I hate my Jazz bass... :: Update::

[wraub]

Well, to be honest, I hate the way it sounds.
Sure, it has that great playing combination of aggressive delicacy and graceful rage that all good Jazz basses seem to have ime, and it is black, but, it sounds like an anemic coffee fart. No energy, just a tiny lifeless bundle of apathetic sound. Noise, barely.
It is, to say, blah, and trying to make it better with EQ and wishes is just hopeless. Even with an outboard boost pedal, it's like eating vanilla pudding through a straw that is well medicated and feeling fine thank you...
So, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need some new pickups.

Requirements: Loud, high output; fit standard J bass routs; passive; [no exposed pole pieces. <----- THIS IS NOT HERE ]

Any suggestions? Please? Help me love, or even like, my Jazz bass? Someone..?

(1985 MIJ Squier SQ Series Jazz Bass, stock pickups)

 

[GK Growl]

I assume you have exhausted other possibilities first.....mainly strings?

 

[wraub]

I assume you have exhausted other possibilities first.....mainly strings?

Have tried rounds, flats, steel, coated, nickel, new, old...

 

[jbrew73]

dimarzio model j !!! it fits most of you criteria......

i felt the same way years ago when i bought my first new jazz. i literally kept it one week and quickly got rid of it. several years later i found out how good the model j sounded that i installed in my pj bass so i bought a jazz body for a project bass and installed a set of model j's. WOW is all i could say! that bass looks, feels, plays and sounds amazing. i hate that it took me over 15 years to figure it out.

i know some guys sound good with stock style jazz pickups but i just couldnt get a decent sound until the dimarzio's. i guess i'm just used to the sound of a good p bass and i think the model j's deliver that thick ballsy tone in spades.

i'm not sure why you are opposed to exposed pole pieces but the j's are black and can be adjusted down out of your way it that helps.

 

[40Hz]

Maybe you really just don't like the sound of a JB? They're not everybody's cup of tea.

 

[grillman]

It is unlikely that changing pickups will suddenly turn it into your dream bass.
I've been down this road and it's not a satisfactory one.
My advice is to sell it, try out basses at the store and buy the one you like.

Edit : although if you need some J pups recommendation (because that's what you asked for after all) I love the Fender Super 55. Also those are splitcoil so no hum and they pack some punch.

 

[Fat Freddy]

My friend has just had some of these installed on his Jazz....

Nordstrand Jazz Bar

Don't know if they meet your criteria but on his they sound bloody awesome....

 

[Doner Designs]

If you normally run both pickups on full in order to get hum cancellation, inline split coil noiseless pickups will open up the tone palette for you (use either pickup or blend them without any noise).

 

[MovingPitchers]

I like Jazz Basses but my needs require a Precision.

However my input for Jazzes is that strings and pickups will do a whole lot of difference.

I always had a Custom Shop 60s pickups on all my Jazz Basses because they suit me. I switched also from SS rounds to nickel rounds. Cuts down on the brightness of the overall tone.

 

[JRA]

wraub : thanks for the thread: i've been having thoughts about my jazz as well, so the thread is timely for me two.

 

[sgtpepper]

Alright so try changing the pots and cap too.
Pickups:
EMG J series
Seymour Duncan SJB-3 (Quarter Pounds).

 

[SteveC]

New pickups may change it enough. I used DiMarzzio when I was modding back in the day. Maybe you need to go another route?

 

[Andyman001]

Have you tried raising the pick ups?

 

[Gord_oh]

I just put DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups in mine and it woke right up! I do like the model j and some Seymour Duncan's. I've been wanting to try Aguilar too.

Point is, don't blame the whole bass. Sometimes the littlest change will make the biggest difference.

 

[alack]

I had a similar problem with my 75 Jazz. So I traded it for a 74 P. Problem solved

 

[pbass2]

DiMarzio Model J FTW!!!!!

 

[moles]

Pickup height can make all the difference.

 

[wraub]

Have you tried raising the pick ups?

Have tried raising, lowering, etc. Problem is that the PUs are so low output that they seem to need to be too close, if that makes sense.

 

[MDBass]

Well, to be honest, I hate the way it sounds.
Sure, it has that great playing combination of aggressive delicacy and graceful rage that all good Jazz basses seem to have ime, and it is black, but, it sounds like an anemic coffee fart. No energy, just a tiny lifeless bundle of apathetic sound. Noise, barely.
It is, to say, blah, and trying to make it better with EQ and wishes is just hopeless. Even with an outboard boost pedal, it's like eating vanilla pudding through a straw that is well medicated and feeling fine thank you...
So, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need some new pickups.

Requirements: Loud, high output; fit standard J bass routs; passive; no exposed pole pieces.

Any suggestions? Please? Help me love, or even like, my Jazz bass? Someone..?

(1985 MIJ Squier SQ Series Jazz Bass, stock pickups)

Why no exposed pole pieces? That's DRAMATICALLY going to limit your choices.

I'd take a look at the Nordstrand Big Blades myself based your criteria.

 

[ctpunk]

Off it. If the bass just doesnt do it for ya and you've already tried different (and new) strings its possible that any mod/upgrade wont fix your problem. With that said it may not be all Jazz basses that wouldnt meet your standards. I prefer a PJ myself but I do have a Warmoth Jazz with an Audere preamp and Nordstrand 70s wired PUs and it is the punchiest thing Ive ever heard. Damn near polar opposite of what your describing yours as. But to be honest Ive gone through alot of equipment to find my sound as well.