hey all... I just got an email back from EMG. I was asking what they had available for a 5-string Jazz pickup, to put in my '99 Thumb NT. ... He said they don't make one, that the owner doesn't want to...??? ***? Anybody else been able to get a replacement EMG set for a 5-string? How bout this - is there anyone out there who's replaced the pickups in their Thumb with either EMG, Bartolini, or DiMarzio, and kept the stock MEC preamp? Good/bad/ugly? Thanks a bunch, me fellows. Keep it solid.
Not absolutly certain since it dosen't give the measurements but these might work... http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Bass&categoryid=30&catalogid=128 "EMG-J Set 3.0 The J 3.0 is a Jazz Bass Set with extended Magnets for non standard (wide) string widths that might show up on a 4 string, but also on 5 string basses.
Yup, I replaced my pickups in a Thumb 5 NT with EMG's. You need to get two of the EMG LJ pickups (both are bridge length 3.75") I tried EMG's, Barts, SD's, DiMarzios and the EMG's were the ones best suited to the Thumb imo. I don't have the bass anymore, and am selling the EMG LJ set I have in classifieds (shameless plug).
I put some of these in a Warmoth Jazz Deluxe 5 several years ago. They worked great. Very even sound across all strings.
Years ago I had a Carruther's 5 string with JJ EMGs. Now this five string had wide spacing like 4 string spacing. The original EMGs didn't have a wide enough field and, as a result, the B and G strings were a little low in output. John Carruthers eventually got some newer EMG JJs with a wider field (same physical size though) and they worked perfectly. I don't know what model they were, but if they worked on this five string, with this wide spacing, they'll work on any 5. I know I've seen beautique 5 and 6 string Jazz style basses with EMGs. Where are those pups coming from?
Bottom line, it's false. As I stated in an earlier post: John Carruthers put EMG Js in one of his 5 strings I used to own. His 5 string spacing is wide (at least 19 or 20mm) and the first set he had installed had a field that wasn't quite wide enough. He got a new set from EMG that worked perfectly (same size/no new routing) despite his unusually wide 5 string spacing. This was about 10 years ago already. I'd be surprised if they didn't still make them.
The current EMG J pickups are a single bar, so the string spacing is pretty irrelevant as long as all your strings fit within the field of the pickup - I used them on a 17mm spaced Thumb 5 last year with no problem. The main issue is your pickup routes, there being no standard for 5 string J pickups. But I used two LJ pickups with NO problems, and this is the solution EMG themselves recommended.
I have a 5 string with jazz style EMJ pickups. The bass originally came with some EMJ "select" Jazz style pickups. It was all passive at first. I had it reworked and rewired to get an active pre and had some EMJ "jazz" style pickups installed I do not recall the type or model no. I'll post some pics when I get home....
The PJ EMG setup I had in one of my Fodera five strings had the pickups in soapbar cases. This was the only way to get a wide spacing for those pickups I was told.
According to their website they do: http://emgpickups.com/displayproducts.asp?section=Bass&categoryid=23&catalogid=108 On another note, the emg website has now been updated with their new passive pickups: Ps, J's, P/J's
