G&L: A Question of Sacriledge

[plankspanker13]

Greetings, one and all. Please bear in mind that I am referring to Jazz-style pickups, and not the famous G&L MFD pickups.

My question is, would you consider it sacriledge to change out the pickups in favor of aftermarket pickups?

 

[M.R. Ogle]

It's your bass... change it to whatever you want. You can always put the originals back in later, and it's not like any subsequent owner is going to turn up their nose at "non-original solder joints" on a JB-2....

 

[mongo2]

Your prerogative.

 

[RCCollins]

if they were MFD's, I'd have you in my crosshairs for sure. But they're not - and G&L construction is as good a reason to buy a JB-2 as the pickups.

 

[Akuriff]

Well, I voted no but it's your call. I bought a G&L SB2 from someone who had replaced the pickups with Bertolinis. Tried it out on a little practice amp and took it home. When I ran it through my big rig I realized that the pickups were really thin sounding. The bass sounds weak compared to my stock SB2. But, like you said, it's only a j-style pickup. Go for it. Just be sure to keep the original.

 

[cableguy]

Your bass-Your Rules. I own 2 G&L basses and I wouldn't change a thing (except adding a hipshot D-tuner on my 4) on mine although the have the MFD's. OK that statement doesn't make sense. Anyway have fun and experiment if it's your bass,
you can always go back to stock if you don't use a router.

 

[plankspanker13]

Thanks for the thoughts, so far. I have a pair of JB-2's, and would like to only experiment on the "wife," the sunburst that has played over 100 gigs with me. The honey QMT will be kept stock. Both feature Hipshot Xtenders and straplocks, and the aftermarket pickups in question would not require a router. Looks like I will see what a set of Quarter Pounders can do; a boob job for the wife.

 

[mmbongo]

If they were MFD's you would have been run out of here by now

But jazz pickups...does G&L even make their own jazz pickups or do they just buy them? I don't know. I say have at it.

 

[Nedmundo]

On a JB or JB-2, no problem at all to change. They're just regular alnico J-bass pickups. I've thought about swapping out my JB's pickups, probably to go noiseless, but possibly just to get more aggressive with overwound Fralin singles. I've gone the boutique noiseless route on my other J-basses, with no regrets.

Replacing MFD's, however, could very well produce bad karma. Maybe G&L would be a more dominant brand if it hadn't dabbled in EMG's back in the 1990's. Even so, I could understand wanting an SB-1 for the playability and finishes, but swapping the pickup for something more vintage P-bass than an MFD. I probably wouldn't do it, but I could understand it.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Put some Nordstands in there!

 

[plankspanker13]

If I like the outcome with the sunburst, I already have Nordys in mind for the honey QMT.

 

[spufman]

I wouldn't change MFDs - they're integral to a traditional G&L. But regular style Js? Sure thing.

 

[bassfart]

Put some Nordstands in there!

Here, here on the Nordstrands. Try out the 70's wind set, they rule.

 

[craigb]

I'm a big G&L fan but sonically I prefer the Trib JB2 to the US JB2. Last time I had a US one I swapped out the pickups for some Fender CS60s and was much happier with it.

 

[plankspanker13]

It took me long enough, but I finally had the opportunity to do it.

Link Removed

Sonically, it is not a boob job, as I had joked in an earlier post; it's butt implants. Sir Mixalot would love this baby, now...or perhaps Spinal Tap ("Big Bottom").

 

[Munjibunga]

Sacrilege.

And "hear, hear."

 

[plankspanker13]

After gig-prooving, I have no regrets, although my other JB-2 shall be kept stock, so as not to incur the wrath of the gods.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

why not? If you're not happy with what you have, feel free. It's YOUR bass - and I have yet to see a G&L actually appreciate in value over time...

That said, they usually put pretty darned good stuff in there - - why do you want to change?

 

[GBassNorth]

Jazz pu - go for it.
MFD pu - hands off!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

chi-sonics or EMG's would be interesting.