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HIGHWAY ONE JB - Custom shop or Antiquity II?

Mobiless

Mobiless

Guest
Jan 15, 2012
83
4
Vilnius, Lithuania
www.soundcloud.com
#1
Hi, stock pickups in my highway on jazz bass is reaaaaaally not the best. I want to upgrade my jb sound and new pickups is a good solution to do that!
What will suit my hwy one bass better:
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass pickups
or
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups

CS is a bit cheaper, so i like them more, but maybe it's a better investment to buy antiquity?

Thanks for your answers!
 
#2
Unfortunately, the only way to find the right pickup is to determine the sound you're trying to achieve and then try specific pickups in your bass until you find the set that sounds right to you.

If you're after a vintage jazz bass sound, the Custom Shop 60's pickups do that better than just about anything else. The Antiquity II's are excellent sounding pickups as well but they seem to have a stronger bottom and top end. But these descriptions really don't mean anything until the pickups are installed in your bass because what sounds good in my bass may not sound the same in yours.

Since money is always a factor I would start with the Fender pickups and see if they make you happy. If not, they are easy to sell and you can move on to the Antiquity set. And if the Antiquity set doesn't make you happy, then try Fralin, Lollar, Aguilar, and Nordstrand. If none of those work, burn the bass!
 
#3
testing1two said:
Unfortunately, the only way to find the right pickup is to determine the sound you're trying to achieve and then try specific pickups in your bass until you find the set that sounds right to you.

If you're after a vintage jazz bass sound, the Custom Shop 60's pickups do that better than just about anything else. The Antiquity II's are excellent sounding pickups as well but they seem to have a stronger bottom and top end. But these descriptions really don't mean anything until the pickups are installed in your bass because what sounds good in my bass may not sound the same in yours.

Since money is always a factor I would start with the Fender pickups and see if they make you happy. If not, they are easy to sell and you can move on to the Antiquity set. And if the Antiquity set doesn't make you happy, then try Fralin, Lollar, Aguilar, and Nordstrand. If none of those work, burn the bass!
Click to expand...

:D Thanks man, that's the answer i was looking for!
 
#5
As said the highway one pickups are not much different from other American Fender pick ups. I actually think they are not too bad. Before replacing the pickups I would consider replacing the 'Grease Bucket' and putting in a standard cap. That may make all the difference and is a much much cheaper place to start.
 
#7
#8
I know its not one of the pups you listed but I dropped Dimarzio Ultra Jazz in mine years ago and swapped the tone pot out with one from my American Standard that I wasn't using. I couldn't be happier with the results. However, as stated earlier, everyone's going to be a bit different.
 

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