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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

#321
darkinners said:
Model J sound punchy asF, the neck pu sound almost like P pickups, I've been using them for many years
Until last year I switched to Nordstrand NJ4SV. Almost too bright compares to Model J. I kinda miss the Model J might switch back.
Click to expand...

Due to a shipping snafu I don't have it yet (Friday) - will review once it's been installed. I have NJ4's in another J and love them. What does SV stand for?
 
#322
JIO said:
Due to a shipping snafu I don't have it yet (Friday) - will review once it's been installed. I have NJ4's in another J and love them. What does SV stand for?
Click to expand...

IIRC NJ4 has 3 versions

NJ4 - True single coil
NJ4SV - hum cancelling split coil design(just like Model J)
NJ4SE - also split coil design but use different gauge coil wire, has darker tone than NJ4SV
 
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#324
Ok - got the Model J Dimarzio and it is a very similar output to the Super 55. (thanks @darkinners) I dig it - very much the classic bridge J tone/sound. But.., with both pu's dimed, the low-end suffers/evaporates and the overall output lowers. - ? - I have a few J's and this is never the case. What is going on here?
 
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#325
JIO said:
Ok - got the Model J Dimarzio and it is a very similar output to the Super 55. (thanks @darkinners) I dig it - very much the classic bridge J tone/sound. But.., with both pu's dimed, the low-end suffers/evaporates and the overall output lowers. - ? - I have a few J's and this is never the case. What is going on here?
Click to expand...
Phasing? Swap the leads on one of the pickups.
 
#327
The DiMarzio WillPower in my Shehan bass is the best I have heard in a long time.
 

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#330
sheltjo6 said:
Update: I installed a set of Aguilar AG 4J-60 pickups in my JB-2. I have mixed feelings regarding the tone of these pickups. These pickups do bring out more mids, but they also bring out low frequency fundamentals. Notes played on the E string lack definition and clarity. The rest of the strings sound good. I may check out a set of Nordstrand NJ4 pickups. I have a NP4 installed on my LB-100 and it sounds great. The quest for the perfect tone continues.
Click to expand...

Final Update: Installed a set of Nordstrand NJ4SE a few months ago.
At first I liked the tone these pickups produced, but after a few weeks, my affair with these pickups ended.

Three sets of pickups and the bass's tone was dead. Original G&L single coil jazz pickups, Aguilar AG4J-60, and Nordstrand NJ4SE.
The tone was bass heavy, mid-scooped, and no highs whatsoever, even with new strings.

Finally, two weeks ago, I gutted out all the passive electronics and installed a set of EMG JAX pickups I had lying around and whoa.....the bass came alive.

The EMG pickups and pots evened out the tone of this bass.
The bass tone was tamer, and the mid and high frequencies were present.

I tried a couple of tone circuits:
EMG EXB: This produces an instant "active" tone at the twist of the knob. Great for slapping, but not much else. Removed.
EMG BTC: Provided separate bass and treble tone control. But, it was overkill. The bass did not need a preamp. Removed.
EMG Active Tone Control: Works fine.

I'm not 100% certain the stock passive pots or tone cap were the culprit to the bad tone of my JB-2, but after replacing all the electronics this bass is now a keeper.

PS: I tested the Aguilar and Nordstrand pickups in another Jazz Bass I have, and neither pickup produced the tone I was seeking.

Here is what I'm using:
Warmoth Jazz: Nordstrand NJ4.
G&L JB-2: EMG JAX.
 
#332
sheltjo6 said:
Final Update: Installed a set of Nordstrand NJ4SE a few months ago.
At first I liked the tone these pickups produced, but after a few weeks, my affair with these pickups ended.

Three sets of pickups and the bass's tone was dead. Original G&L single coil jazz pickups, Aguilar AG4J-60, and Nordstrand NJ4SE.
The tone was bass heavy, mid-scooped, and no highs whatsoever, even with new strings.

Finally, two weeks ago, I gutted out all the passive electronics and installed a set of EMG JAX pickups I had lying around and whoa.....the bass came alive.

The EMG pickups and pots evened out the tone of this bass.
The bass tone was tamer, and the mid and high frequencies were present.

I tried a couple of tone circuits:
EMG EXB: This produces an instant "active" tone at the twist of the knob. Great for slapping, but not much else. Removed.
EMG BTC: Provided separate bass and treble tone control. But, it was overkill. The bass did not need a preamp. Removed.
EMG Active Tone Control: Works fine.

I'm not 100% certain the stock passive pots or tone cap were the culprit to the bad tone of my JB-2, but after replacing all the electronics this bass is now a keeper.

PS: I tested the Aguilar and Nordstrand pickups in another Jazz Bass I have, and neither pickup produced the tone I was seeking.

Here is what I'm using:
Warmoth Jazz: Nordstrand NJ4.
G&L JB-2: EMG JAX.
Click to expand...

I have a set of JAX w/9v pre in my Gildaxe Supersonic w/flats and they are very balanced with clean/distinct tonal differences. Haven't tried them w/rounds.

IMG_0612_zps7ly0bnpz.jpg
 
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#335
JIO said:
I've tried a few different Barts but have felt they were bass-heavy. How would you characterize yours?
Click to expand...
These are their bright tone pups. They also have a deep tone set. In passive mode I set my amp EQ flat and split even between the two pickups. With the preamp on I push the mids a little or go 60% to the bridge pickup. I have rolled off a little bottom end but they are never muddy. I have Barts on 2 of my 9 basses. My two go-to basses are my 4 and 5 string with Bartoloni. Don't know which are on my Ibanez SR800 but they say Bartoloni on them. I bought it used.
 
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#337
been really enjoying the pickups on my new bacchus jazz with the series/parallel boost, kinda giving me a little bit of a g&l mfd humbucker thing when it's engaged
when it's not engaged i'm getting a kind of warm and clear vintage sound that makes me think of the 60s custom shop fender pickups and the alleva coppolo vintage jazz pickups
if you are into tube od these work fabulously
 
#338
Juicyanalog said:
holy shoot...flashback illusion
looks a little like the Fender Performer I had back in the 80's
sorry for the hijack...
back to jazz pups...lol
Click to expand...

Well.., that's because it was based on the Performer! I set out to make my Supersonic with changes to a few key design areas. My 24 fret neck is a retro-modern profile (a cross between a '60 Fender J and a Parker Fly), strat-jack, string-thru, individual bridge units, active EMGX pu/harness, ebony fb, rotary tr adjuster, longer upper horn (for ideal balance) and a redefined hs w/Gibson-style set-back. (never felt the pointy spear-shape jibed with the curvaceous body)

IMG_0630_zps5q4iojq9.jpg


IMG_0631_zpszpfmauxs.jpg
 
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#340
I'm 62 now and have been playin for at least 50 years and have always been a tone -mod freak.I dig Motown to Fusion-Jazz ect.I've lost count of the basses(mostly Fender) and pickups I've swapped in and out.But almost a full circle to the Dimarzio Model J.Several hundred dollars later I'm set on these.Funny though.I sold this exact set to a guy as they were not quite there on the Jazz I had back then,bought them back but now sound superb in the Jazz I have now.Especially with a dead set of roundwounds.Punch,attack when played just slightly harder.Full tight thick bottom.They have that old mid 60's hump and polite top end.Not scooped like a '70s Jazz,more like a '60s bass.Great pickups,especially for what they cost.
 
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