"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

[Doug P]

I use Seymour Duncan Hot Stack in my Geddy’s. In the neck position. I have one out of phase and when both are full sounds so bad. But when I back off the bridge a bit, kinda P Bass sounding.

 

[KaraQ]

Hey guys, thought this might be a good place to ask my question.....



I've an old Ibanez sr885le, with dual J pickups (stock Ibanez "regulated lo-z"), both are the physical size of a 4-string bridge pickup (3 & 3/4").

My question is: do any of you know if both pickups are wired/voiced as bridge pickups, or if they have the standard neck/bridge differentiation, just the neck pickup is in the bridge size housing?
Related question: is there any markings, etc., on the pickups themselves that might indicate if there's an internal difference in them?



Thanks for any help

 

[KaraQ]

.......
Related question: is there any markings, etc., on the pickups themselves that might indicate if there's an internal difference in them?



Thanks for any help

....the only markings I could see on the bottom of the pickups was the same on both, but I don't think it's anything that will help answering my question?

Bridge:

Neck:

.....unless it means they're both the same?

 

[Ringhammer]

My guess would be they are both the same. Maybe see if they both have the same DCR? If it is not a super expensive/custom model, but instead a mass produced one, then chances are the pickups are interchangeable.

I suppose you could swap their locations and see if it sounds different?

 

[skycruiser]

Interested to hear any opinions on the two sound samples attached. One set of pickups came from a Fender 75th Anniversary Diamond Jazz bass (MIM) and the other from an older Squier VM Jazz, the ones with "Duncan Designed" printed on the pickups. The tracks are somewhat repetitive (I like to write basslines for songs that don't exist) so should be able to get the idea in the first 30s or so.

Both recordings are on my Squier bass, finger style playing, both pickups fully on, EB Cobalt Flats, tone pulled back maybe 10%, into a mic preamp box and into my USB recording interface device.

Thanks for any feedback on this!

 

[Wilbyman]

Interested to hear any opinions on the two sound samples attached...

I am listening on pretty crappy laptop speakers, but I hear that nice open/spongey high end on the first clip. The second doesn't sound too different, but it loses the highs a bit to my ear. Both sound fine. Fun comparison thanks.

 

[skycruiser]

I am listening on pretty crappy laptop speakers, but I hear that nice open/spongey high end on the first clip. The second doesn't sound too different, but it loses the highs a bit to my ear. Both sound fine. Fun comparison thanks.

The "A" recording is the Fender set, "B" is the Squier. I think the Fender pickups have a more even sound across the strings. Planning to stick with them for now!

 

[Wilbyman]

The "A" recording is the Fender set, "B" is the Squier. I think the Fender pickups have a more even sound across the strings. Planning to stick with them for now!

Cool. I have the Fender PV ‘74s in my Roadworn. They are great pickups similar to the A clip. I like them better than the pricier Duncan Antiquity II’s.

 

[ShadowGroover]

@skycruiser 2nd track sounded better to me for a rather odd reason. Track 1 sounded like a guitar riff being played on a bass with technique and EQ optimised by an electric guitarist.

Track 2 sounded like a proper bass groove, and 1 that would be right at home in the mix.

If this answer surprises anyone, rest assured it surprises me, too.

 

[skycruiser]

@skycruiser 2nd track sounded better to me for a rather odd reason. Track 1 sounded like a guitar riff being played on a bass with technique and EQ optimised by an electric guitarist.

Track 2 sounded like a proper bass groove, and 1 that would be right at home in the mix.

If this answer surprises anyone, rest assured it surprises me, too.

That's interesting - I'll listen some more with that in mind. Honestly I have trouble hearing much of a difference between them - it is subtle to me. But I'm not experienced at this type of thing (bedroom player only lol).

I'm working on some keyboard chords to go with it. If I can get them to sound decent, I'll try throwing those in the mix and post an update. Maybe with another instrument the differences in the bass sound will be much harder to hear.

One more thing - I also recorded this same bass track with each bridge and neck pick-up solo, and also all of these repeated with a set of EB Cobalt round wounds. So I have a total of 12 samples for comparison. But I haven't gone through and done the editing to create all those sound files.

 

[skycruiser]

Updated Squier "Duncan Designed" Jazz pickups vs. Fender 75th Anniversary Diamond Jazz bass pickups comparison. Now with some piano chords mixed in. (I'm not much of a piano player or mixer so there ya go...)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[ex-tension]

<offtopic>

....the only markings I could see on the bottom of the pickups was the same on both...
...unless it means they're both the same?

Those are not markings of the pickup Looks like there is a circuit board inside and SMD tantalum capacitors are not completely coverd by the epoxy potting.
See some similar capacitors:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/862/43576258142_236e7f9408_c.jpg
</offtopic>

 

[Khaer]

Guys, maybe some of You will find it helpful:

Lately I've been through the tough pickup choice for my AM Pro II Jazz. I've literally watched and listened all online comparisons and stuff I could find. It was hard, but finally decided to go with Lollars, giving them an edge over Fralins and Nords.

I'm blown away. I expected an improvement, but I didn't think that pickups can make so much difference. Everything sounds so better and fuller right now in every single configuration, but especially neck solo is awesome. And both on. And solo bridge. And tone off. All of it So pleasantly growly and vintage sounding.

If You can get Lollars - I can't see You being disappointed if You are looking for vintage J sound. 10/10.

Cheers

 

[Captain Chaos]

I bought Bare Knuckle pick ups for my Geddy last year and they are the best pickups I’ve ever had in there. Pulled the trigger this morning and bought a set of their ‘60 HF pickups for my blue burst jazz.

Pick up prices have gone up, at least I think so. The pups I got last year went went up $40, so I couldn’t pass this opportunity. $155 is not a bad deal during these times.

 

[73_Blazer]

Well I ended up ordering SD Apollos for my J bass and the Emerson kit. I bought the open box for $174 some customer return supposedly

 

[douglasbass]

I'm giving Fralin pickups a try soon, the split jazz variety as I'd really like to have no noise; Lollars were a close second however.

 

[Ringhammer]

I'm giving Fralin pickups a try soon, the split jazz variety as I'd really like to have no noise; Lollars were a close second however.

I have both singles and splits Frahlins, and Lollar singles in various Jazz basses and I like the Frahlin splits, and, so far, seem to prefer the Lollar singles compared to the Frahlin singles. Just my opinion…

 

[73_Blazer]

Well maybe I don’t even need any new pick ups this one does sound pretty good

https://youtube.com/shorts/pokNjp0ffUU?feature=share

 

[73_Blazer]

Here’s one too. I don’t know how to embed them. Let me know what you guys think about the tone. It’s just a stock G&L jazz bass and Genz Benz GBE 600 rig

https://youtube.com/shorts/cvohMke3bSQ?feature=share

 

[73_Blazer]

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/pxJ6ER_c01s?feature=share

oops, I thought maybe that would embed it