"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

[invalidprotocol]

After years of trying different jazz pickups I finally tried Dimarzio Model J. I put them low on my list having read they were too dark and you had to use 500k pots. I've found them to have quite a bit of brightness even with 250K pots and wired in series. They are bright enough that it caused me to double check the wiring thinking I might have wired them parallel by accident. Tons of grunt and heft yet with plenty of top end definition. I now get the same smile as when playing a Stingray. Maybe they are a particularly good match for my bass but I wish I had started there.

 

[sulliman]

After years of trying different jazz pickups I finally tried Dimarzio Model J. I put them low on my list having read they were too dark and you had to use 500k pots. I've found them to have quite a bit of brightness even with 250K pots and wired in series. They are bright enough that it caused me to double check the wiring thinking I might have wired them parallel by accident. Tons of grunt and heft yet with plenty of top end definition. I now get the same smile as when playing a Stingray. Maybe they are a particularly good match for my bass but I wish I had started there.

I’ve been looking at the Kent Armstrong Lipstick Jazz bass pickups, I’m loving the tone on them. I’m wondering if anyone here has messed around with putting them in squier or fender jazz basses? If so anything I should look out for when putting mine in? The website says that I shouldn’t need to do any routing or anything like that but y’all know how that can turn out.

 

[Jim C]

After years of trying different jazz pickups I finally tried Dimarzio Model J. I put them low on my list having read they were too dark and you had to use 500k pots. I've found them to have quite a bit of brightness even with 250K pots and wired in series. They are bright enough that it caused me to double check the wiring thinking I might have wired them parallel by accident. Tons of grunt and heft yet with plenty of top end definition. I now get the same smile as when playing a Stingray. Maybe they are a particularly good match for my bass but I wish I had started there.

I had this experience too.
I bought these when they first came out in the late 70's / early 80's and I must have missed the 500K pot recommendation. I thought they were plenty bright with 250K pots.
I recently installed a pair of Fender 55's and am thinking about going back.
The 55's are cool but with lots of low bottom that can cause havoc even with a HPF.

 

[invalidprotocol]

I had this experience too.
I bought these when they first came out in the late 70's / early 80's and I must have missed the 500K pot recommendation. I thought they were plenty bright with 250K pots.
I recently installed a pair of Fender 55's and am thinking about going back.
The 55's are cool but with lots of low bottom that can cause havoc even with a HPF.

Ive wanted to try those but never did.

I did try Dimarzio Ultra Jazz and also the Area J. I found them both too polite. The Model J maintains an edginess that cuts well even with aging strings.

What do the 55’s compare closest with of that bunch?

 

[Jim C]

Ive wanted to try those but never did.

I did try Dimarzio Ultra Jazz and also the Area J. I found them both too polite. The Model J maintains an edginess that cuts well even with aging strings.

What do the 55’s compare closest with of that bunch?

I've only had the model J's and they are far more aggressive. The neck pup solo'd gets close to a P bass.

 

[invalidprotocol]

I've only had the model J's and they are far more aggressive. The neck pup solo'd gets close to a P bass.

Agreed. I am leaving a hint of the bridge dialed in with the neck to get a P flavor that suits me. It’s close enough for my needs.

 

[BlueTalon]

I had this experience too.
I bought these when they first came out in the late 70's / early 80's and I must have missed the 500K pot recommendation. I thought they were plenty bright with 250K pots.
I recently installed a pair of Fender 55's and am thinking about going back.
The 55's are cool but with lots of low bottom that can cause havoc even with a HPF.

If you decide you want to swap out those Fender 55s and decide to get rid of them, please let me know.

 

[CletusMarley]

I just installed some Model Js. Very ballsy pickups. Lots of aggressive bottom end. I'm loving them.

 

[CletusMarley]

Wow. The more I play these Model Js the more impressed I am. I've been looking at them for ages and listening to as many demos as I could find. They are perfect for what I do. They sound great with fuzz. Really thick and chunky bottom end but very clear and articulate at the same time. The G string was much louder than the rest. I lowered the pole pieces a quarter turn and its perfect now. Same with the bass side. About 1/8 of a turn and the low E isn't quite so boomy but retains all the balls. These pickups are outstanding. I was worried they would be too hot but they are perfect. 140 bucks well spent.

 

[gary mitchell]

I have posted this twice but I guess in the wrong place . I am putting together a Jazz bass out of parts . I have an old Squire neck and just picked up a Squire body dirt cheap. I need a set of Jazz pickups but I don’t want to spend lots of money I want good cheap ones . I going to leave this bass at church. Have any of you guys heard of Fleor Alnico V pickups , I have read good reviews about them. They are not very expensive at all. Thank you if this is the wrong place I will just guit asking I guess.

 

[BlueTalon]

I have posted this twice but I guess in the wrong place . I am putting together a Jazz bass out of parts . I have an old Squire neck and just picked up a Squire body dirt cheap. I need a set of Jazz pickups but I don’t want to spend lots of money I want good cheap ones . I going to leave this bass at church. Have any of you guys heard of Fleor Alnico V pickups , I have read good reviews about them. They are not very expensive at all. Thank you if this is the wrong place I will just guit asking I guess.

This is the right place to ask. I don't know anything about Fleor pickups, but I'm guessing it's just an alternate brand for a pickup maker that already makes pickups with different brand names for low budget basses. (I checked them out on Amazon.) The reviews may or may not actually tell you anything worthwhile.

I say go for it. I doubt anyone will ever confuse them for Delanos or Nordstands, but most pickups are, in the end, just wire and magnets. You're putting a bass together on the cheap, you may as well try the cheap pickups. That will help you complete the build. Worst case, you don't like the pickups, you're out $30 or so, and you replace them a year or so down the road.

 

[Coughdrops]

I have posted this twice but I guess in the wrong place . I am putting together a Jazz bass out of parts . I have an old Squire neck and just picked up a Squire body dirt cheap. I need a set of Jazz pickups but I don’t want to spend lots of money I want good cheap ones . I going to leave this bass at church. Have any of you guys heard of Fleor Alnico V pickups , I have read good reviews about them. They are not very expensive at all. Thank you if this is the wrong place I will just guit asking I guess.

The Duncan SJB1 set sounds great and is not expensive. The Fleor I guess are similar to other very cheap options I think made in China. Reviews seem pretty good. Price is low enough where the risk/reward ratio is in your favor.

 

[sPiKi]

Looking for some advice in upgrading the pickups in my 2010 American Standard Jazz. I'm leaning towards the Dimarzio Model Js. Anything else worth considering in that price point? I find the stock pickups lacking in output, a bit too polite and get lost in the mix when playing live. Thanks in advance.

 

[FonkBass]

I'm suprised the Model Js dont get more of a mention. When i played live with my jazz bass with the model Js in, my drummer loved it he said he could feel the bass, and the bass stuck out in the mix. When i played with my jazz bass with stock fenders in, he said the bass disappeared..funny thing is the stock bass sounded great at home and in rehearsal. If you do a lot of slap the Js can do it, not Marcus miller bright but they sound great. Excellent for finger and pick styles..just make sure your bass sounds good acoustically in the first place!

 

[Bass Blender]

I’ve got to jump on the DiMarzio model J wagon too. I recently had a set put in my G&L Tribute JB & have really been satisfied with them. It’s currently got flats on it. Might consider going back to half rounds the next time I change strings.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Looking for some advice in upgrading the pickups in my 2010 American Standard Jazz. I'm leaning towards the Dimarzio Model Js. Anything else worth considering in that price point? I find the stock pickups lacking in output, a bit too polite and get lost in the mix when playing live. Thanks in advance.

I forget which year Fender started using custom shop 60’s pickups, maybe 2011? Those are better than the ones they used prior. I used a set for a while and found improvement but they were still too polite as the strings aged. Dimarzio Model J will solve any politeness issues. Another that I have enjoyed are Lace Man-O-War. They lean warm but cut very well.

 

[Sands]

How do the Model Js compare with EMG’s active PUs?

 

[TonyP-]

How do the Model Js compare with EMG’s active PUs?

Both are ceramic based (if you are talking about standard EMGs)…
I feel ceramic responds quicker with that ever so slight mid attack.
The EMGs are a balanced ceramic J pickup but the Model Js have more lower mids and the highs are slightly relaxed.

Both are great…

 

[Ringhammer]

Stupid TalkBass… I wasn't even interested in DiMarzio (had an Area P once and it didn’t do anything for me). But now I’m thinking about Model J’s

 

[TonyP-]

I'm suprised the Model Js dont get more of a mention.

Agreed, but I think the secret is getting out.
I have no desire to play any other 4 string pickups but the model series.