Fender sound needs a kick up the butt!

[Rockin John]

Here’s my story…

This is my 2004 American Deluxe 5 String Jazz Bass. I bought it new, so have owned it 21 years. It’s a great playing bass but has a pretty awful and weak sound in as much as it doesn’t cut through a mix. Unfortunately I fell out of love with it pretty soon after purchase so have, on a few occasions, decided to part with it. Consequently it’s spent virtually all its life in its case, doing absolutely sweet nothing: I doubt it’s been out more than 20 times in 21 years! However…

… in that time the noiseless pickups (by Bill Lawrence?) and / or the active preamp have come in for criticism, and bassists’ press have had articles where players replaced the pickups.

So, coming forward to last week.

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG. There might be a couple of ‘hand winders’, too. In addition I propose to convert the bass to full passive.

My preferred sound is some growl and drive; the sort of thing a hum bucket might deliver. A “vintage” Jazz Bass, single coil sound is definitely not for me. Admittedly I’m a flatwound sort-a bloke (D’Addario Chromes shown on the pic, but Fender rounds were on originally) but may switch to rounds for this bass.

Guys, wisdom, experience, suggestions ALL very welcome.

Tks for reading…

John.

England.

 

[bucephylus]

For my purposes, those mid 00’s Jazz Deluxe 5’s are perfect; except the Fender preamp. Here is my 07:

ATM, this bass has the Sadowsky onboard preamp and Ulyate single coil pickups. I recently switched back to single coil pickups, because 60 Hz interference from stage lighting has become MUCH less common. the Sadowsky preamp is absolute sauce for the range of Fender sounds.

Best of luck. Probably looking into pickup / electronics options is a good idea for you.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Pretty sure someone on here recently got Fralin to make his first 5-string pickup (though I have a feeling it was a P).

If he's now open to making a 5-string Jazz set, you can't do much better than that (he ships internationally).

 

[Malak the Mad]

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG.

Greetings, John!

Rather than saying what you should buy blindly, what I'm wondering is if these DiMarzio Ultra Jazz 5's land anywhere close to the sound you're hoping to achieve? (If nothing else, they're fun, short vids. Now, if only I could play that well! )

 

[DWBass]

I put Nordstrand pickups and preamp in my Custom Jazz. My tech wired it for 18v. The bass will compete with any high end bass out there.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Growl and drive from a 5 string jazz : to me, it would be either a set of Seymour Duncan quarter pounder jazz or Aguilar 5J HOT. Large poles and overwound coils.

Just be advised you’ll have to turn down the volume of your amp !

 

[Paul New]

The original Suhr designed pickups in those were very punchy. I had a 1997 four string, and wish I still did! The only problem I had with the preamp was that I thought the mid control was voiced a little too high.

If it were mine, I would put in DeMarzio Ultra-Jazz pickups with the Dimarzio plate and just lose the preamp.

Thomastik Jazz Rounds seemed to be made exactly for that bass, but I also like Jazz Flats.

 

[RGerhart]

Nordstrand, all the way.

 

[pbass2]

Y'know, before going down the pickup rabbit hole (which I've certainly done enough times w Jazzes) you could try an outboard pre to give that bass a kick in the pants. See if you can try an Xotic RC Booster. I swear by mine or making any passive bass more...more. It is very "transparent" in that it doesn't so much change the voice of your bass or make a passive bass sound active, but can seriously add weight, clarity and ooomph if you push the gain knob up. A real secret weapon IMO.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

NJ5F Vintage Single Coil Fender

The NJ5F will leave you breathless with the splintering snap and grind of its hardwired midrange that can only be tamed by its euphoric high end.

nordstrandaudio.com

I would buy a set of these and convert the bass to passive vol/vol/tone. Simple circuit, simple bass. Easy to dial in. Less knobs to futz around with.


Edit, sorry misread how you said you’re not into “vintage tone”. Usually with modern pickups, “vintage wind” is generally a good “all purpose” sound.

 

[wompwomp]

Here’s my story…

This is my 2004 American Deluxe 5 String Jazz Bass. I bought it new, so have owned it 21 years. It’s a great playing bass but has a pretty awful and weak sound in as much as it doesn’t cut through a mix. Unfortunately I fell out of love with it pretty soon after purchase so have, on a few occasions, decided to part with it. Consequently it’s spent virtually all its life in its case, doing absolutely sweet nothing: I doubt it’s been out more than 20 times in 21 years! However…

… in that time the noiseless pickups (by Bill Lawrence?) and / or the active preamp have come in for criticism, and bassists’ press have had articles where players replaced the pickups.

So, coming forward to last week.

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG. There might be a couple of ‘hand winders’, too. In addition I propose to convert the bass to full passive.

My preferred sound is some growl and drive; the sort of thing a hum bucket might deliver. A “vintage” Jazz Bass, single coil sound is definitely not for me. Admittedly I’m a flatwound sort-a bloke (D’Addario Chromes shown on the pic, but Fender rounds were on originally) but may switch to rounds for this bass.

Guys, wisdom, experience, suggestions ALL very welcome.

Tks for reading…

John.

England.

wire in a series option and turn your single coils into a humbucker

 

[ragetoca]

Here’s my story…

This is my 2004 American Deluxe 5 String Jazz Bass. I bought it new, so have owned it 21 years. It’s a great playing bass but has a pretty awful and weak sound in as much as it doesn’t cut through a mix. Unfortunately I fell out of love with it pretty soon after purchase so have, on a few occasions, decided to part with it. Consequently it’s spent virtually all its life in its case, doing absolutely sweet nothing: I doubt it’s been out more than 20 times in 21 years! However…

… in that time the noiseless pickups (by Bill Lawrence?) and / or the active preamp have come in for criticism, and bassists’ press have had articles where players replaced the pickups.

So, coming forward to last week.

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG. There might be a couple of ‘hand winders’, too. In addition I propose to convert the bass to full passive.

My preferred sound is some growl and drive; the sort of thing a hum bucket might deliver. A “vintage” Jazz Bass, single coil sound is definitely not for me. Admittedly I’m a flatwound sort-a bloke (D’Addario Chromes shown on the pic, but Fender rounds were on originally) but may switch to rounds for this bass.

Guys, wisdom, experience, suggestions ALL very welcome.

Tks for reading…

John.

England.

Since you are in England I would install

Delano JC 5 HE/M2 2024 pickups paired with a John East preamp....your bass will come alive!​

 

[HaggardStallion]

Here’s my story…

This is my 2004 American Deluxe 5 String Jazz Bass. I bought it new, so have owned it 21 years. It’s a great playing bass but has a pretty awful and weak sound in as much as it doesn’t cut through a mix. Unfortunately I fell out of love with it pretty soon after purchase so have, on a few occasions, decided to part with it. Consequently it’s spent virtually all its life in its case, doing absolutely sweet nothing: I doubt it’s been out more than 20 times in 21 years! However…

… in that time the noiseless pickups (by Bill Lawrence?) and / or the active preamp have come in for criticism, and bassists’ press have had articles where players replaced the pickups.

So, coming forward to last week.

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG. There might be a couple of ‘hand winders’, too. In addition I propose to convert the bass to full passive.

My preferred sound is some growl and drive; the sort of thing a hum bucket might deliver. A “vintage” Jazz Bass, single coil sound is definitely not for me. Admittedly I’m a flatwound sort-a bloke (D’Addario Chromes shown on the pic, but Fender rounds were on originally) but may switch to rounds for this bass.

Guys, wisdom, experience, suggestions ALL very welcome.

Tks for reading…

John.

England.

lhzpreamps.com

 

[wysiwyg248]

Based on personal experience, I second @ragetoca relative to pickups.
Delanos Delano JMVC5 FE/M2-AS 5 String Hum Cancelling Jazz Bass® Pickup Set for Fender® American Standard® | Reverb
plus a Sadowsky or Audere preamp.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Here’s my story…

This is my 2004 American Deluxe 5 String Jazz Bass. I bought it new, so have owned it 21 years. It’s a great playing bass but has a pretty awful and weak sound in as much as it doesn’t cut through a mix. Unfortunately I fell out of love with it pretty soon after purchase so have, on a few occasions, decided to part with it. Consequently it’s spent virtually all its life in its case, doing absolutely sweet nothing: I doubt it’s been out more than 20 times in 21 years! However…

… in that time the noiseless pickups (by Bill Lawrence?) and / or the active preamp have come in for criticism, and bassists’ press have had articles where players replaced the pickups.

So, coming forward to last week.

I decided to give it one last try / chance. If I could find suitable pickups I might decide to keep it. But which pickups? Here in UK we don’t have the selection available over the pond - esp. for Jazz 5, - so the following makes are almost all I can buy: Sey. Duncan, Dimazio, Aguilar, Norstrand, EMG. There might be a couple of ‘hand winders’, too. In addition I propose to convert the bass to full passive.

My preferred sound is some growl and drive; the sort of thing a hum bucket might deliver. A “vintage” Jazz Bass, single coil sound is definitely not for me. Admittedly I’m a flatwound sort-a bloke (D’Addario Chromes shown on the pic, but Fender rounds were on originally) but may switch to rounds for this bass.

Guys, wisdom, experience, suggestions ALL very welcome.

Tks for reading…

John.

England.

I’ve been using fender basses for a long time. And primarily a round wound kind of guy. IMO, unless you have dead pickups, Fender JBs sound best with both volume and tone controls wide open, then EQ ( boosting 165hz to 250hz) using tone controls on your amp to taste. A lack of low mids is the probably reason it didn’t cut through the mix,

Why? The sound you are looking for requires maximum gain out of your bass into the slightly overdriven preamp stage of your amp. Hence the knobs on your bass wide open. Hope this helps.

 

[Ellery]

I would start with removing that stick of bubble gum from under your BEA strings, that could solve your problem right there!

 

[ragetoca]

Based on personal experience, I second @ragetoca relative to pickups.
Delanos Delano JMVC5 FE/M2-AS 5 String Hum Cancelling Jazz Bass® Pickup Set for Fender® American Standard® | Reverb
plus a Sadowsky or Audere preamp.

The fact that the poles are not exposed is a huge plus and besides they have a modern jazz tone, not vintage at all, with a lot of growl!! Listen to this, in this modded bass i have them paired to a sadowsky pre but I just got my john east pre today and will install it

 

[SharpCat]

Since you are in England I would install

Delano JC 5 HE/M2 2024 pickups paired with a John East preamp....your bass will come alive!​

Based on personal experience, I second @ragetoca relative to pickups.
Delanos Delano JMVC5 FE/M2-AS 5 String Hum Cancelling Jazz Bass® Pickup Set for Fender® American Standard® | Reverb
plus a Sadowsky or Audere preamp.

I have the JMVCs with a JEast setup on a Jazz 4. This is a killer sound.

 

[BowserGriff]

The nicest sounding jazz Ive ever heard in person was my bass teacher who had dimazios (i think. . . It was 15 years ago) and a John East preamp. That bass sound I can only describe as gnarly! Ripped everyone's head off and spat it out.

Admittedly, flats and a mute under the strings aren't something I immediately associate with growl. It's pretty awesome you have a bass that you can have an experiment with!

 

[Holdsg]

if you're after a set of passive pickups with "big balls", I'd steer you towards the Nordstrand 5-string Big J Blades, and you will not be disappointed. I prefer the warm & wolly version myself, but there is also clean & clear version if that's more your tone goal.

Big J-Blade 5

The Big J-Blade is a jazz-style single coil with a continuous sensing blade. This pickup comes with either a “warm and wooly” or “clean and clear” wind.

nordstrandaudio.com