUT the sonic difference is definitely there. Deus ex machina?
 
#59
Feeling a bit compelled to restart this thread...

Just swapped out an SD SPB-1 PU in my Squier VM P bass for its original Duncan Designed PU...light and day difference. The SPB-1 is polite with a smooth kinda tubular tone and crisp highs, the DD PU?.....HEFT!
Yep, it has balls as we say. Not so much top end as the SPB-1 but is packed with a solid low mid punch which is very satisfying..best part ..it cost me $12.00!
I wont be swapping back.
 

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