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Fender CS60s vs Duncan SJB1

P

pattyløve

Apr 7, 2009
238
14
34
Sydney, Australia
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Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Ashdown Engineering, D'addario
#1
Does anyone have any experience with both of these pickups? I currently have CS60s in my MIM jazz and theyre great pickups (dark, great low mids, articulated high end, clear). However i find myself missing the clacky and aggressive high-mids that grind and bark that i (personally) associate with a jazz bass. The CS60s have a very present low mid and a shimmery treble but in between, its lacking. This is good in a lot of settings but not fully desirable for a standard rock mix (IMO).

Will the SJB1s do the job for what I'm after? I've read MANY threads on here about both pickups and from what Ive gathered, the duncans have the high-mid snap im after but are also apparently less bright than the CS60s. I want to keep the vintage vibe of the CS60 but less dark and with a touch more clack.

I guess another similar question I have is, will there be enough of a difference between the two pickups? The last thing I want is to buy a new set just to find that they have almost the same voicing or worse yet, find myself missing the CS60s. I know I have read that these two are very comparable pickups.

Thanks in advance!
 
#3
Thanks for the speedy reply! Good to know you agree with my description and that you think the SJB1 will add the high mid.

Did you find it still had some good 'body' to it? The CS60s have good growl and big low end to them, I don't want to be missing those qualities if i change haha.

Also, can the agression of the duncans be tamed as well? (softer touch, tone knob down etc)
 
#7
pattyløve;14371503 said:
Yeah i guess youre right, its just that low mids hump that tends to muddy things up. Thanks again :)

Im now interested to see what other people think, if they had similar experiences or any testimonials on the sjb1?

Also RockBobby, I use roundwounds
Click to expand...

I think the right combination of pups, strings, even bridge can make all the diff. (not to mention neck/wood/amp/cab)

For instance, I have particularly noticed the nice growly sound Mike Lull jazz basses get.
 
#9
pattyløve said:
Yeah i guess youre right, its just that low mids hump that tends to muddy things up. Thanks again :)

Im now interested to see what other people think, if they had similar experiences or any testimonials on the sjb1?

Also RockBobby, I use roundwounds
Click to expand...

The low mid hump is actually what allows one to hear themselves better in a mix when the tone knob is rolled off. I make great use of it and actually prefer it to a dimed tone pot.
 
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#10
Also keep in mind that the Fender CS60's are NOT the same as the 62RI/Original. The CS is wound slightly hotter at around 12k, while the 62 tends to be around 10.5k. The 62's have a much more raw high mid presence and some hair to the low end. They are awesome pups for the price. The CS tend to focus on the low-mid (like a Fralin, but minus the rich highs/hi mids) and have some thick bottom, but aren't quite as aggressive.
 
#11
I bought a used Mexican 60's jazz bass. I believe it has the CS60's pickups. I'd agree with what's been said about them totally but add that to have removable covers and are unpotted so are fragile. When I bought the bass one pickup wasn't working because the thin pickup wire was broken where it is soldered to the bobbin. I managed to fix it by some miracle but don't trust it will last. My advice is don't buy CS60's
 

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