Fender 75 RI - lack of dynamics!?!

The MIJ 75RI bass in the body combo you have is basically a 60's jazz bass. The MIJ 75 bass does not have the 70's spacing nor the MIA "vintage 75" pups in them thus the softer sound.

 

I would suggest that the bass should have a proper set up. Once properly set up you will know what you have in your hands and then we can all chime in our thoughts

 

Are you sure it's Alder? When I bought my CIJ '75 a few years ago it allegedly ash, and mine is quite heavy.

 

I've got a '98 model CIJ 75 RI. Ash/Maple. It weighs over 9lbs.
Wasn't particularly happy with the sound for the same reasons as the OP.
Put a set of Nordy NJ4's in and it now sounds unreal. Other than that it's completely stock.

FWII it's very quiet too. The factory wiring is actually quite good with a star ground set up terminating to the bridge volume pot.

 

The CIJ has MIA vintage pups not "Vintage 75" like the MIA 75RI basses! Those pups could be anything!!!

 

yep..you need a MIA RI. They ROCK! check craigslist or ebay. They do pop up from time to time.

 

Well, I have to be completely honest here. I had wanted a 75RI (ash with maple - black pickguard- black binding and fret markers) for a LONG time. Thanks to George Bush, I had enough to put me "over the top".

I have experienced none of those "qualities" that you speak of...now, granted, mine is a MIA model, but I seriously doubt that there would be THAT much of a difference in models (I have a couple of CIJ P basses, as well)

I do not slap. I play straighforward bass lines and it sounds like a million bucks. I WILL say, however, that it took a tad bit of "getting used to". The vintage PUPS seem to be a bit (not much) more middy that the usual Pickups or even say, the 62 RI pups. That MIGHT be me, though.

I would suggest that if you are as much of a fan of the 75 as I am, to try this, switch out the vintage PUPS for, say, a set of noiseless PUPS and see if that doesn't make it sound a little better for you....who knows, might do the trick!

In any event, welcome to the RI club!!

 

its not just you. they sounded more middy to me as well with a slightly muted top end. i finally found the right pickups for that bass with a set of fralins.

 

The MIA 75RI bass does indeed sound a little more middy, This is what makes it a thump and poppers (slappers) dream! The mids help cut through the mix easier with less tone knob fiddling. The way I deal with this is to find the correct strings for this bass. It also matters what amp and cab you come through. With my GK or Markbass heads I lose no top end at all, and as a matter of fact I once blew the bulb in one of my GK cabs with the highs being to rich before I learned how to properly use the tweets!

 

bad ass bridge + J-Retro pre

 

Dynamics can be found in the fingers of the player.
Dynamics = difference between loud and soft. Pickups do not add compression and while you will find variations in wood resonance, dynamics is a function of touch. The more string amplitude, the more voltage induced to the coil, the greater the signal from the pickup.

Perhaps you mean something other than dynamics?

 

Check out the j pickup sticky thread. It's a great source of information.

I put in nordy NJ4's and they sound great. Much more balanced across the tonal range than that the stock pu's and they have allot more punch.

 

I have the pre and it makes a big difference in tonal capability/control

 

Compression is an active process and the bass is passive. Could you please explain how compression is happening?

Perhaps the pickups need to be placed closer to the strings?