Favorite jazz bass replacement pickups

[funkybass]

Just wondering what everyones favorite jazz replacement pickups are.

 

[Luis Fabara]

In this order:

Aero Js

 

[snyderz]

2 words: Lol Lar

 

[Muaguana]

I've blabbed about this quite a bit around here, but I'll say it again: Tesla VR-B4 in the bridge position, SD SJB-2 Bassline in neck. A dropkick to the face when put in Series mode.

 

[Spaldo]

EMG J pickups are great, though not as throaty as Seymour Duncan SJB-2's.

a local guy, Jim Dyson, makes a really good J replacement

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[Arvin]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I put a set of these in my Ibanez BTB, and after playing them for a year, I'm still blown away by how much they opened up the sound of that bass. Great tone.

 

[bubinga5]

Nordstrand NJse4's

 

[TonyP-]

Nordstrand NJ4s or 5s

 

[TonyP-]

Just wondering what everyones favorite jazz replacement pickups are.

I'm assuming you looked here already.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91384

If not brew up a nice cup of coffee, and curl on up to this thread when you have an about an hour or so.

Its really worth the read (No Joke).

Cheers

 

[Low Sound Love]

I'm on the look for some Jazz pups. I'd like some that emphasis midrange and keep the bottom tight, to accentuate that fretless jazz 'mwah'. Any suggestions?

 

[seungkoo]

custom shop 60's....i love that 60's cycle hum

 

[Fat K]

Lollar and SGD

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Nordstrand NJ4SV.

Then again, the only pickups I've ever put in the Jazz are the stock MIMs and the DiMarzio Ultra J's.

EDIT: I have the Nordy on my fretless. I can post a clip tonight for you, if you'd like.

 

[BassyBill]

I'm on the look for some Jazz pups. I'd like some that emphasis midrange and keep the bottom tight, to accentuate that fretless jazz 'mwah'. Any suggestions?

I have two basses with EMG Js on - one fretted and one fretless. I like 'em on both, but they work particularly well on the fretless for me. Based on your post, these would be my first recommendation as they're really full range and you seem to be describing quite a "modern" sort of sound to me. At least, you will get all the mwah your bass is capable of with these, for sure!

I also really dig the Nordstrands NJ4SEs that I have on one of my other (fretted) basses as they work really well with the J-Retro pre, which makes this bass extremely versatile. But the EMGs do a really good job of the "Jazz on steroids" vibe, imo. Lots of great choices for J pickups out there!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Nordstrand, Fralin, or Lollar.

 

[BassyBill]

My apologies for contributing a post stating some reasons why I like the pickups in question. I now realise this was totally unnecessary, and the most useful responses in the thread simply name brands of pickups without offering any supporting statements at all to make them in any way helpful or informative.

 

[MegaSwing]

I have a custom Jazz with a pair of Rio Grande 'Muy Grande' single-coils in it. It's so live sounding it feels like it wants to jump out of my hands. Pretty damned amazing.

Before I encountered these I used to be partial to DiMarzio Model Js, still not too shabby and a steal for the money.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

My apologies for contributing a post stating some reasons why I like the pickups in question. I now realise this was totally unnecessary, and the most useful responses in the thread simply name brands of pickups without offering any supporting statements at all to make them in any way helpful or informative.

I hate useless adjectives. They do nothing to describe a sound. All pickup responses should look like this:

My pickup sounds like this: clip 1
And this: clip 2


Additionally, for frame of reference:

I like pickups that sound like this: clip 3, clip 4
This pickup is a POS that sounds like this: clip 5[RickRoll]

 

[BassyBill]

I hate "useless" adjectives too. Useful ones are cool, though. They're for describing things. But for some posts in this thread, even a single verb would be nice.

Kidding aside, I totally agree that sound clips can be much more helpful. Here's a clip to explain why I think EMGs give some real mwah (n.) with a fretless (please ignore the buzz - that's my recording setup for this clip, not the pickups).

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[FunkMetalBass]

I hate "useless" adjectives too. Useful ones are cool, though. They're for describing things. But for some posts in this thread, even a single verb would be nice.

Kidding aside, I totally agree that sound clips can be much more helpful. Here's a clip to explain why I think EMGs give some real mwah (n.) with a fretless (please ignore the buzz - that's my recording setup for this clip, not the pickups).

Link Removed

You're right, I'll quote & fix my original post.

I like the Nordstrand NJ4SV pickups. They produce a bit more of the mid and upper midrange.

I did not like the DiMarzio Ultra J's. They have a very apparent mid-scoop that cannot be corrected with EQing.

I did not like the stock ('96) Fender MIM pickups. They had low output and lacked definition in the mid range.

For those who aren't sure...
Useful adjectives and phrases: more low/mid/treble, boost around ##Hz, uniform/even sound, hot....essentially, anything that describes the physical differences in sound output.

Useless adjectives: growl, burp, sparkle, thump, transient....essentially, anything that can be interpreted 48794065152498462 ways and with a lack of formal definition.