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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II
- Thread starter grygrx
- Start date
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,063
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,605
- 18,641
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Sounds pretty gnarly through iPhone speakers. I imagine it sounds even better when listened to properly.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I would like to know more as well. For my first foray into jazz pickups it was 50/50 choice between Fralin and nords, I with stock 60's wind nj4's. Ive always wondered how the two compared.
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Recently picked up a 2004 Mexican Jazz. It has the pickups with the raised pole pieces on the A and D strings, on both pups. What is the story behind this style of Jazz pup, differences in tone, etc. ? It does seem to sound different than my other Jazz basses with stock pups, a little more mellower tone. They also don't seem as powerful as my other Jazz pups. My apologies if this has been discussed before !
Should be LOTS of people here with good things to say about Fralins (I've never used them). Fralin was the top name around here for a long time, a few years ago at least. Seems to have fallen off the radar a little lately, but undoubtedly Fralin is still making excellent pickups.
I have the same....of course my house amp rig is an Eden Metro (450 watts) into an 8x10 or 2x15 with EV's but they do seem somewhat mellow and a bit laidback.
For some reason i dont care for them as much as my USA Peavey Foundation with Super Ferrites (think J bass on steroids) when overdriven by various pedals, especially the neck PU in the MIM J Bass.
However i am fine with them for cleaner mellow J bass tones and so far only have used rounds.
You might play around with PU height and different strings....i am curious what others think of these PUs, so as to compare to others?
FWIW, I got a good deal on a used set of Lindy Fralin -5% wound vintage Jazz pickups. I still haven't installed them, but I will let the thread know once I get there.
Fender Jazz Bass CIJ 75 Reissue, rosewood neck, Alder body..
I've just swapped out my Lindy Fralin J pickups for Fender Pure Vintage 74's. The Lindys are slightly hotter and sound ok, but i wasn't blown away by them. The PV74's have the bottom end i was looking for, i have to measure the frequency to see what they are! nice round weighty low end.. upper mids that i like...and smooth highs, the lindys highs are slightly more brittle, and the high mid that i like is missing. The PV74's just seem to suit this bass!
All a matter of taste thought!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,063
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
On the Corner
I have the PV 74's in a J and agree with your assessment. Also have used LF split-coils which are nice also.
On the Corner
Have you tried the Fender Originals...if so how do they compare to the 74's..
I'm curious about these as well. They look like the old Vintage Reissue '62s that they discontinued about a decade ago, but curious if they sound like them.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
- 222,063
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I’ve only used the “Original” P Bass P/U, which I still have it in one of my Ps, so that means it sounds really good or I would’ve ditched it! It has a very pre-ceebie ‘60s-ish warm tone to it (which is a bit ironic because I have it in a ‘76 Frankenstein bass, but I like the way it sounds). I’d imagine the “Original” Js are made to have that early ‘60s sound too, but IDK for sure.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I came across this video series last night ; a very good demo of various J bass pickups including the ones mentioned in your post! If you go to YouTube you can view the videos in higher quality.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Hey everybody, so as it stands right now I seem to be gravitating towards a few different options for changing out the pickups in my 2003 Fender Highway One Jazz bass. Right now it seems to be a decision between the Klein 62's, and the Aguilar 60's, with consideration also being given to the Lindy Fralin's although I'm not really sure on the Fralin's. I can't remember if we talked on this thread about Arcane brand pickups and whether or not they have jazz pickups that anyone likes, also it seems that Mojotone is a contender for higher-end pickups. Thoughts anyone? 
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Also as a sidebar, I wonder how the fender pure vintage 74 pickups would sound installed in a Jazz bass with the bridge pickup in the 60's position? I know we're splitting hairs here but you never know it might be a tasty combination?
