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Geddy Lee meets Dimarzio...

Slater

Slater

Leave that thing alone.
Apr 17, 2000
5,630
8,249
The Great Lakes State
www.myspace.com
#1
I decided that I wanted to put some Dimarzio DP123 Model J pickups in my USA Fender Geddy Lee. The stock pickups are great, but…single coil hum can get on my nerves, and I really like Model Js. ;)

Thanks to @negativeions24 deciding to part with his Model Js here in the TB Classifieds, I was able to perform the pickup transplant.

I am very pleased with the pickup change. The Model Js have slightly less high end, but the bass still sounds like a Jazz Bass, only “bigger”! (is the best way I can describe it). Also, surprisingly, I like the “slap” sound better! I’m not much of a “slapper”, but when I first tried a few slap licks, I raised my eyebrows and smiled. :)

Now, the best part…

…Pics to follow…
 
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#2
Here’s a before pic:

97995CEF-FE8E-40DF-8670-C63D405BBA8C.jpeg
 
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#5
When I installed the Dimarzios, I had to remove the foam from the brass shielding plates in the pickup cavities due to the ceramic magnets on the bottom of the Model Js. The pickups are screwed down right on top of the brass plates. As luck would have it, the pickup heights are almost exactly the same as where the stock pickups were set. :)

Pickups installed:

B07D93B9-428B-49C6-919D-DBE34FB96BA8.jpeg
54B742A0-D7C0-4137-B82C-A7D371200611.jpeg
 
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#8
Slater said:
Update on the stock pickups…

…Just for future reference, and in case anyone is curious, here’s the DCR for my US Geddy Lee stock pickups:

Neck - 7.33k ohms

Bridge - 8.30k ohms

I didn’t realize the bridge pickup was that much hotter than the neck pickup. I wonder how the Tom Brantley pickups compare?
Click to expand...

I'm also curious about the Tom Brantley pickups. I haven't heard much about them and just started a thread earlier today to see if anyone has tried them but I haven't had any responses just yet.
 
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#10
Slater said:
Update on the stock pickups…

…Just for future reference, and in case anyone is curious, here’s the DCR for my US Geddy Lee stock pickups:

Neck - 7.33k ohms

Bridge - 8.30k ohms

I didn’t realize the bridge pickup was that much hotter than the neck pickup. I wonder how the Tom Brantley pickups compare?
Click to expand...
I have the brantley pups in my usa geddy. they sound incredible but I'm also playing through an EBS Hd360 head into a fearless f210. I must say the sound is incredible. I've played many basses and pres, and heads. this setup is primo.
 
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#14
Tim Skaggs said:
Yes, today. My reply was written last week when the first few posts by the OP were the only posts showing, but apparently my reply didn’t load until login this morning. Cyberglitch.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. Have you tried those pickups? I've been trying to find more info about people's experience with them compared to other jazz pickups. I currently have the Fender CS 60'S in my jazz.
 
#15
N4860 said:
Fair enough. Have you tried those pickups? I've been trying to find more info about people's experience with them compared to other jazz pickups. I currently have the Fender CS 60'S in my jazz.
Click to expand...

I have not. My Jazz has Seymour Duncan Antiquity I pups, which I’ve had for a VERY long time. I like their tone, but their output is kinda low, and they are true single coils, so they come with hum when solo’d. I put in a series-parallel switch a couple years ago & use “series” quite a bit. I’d like to have the tone of parallel and the output level of series, but I get by with an EQ pedal that has a level control that I use as a boost.
 
#16
I recently commissioned a set of the Geddy's from Tom Brantley -- but asked if he could do a hum-cancelling version. Tom said, "Yeah, sure! I think that will work." I'm very, very happy with the result and gave Tom feedback since he was really curious about my experience (there's customer service for ya!).

Fast forward a few weeks and, interestingly enough, I received an email message from Tom just a few moments ago -- informing me that the very next set of these is on their way to Geddy (right now) to try out. :smug::cool: :bassist:
 
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#17
jeff62 said:
I recently commissioned a set of the Geddy's from Tom Brantley -- but asked if he could do a hum-cancelling version. Tom said, "Yeah, sure! I think that will work." I'm very, very happy with the result and gave Tom feedback since he was really curious about my experience (there's customer service for ya!).

Fast forward a few weeks and, interestingly enough, I received an email message from Tom just a few moments ago -- informing me that the very next set of these is on their way to Geddy (right now) to try out. :smug::cool: :bassist:
Click to expand...

That's very cool. Hopefully he follows up with you to let you know what Geddy's experience is like with them.
 
#20
Slater said:
I decided that I wanted to put some Dimarzio DP123 Model J pickups in my USA Fender Geddy Lee. The stock pickups are great, but…single coil hum can get on my nerves, and I really like Model Js. ;)

Thanks to @negativeions24 deciding to part with his Model Js here in the TB Classifieds, I was able to perform the pickup transplant.

I am very pleased with the pickup change. The Model Js have slightly less high end, but the bass still sounds like a Jazz Bass, only “bigger”! (is the best way I can describe it). Also, surprisingly, I like the “slap” sound better! I’m not much of a “slapper”, but when I first tried a few slap licks, I raised my eyebrows and smiled. :)

Now, the best part…

…Pics to follow…
Click to expand...
Justin Meldal-Johnsen did that to his Geddys when he went on tour with NIN in 2009 or 2010. He had a giant fleet of them for that tour because Trent kept throwing stuff around the stage and busting up everyone's gear. I noticed he didn't do that on the tour with the two gal BG singers and Pino Palladino, though...Pino would have kicked his ass :D

Great pickups, those Model J's. I never liked them back when they came out, but they sure brought this cheapo Steinberger copy I used to have that had horrible pickups back to life.
 
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