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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

Hmm... I don't get any hum at all from my Model J's in a Jazz - but I'm not an expert in this area. ...more informed opinions would help. Also, no problem getting highs from these pickups, but I guess I'm not into clangy bass anyway.
 
Thanks for the info. I was looking at the J's because the description seamed perfect but you can't always go by a company write up. I like the all black look too.
Hum?????
I thought they were suppose to be quiet?
I hate a noisy bass!!!!!!

Any more input on the J's?
 
Just courious, was the ground wire under the bridge connected to ground? You mentioned you swapped bridges?

I believe so - this is only my second pickup swap and my first time soldering. However I followed the wiring instructions to a 'T' and I don't believe this included changing anything to do with the ground wire.

Also, when I swapped the bridge the ground wire was there and I left it as is
 
No doubt you will want to hang me high from the yardarm after this, but here goes.

Looking at Jazz bass single coil pickups. Randomly picked examples.

Nordstrand NJ4 £140.
Lindy Fralin Jazz Bass £150
Tonerider Jazz plus £58.90

Three makes of pickup, all with the same physical dimensions.
All use Alnico V pole pieces of the same diameter with similar field strengths.
All use 42 gauge wire with similar number of turns.
All use simulated hand wound patterns.

It is a basic electronic component, magnets and wire, a coil, no magic involved.

How much difference in sound could there possibly be?
Can one sound sweeter? How?
Could you tell the difference in a blind listening test?
Is this a case of the Emperors new clothes?

Different output levels? Doesn't matter, plug into an amp and adjust the gain.
Different frequency response? Doesn't matter, plug into an amp and adjust the tone controls.

So, you got to ask yourself, where's the best bang for your buck?


I will pay a ton of money for better-sounding capacitors or cable but I'm with you on this. If a $40 pickup is manufactured exactly the same as a $140 pickup, I will be very happy indeed with the $40 pickup. And I will be very happy indeed that there are people who make $140 pickups and people who buy $140 pickups because they are happy and I am happy and everybody is happy.
 
I'm wanting to replace the pups in my fretless Warmoth jazz body bass. I had some Model J's in it, but they were a little too aggressive for my tastes. I'd like to see what suggestions people have to get the maximum "mwah" singing tone out of it. It's got a black limba body with a maple neck that is finished with CA (super glue)-

FLJBgoodshot5_zpsbb22125e.jpg
Beautiful Bass. Look into the Fender CS60's, they sound pretty Amazing to me, and I've been through a number of different J pups; I own a set myself even before I came across this video, but the video further cemented my decision; listen closely and repeat as needed, there IS indeed a difference, Good Luck
 
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Finally installed DiMarzio Model J's on my Epiphone Toby Standard IV (my only bass). Liked the bass except for the wimpy stock pickups, which were so weak that my tuner has trouble registering a signal. It was a bit of a tight fit and I had a bit of trouble with the cheap soldering iron, but when I finally got everything done... WOW what a difference. Very aggressive and bass-y tone and almost no hum. However, bridge pickup does sound significantly less twangy compared to what I'm used to.
I believe this pickup upgrade has cured my GAS... for now. Except for the GAS for a new soldering iron. Thanks TB'ers for all the past reviews!
 
I want to put Barts into my Toby IV as per this guy here; Tobias Toby Deluxe IV by Epiphone Project

Question is.. do I want a long or short pickup for the bridge? As you can see in his mod the short pup doesn't quite fill out the routing... but then it matches the string tapering more precisely than perhaps a long one would.

Which is better? Matching the string spacing with a short pup or filling the routing with a long one? Thanks in advance!

P.S. The stock pups are both long.
 
I want to put Barts into my Toby IV as per this guy here; Tobias Toby Deluxe IV by Epiphone Project

Question is.. do I want a long or short pickup for the bridge? As you can see in his mod the short pup doesn't quite fill out the routing... but then it matches the string tapering more precisely than perhaps a long one would.

Which is better? Matching the string spacing with a short pup or filling the routing with a long one? Thanks in advance!

P.S. The stock pups are both long.
Id match the string spacing. You can figure it out from the bridge and nut if you know the measurments. Like 19mm or 17mm bridge vs 1-3/4" or 1-7/8" nut
 
Looking for some new Jazz pickups. I want to replace the stock pickups in my fretless Squier Jazz. I always thought they sounded weak and tame, and comparing them to my MIJ Geddy they're extremely weak. Very low output as well. I know I can't expect the same sound from the 2 basses (different body woods, bridges, pickup spacing, etc.) but I just want some pickups with a bit more growl to them and more "Jazz" like with a Jaco-like tone.

Any recommendations?
 
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Looking for some new Jazz pickups. I want to replace the stock pickups in my fretless Squier Jazz. I always thought they sounded weak and tame, and comparing them to my MIJ Geddy they're extremely weak. Very low output as well. I know I can't expect the same sound from the 2 basses (different body woods, bridges, pickup spacing, etc.) but I just want some pickups with a bit more growl to them and more "Jazz" like with a Jaco-like tone.

Any recommendations?
Is it a Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz with the Duncan Designed Pickups? I had one, and the pickups were not very weak at all, especially when I wired them in series. Have you optimized the pickup height? That can make a difference. Now having said that, I did snag some DiMarzio Model J's in a fit of modification mayhem. Now, those pups have some output with some serious growl.....
 
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Is it a Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz with the Duncan Designed Pickups? I had one, and the pickups were not very weak at all, especially when I wired them in series. Have you optimized the pickup height? That can make a difference. Now having said that, I did snag some DiMarzio Model J's in a fit of modification mayhem. Now, those pups have some output with some serious growl.....

Yes and yes. I haven't messed with the pickup height but I suppose I could. They don't look like they're too low but I still think I'd like to try some different pickups. And from what I've read, aren't the Dimazrio Model J's the most "P" sounding Jazz pickups one can get?

I've been doing a fair bit of reading up on Jazz pickups, and based on reviews and what else I've read the following seem to be good candidates for what I'm looking for:

Fender Original Jazz
Fender Super 55 Jazz
Fender Custom Shop '60s Jazz
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II
Seymour Duncan Weather Report

Any new opinions on these?
 
I've never had em in a personal bass yet, but from what I've heard so far in clips and on a buddy's bass, the CS60's are sounding really great to me. Clear, open and punchy. Not as growly as a lot of others, but that's fine with me :)
 
Yes and yes. I haven't messed with the pickup height but I suppose I could. They don't look like they're too low but I still think I'd like to try some different pickups. And from what I've read, aren't the Dimazrio Model J's the most "P" sounding Jazz pickups one can get?

I've been doing a fair bit of reading up on Jazz pickups, and based on reviews and what else I've read the following seem to be good candidates for what I'm looking for:

Fender Original Jazz
Fender Super 55 Jazz
Fender Custom Shop '60s Jazz
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II
Seymour Duncan Weather Report

Any new opinions on these?
I wouldn't call them a 'P' sound at all- a bit more scooped than the typical P. Probably better described by Smash in his review of the Model J's in post #5 of the original thread- "J" pickups discussion and comparisons.
 
Looking for some new Jazz pickups. I want to replace the stock pickups in my fretless Squier Jazz. I always thought they sounded weak and tame, and comparing them to my MIJ Geddy they're extremely weak. Very low output as well. I know I can't expect the same sound from the 2 basses (different body woods, bridges, pickup spacing, etc.) but I just want some pickups with a bit more growl to them and more "Jazz" like with a Jaco-like tone.

Any recommendations?
Fender Custom Shop 60's J Bass pickups, all the growl you'll ever need
 
I just got back my J-Bass with the newly installed Nordstrand nj4sv pickups. My previous pickups were the stock pickups (vintage) that came with my Fender CS shop '64. To me, the Nordstrands sound pretty identical to the Fender vintage ... but with no noise:) I'm very happy as I was not looking for a major fundamental change ... just none of the 60 cycle hum which was making me crazy.

I also had a Tonestlyer installed, which is a great upgrade; well worth it.