Fender Jazz SCN V pickups - fine as passive with 250k pots??

[CPplaysBASS]

Hoping someone out there has actually used the SCN Jazz pickups passively with standard 250k pots.

I have searched high and low for information here and elsewhere and while they are lovers and haters of this pickup, it's hard to figure out why since many of the commenters don't say how they are using them (e.g pots, specific bass, type of music, whether they used live and heard in an actual band mix, etc.).

Compared to stock MIM Jazz V pickups, will the output volume be lower with the SCNs if I use the stock 250k passive pots?

I understand they are standard in the active Deluxe basses, but I've read some players are very happy using them in passive mode. I like the description of their character (bright and clear) ... but some postings indicate they work better with 500k pots since the SCN are stacked and humbucking (also not sure SCNs are stacked ... noiseless I know).

Anyway, I expect replies that say "buy Fralins instead" or "buy Bartolinis instead" ... but we're talking about a 5-string MIM Jazz that sees limited use, and while I feel a pu replacement is necessary, I do not need anything premium priced.

The SCN V pickup ratings are:
Bridge pickup: 14K DC resistance; 4.4 Henries inductance
Neck pickup: 13.3K DC resistance; 4.3 Henries inductance

I am also consider the Seymour Duncan passive SJ5 67/70 set.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[kevin_lindsay]

They are good pickups, but they lose some of the top end and high mid range bite you get for standard single coil pickups. I had a set on one of my jazz basses and really hated them - after only a week I changed them for a set of Nordstrand units.

The difference was like night and day. the new units sounded like someone had removed a cover from my speaker cabs.

I guess it all depends upon what you are looking for sound wise? If your after a dubbier sound, that is, without the high end "snap" you get from single coils, then the SCN units might be just the thing for you?

Hope it all works out how you want it to mate!

 

[Nedmundo]

Fender released a special edition Hot Rod Jazz in 2008 that was passive and had the SCN pickups, and I know some on TB have these. Only question is which pots Fender used and would recommend. I've had good luck contacting Fender customer support, so give it a try if you can't get a conclusive response here.

 

[CPplaysBASS]

Thanks Kevin!

In reading the "marketing copy" on the Fender site, it seems that they would be what you'd get from the American series pickups and so much more ...

But I do seem to be mostly reading people having the same experience you have had.

I'm really just looking for the sound that Jazzes are famous for in a classic rock context, and thought the SCN may do that, plus be noiseless.

Sounds like I'd be regretting the purchase soon after, so I'll likely go the Duncan route for now (given the relatively lower price).


Cheers!

 

[CPplaysBASS]

Fender released a special edition Hot Rod Jazz in 2008 that was passive and had the SCN pickups, and I know some on TB have these. Only question is which pots Fender used and would recommend. I've had good luck contacting Fender customer support, so give it a try if you can't get a conclusive response here.

Thanks Nedmundo ... yeah I just assumed my email to Fender would go unanswered, but I won't know if I don't try! I've just come to trust the TB forums more so than any company (regardless of how much I personally love Fender basses)!

Cheers!

 

[kevin_lindsay]

It was the Hot Rod Jazz I had the SCN's in myself. Lovely looking instrument, but for me personally the pickups were the weakest point. I guess for me I was after a ready reference point in that I expected the bass to have that classic Fender Jazz sound as soon as I plugged in. Unfortunately it didn't!

Replacing the pickups was the simplest way to remedy this, and was relatively inexpensive.