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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

#941
Jim C said:
Interesting
The website shows that the single coils have more dynamics and "color" (whatever that means) than the hum cancelling in the tone section.
Click to expand...

Nordstrand makes very nice stuff, and they're a great company to do business with, but their descriptions and "tonal rankings" or whatever you want to call them are not something you should base any decisions off of. You kinda have to take the plunge and see if you like one.

Of course, that's true of pretty much any pickup manufacturer - there isn't enough data provided by anyone to really make rational decisions from.

The old tale that single coils sound different than split coils is an idea that I don't think would survive blind testing - the things that might make them sound different are things that you could easily compensate for in the design of a split coil.
 
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#942
micguy said:
Nordstrand makes very nice stuff, and they're a great company to do business with, but their descriptions and "tonal rankings" or whatever you want to call them are not something you should base any decisions off of. You kinda have to take the plunge and see if you like one.
Click to expand...
Sometimes you can get lucky and find a local bass player playing on something that's noteworthy.
 
#944
micguy said:
Sure, but unless/until it's my fingers and my rig, I really never have a solid idea of what something will sound like. Way too many variables to tell listening to someone else play through their rig.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. If you're in a position to see/hear up close, or talk to the bass player and let him explain his gear, or even play it for a couple of minutes, it puts you well ahead of where you'd be just trying to glean things off the internet. True, his/her gear is not your gear, but if you know what the actual gear is, you can account for that somewhat in your calculations.
 
#945
I have a fretless with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz hum cancelling (Audere onboard preamp)

and my 4 string fretted with Fralin Hum Cancelling (East J-Retro preamp)

jazz fretted.jpg


20211101_172120.jpg
 
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#947
Hello Everyone!
I recently acquired a fretless bass with only one just pick up in the bridge position. It’s a Warmoth build with roasted maple neck and body.

The pickup is a Genuine Fender American Vintage 75 Reissue Bridge pickup. It is brand new.

Does anyone know the details On this pickup? Is it wound hot? Or, Same as the “original” Fender?


I’m going to try the bass for a while and usually use Dimarzio model j’s my fretless basses.

If you only had one jazz pickup on a fretless , which would you choose?

Thankyou!
Pbass888
Edit:I know the golden rule (pics or it didn’t happen :) … here is a pic of the pickup and the body

7784e1fe-5523-4f9b-8db0-97dc75923e31-jpeg.jpg


Edit : I do post this in a tread also .
 
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#948
pbass888 said:
Hello Everyone!
I recently acquired a fretless bass with only one just pick up in the bridge position. It’s a Warmoth build with roasted maple neck and body.

The pickup is a Genuine Fender American Vintage 75 Reissue Bridge pickup. It is brand new.

Does anyone know the details On this pickup? Is it wound hot? Or, Same as the “original” Fender?


I’m going to try the bass for a while and usually use Dimarzio model j’s my fretless basses.

If you only had one jazz pickup on a fretless , which would you choose?

Thankyou!
Pbass888
Edit:I know the golden rule (pics or it didn’t happen :) … here is a pic of the pickup and the body

View attachment 4498153

Edit : I do post this in a tread also .
Click to expand...
If you love the sound..then great...You could try the Custom Shop 60s which I prefer...But $$$$$$$$
 
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#951
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#952
Since this is a Jazz puckuo thread, I'll throw in 2 recent observations.
Delano and Nordstrand.

The Delano's with fat pole pieces are lively so you need to be careful with the preamp you match with.
For example, I wouldn't go lively/lively unless you want to get into MM clank territory.
Yep, you can dial them down too..lol.

I'm working those out...matched with a BassMods pre amp. Overall sound is zingy Jazz.

Nordstrand JB singles. Cultured and classy.
Matched with a flexicore.

Early days on this but even getting quite extreme on the pre, is still musical and pleasing.

Except on the bass pot. But then plus 10db on any bass is not going to work in my view with any Preamp.

I generally stick around a max of plus or minus a qtr turn on the dial of the treble or bass pot.

A mid sweep, is a bit different but same sort of ethic for me.

I can get the model numbers of the above, but dont recall from memory.
The Nords are JB singles, but not sure what that is in their product line, but they are very nice anyway.
 
#953
Just got some (used) Lollar pups from a Talkbass-er for my parts J-bass. Installed them today. WOW! These Lollar pickups are easily the best jazz bass style pickups I've ever played. I've always gravitated toward j-bass and have played many over the years, gone through lots of PUPs. I personally like these much better than different DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan and Fender pups I've had. Obviously it's a matter of the tone you want... but what impresses me so much is that they have a big BOOMing sound, yet are still articulate. Pretty decent growl too. I'm very happy! :-)
 
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#954
BigBluez said:
Just got some (used) Lollar pups from a Talkbass-er for my parts J-bass. Installed them today. WOW! These Lollar pickups are easily the best jazz bass style pickups I've ever played. I've always gravitated toward j-bass and have played many over the years, gone through lots of PUPs. I personally like these much better than different DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan and Fender pups I've had. Obviously it's a matter of the tone you want... but what impresses me so much is that they have a big BOOMing sound, yet are still articulate. Pretty decent growl too. I'm very happy! :)
Click to expand...

I tried a set of Lollars on one of my old Jazz basses as well, since I have Frahlin split coil on my others (and a set of Nordstrand split coil going on a fretless once I get it back), I decided I’d go back and see what I might be missing with single coils. They make the set RWRP, so I have no noise at all. I love the fullness and just the right amount of growl from them when dialed back just a touch.
 
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#958
Wilbyman said:
I am fairly interested in the Lollars. I have Antiquity II’s wound around 8k. I was listening to this video and the Lollars seem like they have something that I like that the other pickups do not have…
They just sound spongier and richer to me. Curious if you guys hear what I am hearing. W
Click to expand...

Yes... I just put Lollars in a j-bass, and they're my favorite jazz bass pickups ever. Definitely Rich. "Spongier" is a good word, actually!
 
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#960
Update on Delano FE and Nordstrand JB singles.
I've got the Delano's zoned in with a BassMods pre amp and I'm liking this more and more. Of course, I've worked on the playability side too so this is my number 1 on gigs, replacing a CS with Fender CS70's. A fresh set of strings will be all that is needed to keep this in the game.

The Norstrand bass isn't quite there yet. The JB singles are growling hooked up with the Flexicore which I'm trying to tame as I prefer cleaner.
The set up isnt quite there either, so its a flip of a coin which out these last 2 makes the gig rosta.
Head says go with what I am familiar with but heart says new bass and its only a backup.
 

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