Hum-cancelling P-J set: Dimarzio or Fralin?

[Caiwyn]

Looking at getting a hum-cancelling P-J pickup set and I've narrowed it down to two options: the Dimarzio '60s P-J set (DP306) or the Fralin P-J set.

Dimarzio's '60s P-J set is relatively new. The rounded edges and radiused shape of the pickup covers are appealing, and right now Dimarzio's running a sale, putting these at $100 less than the Fralin set. Reviews seem pretty good, but I haven't heard anyone talk about the balance between the two pickups, and the output rating of the J bridge pickup is lower than that of the P neck pickup, so I don't know how well they'll even out. Also, Dimarzio recommends a 500K volume pot instead of a standard 250K, which makes it sound like these might be a bit muddy otherwise. That said, my personal experience with Dimarzio's hum-cancelling Strat pickups is that they're the best on the market, so I expect these are pretty good as well.

Fralin's P-J set gets recommended a lot, and I know Fralin has a reputation for quality. He builds these sets with a 5% overwind on the J bridge in order to better match the higher output of the P, so I'm more confident in the Fralins having an even output balance between pickups. He also recommends the standard 250K pots.

Anyone have any opinions about these? Anyone tried both sets?

 

[SharpCat]

Have not tried Fralin.

Dimarzio 60s very nice, smooth but not flashy. Sounds great with GHS precision flats on my Yamaha BB. I am using a 500K pot. They're very balanced. I really like the radiused tops and recessed screws. FYI, each of the P halves have a separate shielded cable back to the controls, and some people (including me) have had issues with fitting them both through the drilled hole from the pickup route to the controls. I ended up making my own cable. LowEndLobster has a video where he installs these and Dimarzio Relentless pickups in very similar Sires, and the 60s seem much more clear and defined to my ears.

I also like the Aguilar 4PJ-HC set--they're very warm sounding and smooth.

 

[Yahboy]

Zero experience on latest Dimarzio 60s PJ pickups set.

But I have DP126 PJ set on my mod PJ (bridge pup in 70s J position), aggressive tone and bite compare to rounder vintage tone Fralin PJ set (std wound P + 10% overwound split J) on my buddy 2016 Fender Limited Edition American Standard PJ Bass (bridge pup in 60s position).

DP126PJ set has more notable 3 different voice on Solo neck / blend / Solo bridge tonal compare to Fralin PJ set. The 10% overwound split J from Fralin set sound rounder and less honky. Once blend, she has more meaty DG string voice than DP126.

I also found the Fralin PJ set with 10% overwound split J pup has better output balance with neck pup compare to notable output different between Model P and Model J.

 

[JfetPre775]

OMG.. FRALIN!! Absolutely zero consideration here. Fralins Everyday of the week, Twice on Sundays and holiday’s!

I can’t say enough good things about Lindy Fralin Ive bought at least a dozen different custom sets for guitars in the last 5-10 yrs! They’re built with extremely high quality parts.. like the original vintage models they’re based on. Made to last with the highest degree of precision and consistency. Every possible detail of every model is rigorously tested and considered sonically. They’ve developed humbuckers that sound like bright clear single coils & vice versa.

Plus, every pickup can be wound to your unique custom requests. Because every pickup is hand wound in the shop by Lindy everyday. And if there’s ever a problem or mixup Lindy calls and speaks to you personally making sure you don’t have any issues.. I personally think these kinds of businesses are a rare & dying breed, I would give them the business!

 

[walterw]

i would let go of the "set" idea and just get the best P pickup i could along with the best hum-canceling J to go with it

for my money it's the fralin stock-wind P by a mile (that's what i have) while the best hum-canceling J pickups i've heard have been from dimarzio, they really have a good grip on doing split-coil J pickups that are loud and clear and don't have that dead zone in the middle (something i've heard from other split-coil J pickups)

their area J is the closest thing to a straight vintage J pickup while their ultrajazz is louder with more highs and lows

 

[secondbestcody]

Which one did you end up choosing? I’ve got a PJ I’m looking at both of these pickups for.

Also open to other suggestions if you chose a different set.

 

[Evanforbass]

i would let go of the "set" idea and just get the best P pickup i could along with the best hum-canceling J to go with it

for my money it's the fralin stock-wind P by a mile (that's what i have) while the best hum-canceling J pickups i've heard have been from dimarzio, they really have a good grip on doing split-coil J pickups that are loud and clear and don't have that dead zone in the middle (something i've heard from other split-coil J pickups)

their area J is the closest thing to a straight vintage J pickup while their ultrajazz is louder with more highs and lows

Curious about mix-matching a set. The Fralin 5% overwound is my favorite P pickup. I’m wondering if an ultra jazz might pair well with it?

 

[walterw]

Curious about mix-matching a set. The Fralin 5% overwound is my favorite P pickup. I’m wondering if an ultra jazz might pair well with it?

that might be the only thing that will hang with it while still being hum-canceling!

i also like that in recent years dimarzio has gone back to staggering the ultra-jazz magnets to follow the string radius, gets you a more balanced string output even with the pickup up close

 

[Evanforbass]

that might be the only thing that will hang with it while still being hum-canceling!

i also like that in recent years dimarzio has gone back to staggering the ultra-jazz magnets to follow the string radius, gets you a more balanced string output even with the pickup up close

Awesome thanks. This could save me about $100! I’m not a huge bridge pup fan and will likely it’s volume backed off a little bit in most cases. I had a set of Ultra Jazzes a while back and they were cool. I thought the neck was a pretty close P tone

 

[Pep]

FRALIN! Best quality I’ve seen in pickups. Handmade, not factory made. Personal service and attention to detail is unparalleled and in nearly all cases you work with Lindy himself.

 

[sunbeast]

I've never heard a high-output J pickup (loud enough to match a P pickup) that sounded like a good traditional bridge J pickup. IMO this is where an active blend with gain controls for each pickup makes the impossible (at least in a passive instrument) possible. My favorite humcancelling J pickups are the Nordstrand NJ4SE, and I've paired the bridge version with a stock-wind Fralin to great effect before. I found the Fralin split-coil J pickups a bit too nasal/honky (not as bad as Dimarzio Model Js, but relative) for my taste while the Fralins are very clear and grindy in a way I prefer.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I just wrote praises for the DiMarzio Sixties paired with an Audere preamp in another thread. I don't know how the pickups sound passively, but this combo really plays nicely with one another.

Bob knows, I've tried a lot of passive P/J combos in this bass…work which has grown increasingly exhausting…so to finally land on a sound I dig is a serious breath of fresh air!

 

[SharpCat]

I just wrote praises for the DiMarzio Sixties paired with an Audere preamp in another thread. I don't know how the pickups sound passively, but this combo really plays nicely with one another.

Bob knows, I've tried a lot of passive P/J combos in this bass…work which has grown increasingly exhausting…so to finally land on a sound I dig is a serious breath of fresh air!

Sixties pickups sound very fine passive in my opinion.

 

[Straw_hat]

Just ordered DiMarzio 60 PJ set. Don't like the sound of pickups on my 2017 Fender Precision De Luxe special.

I almost sold this bass month ago because of that. Decided instead to try other set of pickups. Came across couple of reviews of Dimarzio 60 and like the sound. I prefer Alnico so it seems like a good bet.

We will see soon...

 

[Straw_hat]

Are 500k, 500k and 250k pots recommended for v/v/t? Capacitor .33nF or .47nF to get best of this pups?

 

[SharpCat]

I would say yes to 500k, but if you want less bright, 250k fine too. Cap is a personal taste thing. I like the 47 myself.

 

[Straw_hat]

Thanks for reply. I personally lean towards softer and rounder sound on P, but PJ should be able to let J pickup bring in it's character if we desire so by setting the knobs position. Dimarzio recommends 500k/500k/250k and .33nF, but those couple of reviews I have seen and listened, authors don't reveal which pots were used, so any personal experience with these pups is appreciated.

 

[sunbeast]

Thanks for reply. I personally lean towards softer and rounder sound on P, but PJ should be able to let J pickup bring in it's character if we desire so by setting the knobs position. Dimarzio recommends 500k/500k/250k and .33nF, but those couple of reviews I have seen and listened, authors don't reveal which pots were used, so any personal experience with these pups is appreciated.

Tone pots are wired as variable resistors, so if you use a larger value tone pot then you will have access to all the sounds of any smaller values. So I would err on the side of larger value tone pots, since you can always turn a 500K or even 1Megohm pot down to get the sounds in a 250K pot. Not sure why they would suggest a 250K tone pot for that reason (probably just because that is the Fender standard value). Volume pots are different- they are wired as voltage dividers- so the interaction is a bit different and particularly when it comes to blending with dual volumes the tapers can be more touchy with larger values. All three pots will affect the loading on the circuit, smaller values will mean more loading and somewhat darker sound.

Personally I would start with 500K for all positions- if you find yourself turning the Tone down all the time and the blending too tweaky then I'd change the Volume controls to 250K rather than dropping the Tone control down. If you find the blending tweaky but like the general tone range (not too bright), then I'd swap the volumes to 250K and the Tone to 1Meg. You can also try linear taper pots for volume, which I personally prefer in a 2 volume passive instrument as blending seems more controllable for me.

 

[Standalone]

I’ve never had a PJ setup where the J was anything more than an option to mix in with the P for a different sound. The solo J on those has been really only an “effect” sound like a client or something.

I’m not sure why this is, as I get very good sounds on a bridge pickup on a J.

That said, I love the Dimarzio style P and PJ pickups on my 1970’s and 1980’s vintage Ibanez basses

 

[Straw_hat]

You can also try linear taper pots for volume, which I personally prefer in a 2 volume passive instrument as blending seems more controllable for me.

Thanks, I will definitely take this advice.

I’ve never had a PJ setup where the J was anything more than an option to mix in with the P for a different sound. The solo J on those has been really only an “effect” sound like a client or something.

I am expecting exactly that, nothing more from J pup but to add it's signature to P sound. That said, I wouldn't like to put together the harness that brighten overall pickups performance, but also not one that would darken everything.