Growliest, harshest Jazz pickups?

[Soberglitch]

Like the title says I’m trying to find some really growly pickups for my jazz bass. The Fender vintage 60s that came stock are a little too mellow for my liking.

I’d like to keep the mids up and maybe throw some humbuckers in there. Passive and not straying too far from sounding like a jazz bass would probably be ideal.

 

[shoulderpet]

Like the title says I’m trying to find some really growly pickups for my jazz bass. The Fender vintage 60s that came stock are a little too mellow for my liking.

I’d like to keep the mids up and maybe throw some humbuckers in there. Passive and not straying too far from sounding like a jazz bass would probably be ideal.

Duncan SJB-2 or Dimarzio model j should do the growly mids thing perfectly

 

[Soberglitch]

Duncan SJB-2 or Dimarzio model j should do the growly mids thing perfectly

Awesome, the Dimarzios were already on the top of my list just from the clips I’ve heard.

 

[markanini]

EMG J.

 

[DarkStar90]

If you are talking about the Original 60s jazz pickups, I found them to be quite aggressive. Maybe try 500k pots first.

The most aggressive Jazz single coils I've come across are either Aero Type 1, or the Lakland/Hanson Vintage Hot.

The Lakland pups have the output to match a Precision pickup. They are very Hot. They are a bit brighter than the Aero's. I think these pickups were designed to be voiced similarly to the Aero's. When Lakland first introduced the Darryl Jones model, it had Aeros with 500k pots. These eventually were replaced with the Lakland pups. Im guessing the design of the Lakland pickup was to include the same brightness, only with 250k pots. Not many people talk about them as a replacement option, but they are available.

Aero's are a bit more expensive, but are my favourite replacement pickup by far. Juan Alderete's tone on 'Bedlam in Goliath' by Mars Volta is a great example of aggressive Aero tone. Kind of a cross between David Sims, Chris Squire and Geddy tones can be had.

In my opinion, none of the Dimarzio pups offer the snappy clarity of single coils. Sound clips of the sound good, but they 'feel' different. I had to dig in more to make them sound as cutting as single coils. I find that true for overwound singles as well. Never liked the Ultra Jazz set, as much as people recommend it. In fact, my MIM jazz never sounded good until I put the Lakland pickups in it. I had the stock, original 60s, custom shop 60s, dimarzio ultra jazz, bartolinis. The laklands suited that bass best. YMMV.

 

[Soberglitch]

If you are talking about the Original 60s jazz pickups, I found them to be quite aggressive. Maybe try 500k pots first.

The most aggressive Jazz single coils I've come across are either Aero Type 1, or the Lakland/Hanson Vintage Hot.

The Lakland pups have the output to match a Precision pickup. They are very Hot. They are a bit brighter than the Aero's. I think these pickups were designed to be voiced similarly to the Aero's. When Lakland first introduced the Darryl Jones model, it had Aeros with 500k pots. These eventually were replaced with the Lakland pups. Im guessing the design of the Lakland pickup was to include the same brightness, only with 250k pots. Not many people talk about them as a replacement option, but they are available.

Aero's are a bit more expensive, but are my favourite replacement pickup by far. Juan Alderete's tone on 'Bedlam in Goliath' by Mars Volta is a great example of aggressive Aero tone. Kind of a cross between David Sims, Chris Squire and Geddy tones can be had.

In my opinion, none of the Dimarzio pups offer the snappy clarity of single coils. Never liked the Ultra Jazz set, as much as people recommend it.

I’ll give the Laklands a look then. Do they come stock in any of the Lakland basses or are they only aftermarket?

The pickups I have now are stock in my Fender 75th anniversary bass. Fender lists them as “Vintage-Style '60s Single-Coil Jazz Bass”

 

[DarkStar90]

I’ll give the Laklands a look then. Do they come stock in any of the Lakland basses or are they only aftermarket?

The pickups I have now are stock in my Fender 75th anniversary bass. Fender lists them as “Vintage-Style '60s Single-Coil Jazz Bass”

They were the stock pickups in my Darryl Jones, but I believe they come stock on a few models unless you order differently.

I changed out the Laklands in my DJ for the Aeros, but there is nothing wrong with the Lakland pickups. They were in that bass for ten years, I just like to tinker. They are quite bright. They are in the jazz bass now.

 

[Soberglitch]

They were the stock pickups in my Darryl Jones, but I believe they come stock on a few models unless you order differently.

I changed out the Laklands in my DJ for the Aeros, but there is nothing wrong with the Lakland pickups. They were in that bass for ten years, I just like to tinker. They are quite bright. They are in the jazz bass now.

Laklands sound good. Really between those and the Seymour SJB-2 at this point.

 

[Dincrest]

How 'bout the Duncan STK-J2 hot stack jazz pickups?

Hot Stack® Jazz Bass Pickup | Seymour Duncan

I had those (with a V/V/T passive setup) on a bubinga-bodied Warwick Corvette Standard I used to own, and the growl that came out of it was unbelievable. Deep, throaty, and totally in-your-face. The stock active MECs, by comparison, had a fake sounding growl- like a kitten using a voice modulator. The Duncans + passive electronics sounded more organic, growling like a real tiger.

 

[Soberglitch]

How 'bout the Duncan STK-J2 hot stack jazz pickups?

Hot Stack® Jazz Bass Pickup | Seymour Duncan

I had those (with a V/V/T passive setup) on a bubinga-bodied Warwick Corvette Standard I used to own, and the growl that came out of it was unbelievable. Deep, throaty, and totally in-your-face. The stock active MECs, by comparison, had a fake sounding growl- like a kitten using a voice modulator. The Duncans + passive electronics sounded more organic, growling like a real tiger.

What’s the difference between these and the regular Hot Jazz? Is it just that the Hot Stacks are noise cancelling?

 

[Dincrest]

That's the big difference, yeah. The stacks are hum-cancelling and that was a big reason why I wanted them. There's probably nuanced tonal differences between the single coil and the stack, but I wouldn't really know since I haven't used the hot singles (which are one of your top choices for a good reason).

All I know is that I got serious in-your-face growl from the Duncan hot stacks. When I was playing in punk and alt-metal bands, that Warwick with Duncan hot stacks was a sledgehammer tonally.

 

[fu22ba55]

Aero's are a bit more expensive, but are my favourite replacement pickup by far. Juan Alderete's tone on 'Bedlam in Goliath' by Mars Volta is a great example of aggressive Aero tone. Kind of a cross between David Sims, Chris Squire and Geddy tones can be had.

David Sims just had some rando-cheapo pickups in a Memphis J copy, correct? (or whatever came in the Memphis). Love his tone.

 

[Soberglitch]

That's the big difference, yeah. The stacks are hum-cancelling and that was a big reason why I wanted them. There's probably nuanced tonal differences between the single coil and the stack, but I wouldn't really know since I haven't used the hot singles (which are one of your top choices for a good reason).

All I know is that I got serious in-your-face growl from the Duncan hot stacks. When I was playing in punk and alt-metal bands, that Warwick with Duncan hot stacks was a sledgehammer tonally.

When I bought my jazz bass it was between that and the Warwick Corvette. That’s sorta the growl I’m after, if not more growl.

I might just jump on the hot stacks since it seems like they are hard to find in stock. Looks like they have the highest output and most balanced tone out of everything.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fralin Jazz are pretty grippy.

 

[DarkStar90]

David Sims just had some rando-cheapo pickups in a Memphis J copy, correct? (or whatever came in the Memphis). Love his tone.

Dont know or care. The results are good though.

 

[tindrum]

Duncan SJB-2 or Dimarzio model j should do the growly mids thing perfectly

Yeah Dimarzio Model J hands down.

 

[Soberglitch]

Yeah Dimarzio Model J hands down.

I like the Model J a lot for the looks. I’m taking all the chrome off the bass and making everything black.

Really wish I could try these out in person.

 

[fu22ba55]

I used to run Dimarzio Model-Js for years (actual vintage 70's ones), and they were not grindy or agressive. Great sounding pickups, but I wouldn't associate the words "growl" or "harsh" with them.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Bare knuckle

 

[aekisz]

Dimarzio Model J’s are great and the poles are adjustable. Maybe not harsh but Mine growl just fine.