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

[Frenchy-Lefty]

In my experience there is jazz bass and JAZZ BASS. All of them are not born equal.

Too bad you don't want exposed poles, the amazing Delano single poles JMVC's pack a punch. A crossover between a Musicman and a Fender.

Most non-exposed-poles Jazz Bass pickups were anemic sounding (I tried over 25 different Jazz Pickups over the past 35yrs)

 

[FrenchBassQC]

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.

Change the PUs, that is where the problem is located. Look at all the recommendations that TBr`s have suggested and go to utube and listen to them and make your own decision on the one that might fix your issue...

 

[pappabass]

yeah, years ago I had to have a jazz, bought a perfect Fender Jazz, beautiful sunburst, but did not like the sound. I realized how I did not like it when I had a late second fill in at a church. I played the abused 'church bass' which was a budget passive P/J Ibanez. My Fender jazz could not match the sound. Then I started the journey, I finally wound up with what I started with, a Fender P bass,,,,

 

[JRA]

Funny, I just had the same thing happen to me today. A couple of months ago I found myself falling out of love with my 2016 AM. Standard Jazz. Thought new pickups and a good setup would do the trick. I changed out the stock 60's CS for Lollar Jazz pups, and sent it in for a professional set up. Today I went to pick up my Jazz from the shop; after $200 and 15min of fudging with it; I put it down and grabbed my P. I guess I just prefer the feel and sound of my P. I'm thinking that maybe I need to give my jazz more time to grow on me. BTW, did I mention that this is the 5th jazz i'v owned and have fallen out of love with.

i don't "hate" my jazz, as the OP implied/stated for himself, but i'm so used to pj setups that i consider it 'limited' (usually) instead of 'liberating'. i also would accept that since it's my first and only jazz (it's a fretless parts bass), that i don't know much about it in some way, and that i'm limiting the instrument as opposed to the other way around.

i'm not going to give up the instrument --- at least not yet --- but i do find that i go to it less and less (if i had to play it as my first, night in night out: i would/could and i'd be OK!), and i keep wondering if i shouldn't try this or that before i 'leave her on the wall'. i have a beautiful neck on the bass so it feels good to play.

i'm just surprised at my own ambivalence at this point. but we'll see: this thread has given me some things to think about.

 

[REV]

If it has to be passive then I'd say EMG JV52 pickups but they have exposed pole pieces. If you could live with having a battery in your bass the regular EMG jazz bass pickups sound good as well and don't have exposed pole pieces.

 

[Bourbongangster]

This possibility has occurred to me. My current main is a P bass with some electronic mods (still passive, though) that is so completely my jam as to be nearly bonkers-level, and I was hoping my J would/could be brought up to speed, but, you could be right. I dig the way it plays, mostly, but the sound is severely lacking.

What kind of mods are we talking here? Series/Parallel? If so, I think you've found your first mission. (Coming from someone who is in love with his series PJ)

 

[allenhumble]

I recently installed Bartolini b-axis pickups and John east u-retro deluxe preamp in my mim fender.
Absolutely love it!

 

[khangurumc]

I have a Squier affinity ,I change the pickups ,I made a varitone , a series parallel switch and do a serious setup on it .Now this bass is absolutely perfect sound and feel wise.I absolutely love it and play this one as much as I play others that I have that cost thousand of dollars more.

 

[sgtpepper]

What do suggest for the values of the pots&cap?

250k CTS pots and 47nF cap will do just fine.

 

[bikeplate]

Nordstrand

 

[aprod]

Its a Squier, what did you expect? It is not a reasonable comparison to a real Fender Jazz bass. If you can, go play a MIM or MIA Fender and hear the difference for yourself.

 

[bdplaid]

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)

I had a Squier 5 string Affinity that played like a dream but sounded like crap, no matter the pickups. I Had a Squier VM with Duncan designed pickup that sounded awesome, but it weighed a tone. So I'm thinking get a better pig rather than trying put lipstick on this one.

If I were you, I'd be looking at the MIM Fenders rather than d!ck!ng around with pickups for a low end bass.

 

[gregmon79]

Id check out the EMG GZRs. Great pups and the output is pretty hot especially for passive pups.

There are a ton of great options there today. I know dimarzio, Seymour Duncan and EMG make some really nice, high output, non anemic J pups. Def do some reviews research. The internet is your friend in this case.

 

[gidbass]

Dimarzio Model J's...

Of the criteria you mention, the only one it falls short of is the exposed poles. The sound is very P like.

EDIT: Old thread, but still has a lot of valuable info..."J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

Good Luck!

 

[Pep]

You could always do what I did with my jazz bass. I had custom a pick guard made for it with a P-Bass split cutout replacing the neck position "J" pickup. Then I routed for the P-Bass pickup and wired it up. I now have a PJ bass with a jazz body/jazz neck and love it.

 

[packhowitzer]

wire the pickups in series.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'd suggest going out and trying a few different Jazz basses and see what you like. Then try using the pickups in that instrument. You don't want to end up dumping more money into your bass than you paid originally because you will never recoup that investment. Also, play your existing bass, as is, through some other amps to make sure you're not chasing an amp issue by modding your Jazz bass.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Another vote for the Dimarzio Model J. I don't think it makes a J into a P like some do but it definitely makes a jazz punchier for rock music if that's your thing.

 

[Lowendtech]

Another vote for the Model J's and a series switch would be the most cost effective choice for me. An Am Std J would be an upgrade for sure but a much more expensive fix. If it doesn't work for you then flip it and stick to your P.
I love the J bass look and feel but I'm only really happy with my P bass. And that's after playing J's for years and always looking to make them sound like a P. Finally I just realized that the easy way was to just get a P and be done with it. But the Model J's and a $10 switch should get you darn close.

 

[shodan]

I put an Audere preamp in one of mine. Definitely more tones and a heck of a lot more oomph.

One more vote for this. Same thing, I loved the way my MIM J played, but even the little Epi Toby active sounded better and got more play time. Traded my '84 Squier J with active pickups for a Lakland. Same deal even with the actives, it just didn't have the sound. Considered selling the MIM J, but hated the idea because of how it played. For $100 I figured the Audere was the last chance. Jeeze!!! Now the Lakland and the J sit on stands beside each other and get about the same play time. It has so much hotter output and better sound I can't believe it. I recommended it to a friend who's a long time bass guy and both he and his shop were amazed. Easy install, and if you don't like it, it's pretty easy to reverse and sell on ebay.