Highest output hum-cancelling "vintage" J pickups

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by PJay-bass, Oct 21, 2022.

  1. PJay-bass

    PJay-bass

    Oct 2, 2022
    New England
    Rephrasing this question from an earlier post.

    I've got a Squier VM Telecaster Bass special with a fender reissue WRHB for bass and a Duncan Designed jazz bass pickup. I really like the sound, but the j pickup is really wimpy and makes the sound with both pickups/just the bridge almost unusable. I use this bass for classic rock and country, and so I'm looking to replace the pickup with a vintage spec one with a high enough output that it can work with the humbucker (which is a very high output pickup). I also think it needs to be hum-cancelling because of the WHRB, though I'm open to suggestions on this one. Any suggestions?
     
  2. MidlifeBeginner

    MidlifeBeginner

    Jul 7, 2022
    If you can't find a suitable Jazz pickup, consider adding a switch to drop the output of the humbucker. Just need the switch to put a resistor in series. Could be a properly selected fixed resistor or a trim pot adjusted to your liking.
     
    Jefro likes this.
  3. sikamikanico

    sikamikanico

    Mar 17, 2004
    Vintage spec and high output don’t really go together. What exactly do you mean with “vintage spec”?

    some contenders may be DiMarzio Ultra J or Model J, or Nordstrand SE. These are split coils… not sure how stacks stack up :)
     
    Jefro and SulzerType2 like this.
  4. PJay-bass

    PJay-bass

    Oct 2, 2022
    New England
    Ok, that's a very fair point :). What I mean by vintage spec is something that sounds much like a standard j pickup, and not something like a quarter pounder (which sounds very different different from a standard j pickup). I just want it to have a little more oomph to it in order to compete with the WHRB. So maybe not those Dimarzios (which I've heard have different tones compared to the "standard" pickup).

    From what I've read and listened to, the Seymour Duncan hot jazz is sort of what I'm looking for. Unfortunately, that pickup definitely hums a lot when solo'd, which is probably not the best idea with a humbucking bridge pickup. And the hot jazz stack is supposed to be lower output than you might expect. But I'm also just defaulting to the idea of a hum-cancelling bridge because that's what most people do with PJ basses, and I'm really willing to try anything.

    Maybe the DiMarzio Area J? Not sure what the output is like, I know SD's version (Apollo) has some decent punch to it. I've heard Lindy Fralin's split coils have some oomph to them too. I'm just looking for suggestions!
     
  5. donhank

    donhank Supporting Member

    Sep 24, 2016
    Denton, TX
    Maybe something like an EMG LJHZ would work for you ??

    LJHZ
     
  6. Slater

    Slater Leave that thing alone.

    Apr 17, 2000
    The Great Lakes State
    I think a Dimarzio Ultra Jazz might be a decent compromise between high output and “vintage spec”.
     
    bowthing likes this.
  7. Erik Turkman

    Erik Turkman Supporting Member

    Jan 18, 2004
    Washington, DC area
    Dimarzio Area J is vintage voiced but not necessarily high output. Bartolini b-axis is higher output but not necessarily vintage voiced.
     
    Jefro likes this.
  8. Jefro

    Jefro

    Sep 21, 2022
    My DiMarzio Ultra Jazz noiseless pickup has a louder and fuller J tone.
    Perfect for my Yamaha PJ bass.
    Probably NOT what you are looking for.

    My Seymour Duncan Hot Stack Jazz sounds just like a typical thin Jazz bridge pickup.
    This would give you the classic vintage tone with a noiseless design.