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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II
- Thread starter grygrx
- Start date
Just put some Aguilar 70’s in my 2010 Jazz Deluxe and they really opened up the tone, clearer, tighter sounding. Left the stock preamp in it for now, actually sounds pretty good with the Aggies, but I love the passive setting. Much louder than the N3s.
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I'm a big fan of Lindy Fralin pickups. I had a Fender AV 62 reissue Jazz and swapping the stock pickups, which were nice but the LFs took the bass to another level. Still had that vintage tone but with more punch across the all the strings.
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There are actually lots of very good after-market pickups currently availabe on the market for a jazz bass ... Fralin is surely amongst the best; the same may be said, in my opinion, of the pickups from Lollar, Aguilar, Nordstrand and Klein.
It would be worth mentioning the Fender PV '64 pickups, which are killer 60's jazz bass pickups and could be found at a lesser price than those mentioned above .. I personally believe that they can incarnate the epitome of the 60's jazz bass pickup fairly easily although Lollar's and Klein's pickups may be considered slightly clearer (at least for me, but this is subjective anyway) ... in terms of true vintage tone, I (always personally) deem Fralin's standard pickups being half a step below Lollar's and Klein's pickups as, I believe, they tend to sound a little brittle in the high register, more than what the Lollar's and Klein's seem to do (it seems that there is a sort of cult for the Aero pickups, however I don't consider them any better than those which I mentioned .... to be honest, I don't like how they sound, hence I didn't talk about them) ... however, when we consider the personal taste of each bass player all of the above considerations fall ... everyone should save enough money to test and finally adopt the set of pickups which better aligns with his or her personal ideas about how a set of passive jazz bass pickups should sound ...
It would be worth mentioning the Fender PV '64 pickups, which are killer 60's jazz bass pickups and could be found at a lesser price than those mentioned above .. I personally believe that they can incarnate the epitome of the 60's jazz bass pickup fairly easily although Lollar's and Klein's pickups may be considered slightly clearer (at least for me, but this is subjective anyway) ... in terms of true vintage tone, I (always personally) deem Fralin's standard pickups being half a step below Lollar's and Klein's pickups as, I believe, they tend to sound a little brittle in the high register, more than what the Lollar's and Klein's seem to do (it seems that there is a sort of cult for the Aero pickups, however I don't consider them any better than those which I mentioned .... to be honest, I don't like how they sound, hence I didn't talk about them) ... however, when we consider the personal taste of each bass player all of the above considerations fall ... everyone should save enough money to test and finally adopt the set of pickups which better aligns with his or her personal ideas about how a set of passive jazz bass pickups should sound ...
Well put Gianni, I have 3 fender basses with fender pure vintage pickups in them. Fender Original (which i believe were called PV64), 75 reissue (great pickup) and PV 74's. I like all three but i tend to favour the Fenders originals and 75's
I also tried the Lindy Fralins, but found the highs too brittle sounding for my taste. Tried Model J's and Ultra Jazz, not for me
I like the sound of the Aguilars on samples i've heard, but never tried them, they would be my next choice.
I agree about there being a kind of cult around some brands, like the Aeros..To me they sound close to the fenders.
When i look at the spec of my pickup choices, i tend to go for the plain enamel wire wound pickups.. Lots of good pickups out there, but an expensive job testing them all out
I'll be getting a new American Jazz within the next week. I won an auction for a used '97 American, no idea how it will sound with the stock pickups. I did have a '02 I loved a few years ago, and should not have gotten rid of. But I might be in the market for some new pickups soon.
I had a '97 MiA Jazz, and it sounded amazing with the stock pickups.
... still waiting for @Pbassmanca impressions on the Aguilars after their installation and test run ... 
I still like my good ol NJ4's on my 86 MIJ jazz...very full and clear.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I played one of the new Fender Performer series Jazz basses made in the US, the other day and I have to say the pickups in that bass were phenomenal. The best way I can describe them is as striking a perfect balance between the best of the 60s and 70s Jazz bass tones without anything extraneous to detract from the sound. Tight warm lows, Zippy mids and just the right amount of highs, so that even the tone pot dimed you still have a balanced sound. I believe they call them "Yosimite" pickups, and had I known about them I may have gone ahead and ordered a set for my Highway 1. That particular performer bass had a maple fretboard and satin finish, the most beautiful neck and was very well-balanced and lower mid weight. If I had $1,600 Canadian I would have taken it home with me right then and there....
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I have a Fender Original 60s Jazz - and I think the bridge pickup is toast. Anyway - I can't find the Fender Pure Vintage 64 pups anywhere. I'm not sure they even sell them on their own anymore. I've see a bunch sold a while ago on Reverb. Anyway - nothing out there. So the question: Need an alternative for these. I definitely want the vintage 60s sounds - and if there are any out there that are warmer than the Pure Vintage 64s -- I'm willing to take a shot. BTW - My neck pickup sounds fantastic. Just not getting any substance on the bridge pup.
You’re right, the Pure Vintage 64 J P/Us are no longer available on their own. Other than the American Original ‘60s Jazz, they only come in the shell pink Flea signature Jazz Basses. They are my favorite reissue pickups, and I have them in a couple of my Jazzes - There are no warmer RI pickups made IMO! I think the next best RI J pickups are the Seymour Duncan Antiquity IIs... I say “next best” because I think they sound every bit as good and warm as the ‘64s, but they are about $200/set new (the ‘64s were about $110 when they were sold seperately), so for the price and tone, the ‘64s win. They pop up used here and there, but usually for more than they used to sell for new a couple years ago. I have used the Pure Vintage ‘74s in several of my builds (which these are still available on their own and retail for about $115/set nowdays) and they are wonderful too, and still a lot cheaper than the Antiquities. The ‘74s are just a tiny bit hotter than the ‘64s and Antiquities, which isn’t a bad thing - roll the tone down and they can still be plenty warm. So I recommend the ‘74s.
Thank you for the input. if anyone has thoughts on the following: I'd sure appreciate it. I got it narrowed down to one of these three ...
Lindy Fralin Jazz Pickups - with a +5% overwind - $190
Klein 1962 Epic Series Jazz - $240
Seymour Duncan Antiquity IIs - $198
Lindy Fralin Jazz Pickups - with a +5% overwind - $190
Klein 1962 Epic Series Jazz - $240
Seymour Duncan Antiquity IIs - $198
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Hi everybody.
I’ve been reading talkbass for a long time and now registed to ask.
Please, I need help to identify my J-style pickups!
Hope for your help.
Sorry for my english, i’m from russia
I’ve been reading talkbass for a long time and now registed to ask.
Please, I need help to identify my J-style pickups!
Hope for your help.
Sorry for my english, i’m from russia
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Love the 74's....I have basses with the 74's, Fender Originals and Fender 75 reissues. My favourites are the 74's.
Go with the Klein so you can tell us how they are ... ehm ... do something for the forum
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Thanks, im glad too)
I havn’t. I bought this p/u in Tokio in 2014 on aftermarket. Seller told me, that it is USA made, but it was quite difficult to inderstand him, because of language barrier.
So i have doubts about it.
I have notice, that plastic covers have the same prodiction sights as old usa have.
And the top of covers have some “grains” stripes.
I know that wires (yellow) are not original fender usa, but weld on one p/u looks like stock (or just wery old), so wires probably are stock. Also never saw that type of wires on japan p/u.
And i never saw original usa p/u so can not compare to be shure about it. Only on google pics.
Impedance is about 7 - 7.2 kOm
Hope for help from people, who knows this stuff
Thanks!
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I think thay can be whatever without any visible markings, codes or writings on the bottom .. what did the seller tell you about them, what did you manage to understand from him? Why did you buy them? What did drive you towards buying this particular set of pickups in Japan? Did the seller tell you where he took them from more or less?
