"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

[tyohars]

Just found the Haussel BM (Big Magnet) PU for J bass. Just curious about how they sound with one pole per string. Is it make sound like MM? I'm interested with the looks because it's different. Anyone experience the PU? I'm asking because can't found the thread about this PU nor the soundclip on YouTube.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Just found the Haussel BM (Big Magnet) PU for J bass. Just curious about how they sound with one pole per string. Is it make sound like MM? I'm interested with the looks because it's different. Anyone experience the PU? I'm asking because can't found the thread about this PU nor the soundclip on YouTube.

I have never played through this particular pick up although all the clips of Haussel pickups that I hear a sound fantastic! I have definitely played through another brand of jazz pickup wound around large single poles, and they still sound like a Jazz bass pickup only they seem to have a more heavy attack due to the single pole and a fatter sound with a wide, crisp mid-range. I personally like the tone every time I hear it and play through it.

 

[tyohars]

I have never played through this particular pick up although all the clips of Haussel pickups that I hear a sound fantastic! I have definitely played through another brand of jazz pickup wound around large single poles, and they still sound like a Jazz bass pickup only they seem to have a more heavy attack due to the single pole and a fatter sound with a wide, crisp mid-range. I personally like the tone every time I hear it and play through it.

Thank you for your input. I'm looking for more aggressive to slap on my Sire V7.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Thank you for your input. I'm looking for more aggressive to slap on my Sire V7.

I think I would recommend the Delano single pole jazz bass pickups with the ceramic magnets. I have a feeling that will get you what you are after with a big heavy attack, and the grindey upper mids and treble that come from ceramic pickups. Here is the link to their website, I believe you can order Delano products online through various retailers.

DELANO JMVC 4 FE/M2

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Just found the Haussel BM (Big Magnet) PU for J bass. Just curious about how they sound with one pole per string. Is it make sound like MM? I'm interested with the looks because it's different. Anyone experience the PU? I'm asking because can't found the thread about this PU nor the soundclip on YouTube.

I’m sure these are great sounding pickups , but I would have chosen something other than BM as a model designation. Unless that was the intention. As in they are are the ....

 

[tyohars]

I’m sure these are great sounding pickups , but I would have chosen something other than BM as a model designation. Unless that was the intention. As in they are are the ....

What's wrong with BM?

I think I would recommend the Delano single pole jazz bass pickups with the ceramic magnets. I have a feeling that will get you what you are after with a big heavy attack, and the grindey upper mids and treble that come from ceramic pickups. Here is the link to their website, I believe you can order Delano products online through various retailers.

DELANO JMVC 4 FE/M2

Thank you!

 

[crucislancer]

What's wrong with BM?

Thank you!

Lol BM = bowel movement

 

[Newbilong]

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?

I don't have much to compare them to, but the Kleins sound very, very tasty on my jazz. I have EB cobalts on at the moment, but the Kleins sounded eye-wateringly good with DM Helix round-wounds. Pickup height also makes a big difference.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I don't have much to compare them to, but the Kleins sound very, very tasty on my jazz. I have EB cobalts on at the moment, but the Kleins sounded eye-wateringly good with DM Helix round-wounds. Pickup height also makes a big difference.

Thanks for your input! When you say pickup height makes a big difference what exactly do you mean?

 

[Newbilong]

Oh, i'm no engineer, but i think there's a sweet spot for any pickup where there's the perfect amount of metal wobbling through its magnetic field to generate a signal where you can hear the properties of the pickup and string in balance. Pickup too high, and you hear string moving through magnetic field (more boominess). String too low and you hear a pickup excited by a moving string (thin and mechanical). But get the height right and you get harmonic and dynamic balance and interplay.

Fender's recommended pickup height is a good place to start.

 

[UmamiBass]

Does anyone have any experience with stock wind Lindy Fralin Jazz pickups?

I have a set in a Mike Lull J bass. They're really nice! The bass sounds a bit mellow, but I think it's the alder/rosewood combo in it. They're really quiet for singles, and have a very "broken in" vintage vibe. I like them a lot! Recently, I played the pure vintage 60's jazz bass, and I've played a custom shop team built bass. I find the PV bass to be super mellow, and the custom shop to have super responsive clear JB picklups. The Fralins sound kind of in between. They pickup a TON of information from the strings, but aren't so hot or detailed that you feel you HAVE to roll the tone knob off to tame some highs.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Hey everybody, I just posted a thread with a poll trying to decide between Aguilar and Klein jazz bass pickups. If anyone feels like weighing in on the subject, feel free to vote or post in the thread, thanks guys!

New Jazz bass pickups decision.....With poll!!!

 

[Jeff59]

A very basic question about topology for my Fender P-bass with a mod of a bridge J-bass pickup. When I first installed this J-bass pick up back in the 80s, the tech added a switch to toggle between the J bass pick, the P-bass pickup or both pick-tups combined, with 3 pots, one for volume for each pickup, and one for tone across both pickups. Lately, the switch went dead, and so a tech suggested a different topology ... using 2 concentric pots (like the vintage Jazz basses, one for each pickup, with both volume and tone, and elimination of the 3-position toggle switch. All passive electronics. I am curious as to anyone else's experience with these two different topologies with a completely passive design ... which is the better option?

 

[UmamiBass]

A very basic question about topology for my Fender P-bass with a mod of a bridge J-bass pickup. When I first installed this J-bass pick up back in the 80s, the tech added a switch to toggle between the J bass pick, the P-bass pickup or both pick-tups combined, with 3 pots, one for volume for each pickup, and one for tone across both pickups. Lately, the switch went dead, and so a tech suggested a different topology ... using 2 concentric pots (like the vintage Jazz basses, one for each pickup, with both volume and tone, and elimination of the 3-position toggle switch. All passive electronics. I am curious as to anyone else's experience with these two different topologies with a completely passive design ... which is the better option?

Stack knobs give you a lot of tonal versatility, and even offer some sounds that you can't quite get with other control setups. Out of the 3 (Volume/3 way switch/Tone, Volume/Volume/Tone, and Volume/Tone stack knob), this configuration may offer the best benefit to a system where you have two different pickup types. In many situations, the P pickup can tend to crowd out the J pickup a bit in the sonic landscape. Many P pickups just have more output than a traditional(assuming you're using a single coil) J bass pickup. A lot of times with J pickups, you just want to find a balance between the two pickups that gives the tone you want, but a PJ setup is more of a balancing act.

Be mindful though that adding a second tone control and capictory will load down the signal a little. I had a bass where this totally fixed a pickup that was a little too aggressive, but with different pickups in that bass, it was too mellow. This type of tone control system may work very well depending on your needs though. The other downside, is that you have to twist more knobs to dial in a sound vs. some of the other options listed. This may not be an issue though. I found myself just dialing in the tone setting, and then adjusting volume to my needs on each pickup.

Not sure if that's a great answer, but hopefully it gives you a few things to think about!

 

[Jeff59]

Stack knobs give you a lot of tonal versatility, and even offer some sounds that you can't quite get with other control setups. Out of the 3 (Volume/3 way switch/Tone, Volume/Volume/Tone, and Volume/Tone stack knob), this configuration may offer the best benefit to a system where you have two different pickup types. In many situations, the P pickup can tend to crowd out the J pickup a bit in the sonic landscape. Many P pickups just have more output than a traditional(assuming you're using a single coil) J bass pickup. A lot of times with J pickups, you just want to find a balance between the two pickups that gives the tone you want, but a PJ setup is more of a balancing act.

Be mindful though that adding a second tone control and capictory will load down the signal a little. I had a bass where this totally fixed a pickup that was a little too aggressive, but with different pickups in that bass, it was too mellow. This type of tone control system may work very well depending on your needs though. The other downside, is that you have to twist more knobs to dial in a sound vs. some of the other options listed. This may not be an issue though. I found myself just dialing in the tone setting, and then adjusting volume to my needs on each pickup.

Not sure if that's a great answer, but hopefully it gives you a few things to think about!

Thanks so much for your response. It mirrors what the guitar tech who suggested this set up told me. Each pot has its own tone control and separate resistor, thus providing a wider range of tones. He also suggested a volume bleed so that even at low volume settings on each pickup, the tone can be maintained and as volume is increased, remains consistent. Given his suggestion and your feedback. I wonder why more mods adding the J bass pickup to a standard P-bass dont follow the same topology versus the 2 volume control and 1 tone control method. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Well folks, I just popped on a set of Aguilar 60's Jazz Bass pickups (AG 4J 60) to replace the stock pickups in my 03' Highway One Jazz Bass! Very excited to get these puppies in my hands and installed in my J bass! I will give a detailed review of my impressions of the pickups....

 

[Mike Bollen]

Im looking to change my pickups in my ibanez soundgear what do you guys think? BTW im trying to mimic the sound of a Warwick, Musicman, and possible a Fender. Also i play in a Reggae/rock/funk jam band, and need a punchy yet clear noticeable sound. Ps. not much of a gear head YET so please help.

I've just changed my Ibby 700's pickups from stock to a pair of Aguilar Super Doubles and they're fantastic. Hot but under control and makes a pretty much budget bass sound awesome. Now I'm in the middle of changing out the stock pups of my Aerodyne Jazz to Aguilar P/J HC's to try and get rid of the J pup noise. Also changing out the Volume/Volume set up to add a Blend pot making life easier on the fly. So not sure if this helps but the Aguilars add another dimension to the Ibby, and I get a wide range of sounds from it, but overall the Aerodyne gets me the real Fender vibe.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Just received a beautiful set of Aguilar AG 4J 60 Jazz Bass pickups! They will be installed in my Highway One Jazz Bass this weekend and I will report back as to the sonic qualities of the pickups!

 

[Suhr]

I was going to suggest the Suhr-era Jazz basses as well. They look like hum-cancelling split coils from the bottom.

Also, I see the stray yellow wire in your photo, there is also a yellow in this photo:
View attachment 3209061
I am willing to bet they are the Suhr pickups.

These are my design from Fender, we have a new Suhr design that is a little better IMO and has two magnets per string

 

[PawleeP]

Thanks so much for your response. It mirrors what the guitar tech who suggested this set up told me. Each pot has its own tone control and separate resistor, thus providing a wider range of tones. He also suggested a volume bleed so that even at low volume settings on each pickup, the tone can be maintained and as volume is increased, remains consistent. Given his suggestion and your feedback. I wonder why more mods adding the J bass pickup to a standard P-bass dont follow the same topology versus the 2 volume control and 1 tone control method. Thanks for your feedback.

Do you really mean a treble bleed cap on the j vol pot, 1 or 2 nf?
just wondering, p and thanx for the posting on this man