"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

[Malak the Mad]

Random question, but I have a frankenstein Jazz (1985 MIJ Fender Jazz body, 2000 MIJ Geddy Lee neck) that hasn't been getting a lot of love lately and I was interested in swapping out the pickups to make it a bit more exciting. As is, it's a great bass for recording but the pickups are noisy and harsh. Since it's already a mutt, I figure why not venture outside of the usual Fender options and look at what passive options are out there. I was always interested in trying out Bartolini as I loved playing their Stingray pickups back in the day, is there a huge difference in tone between the classic, "original", and the newer B-Axis series?

Speaking only from my experience, I find the Classics to be closer to B-Axis pickups in their capabilities...deeper, thicker and more impactful than the Originals.

Mostly looking for no more hum and less harsh highs, chasing clarity while still occupying an old school jazz sound. Any recs?

That's actually a good encapsulation of how I've been describing B-Axis pickups...Jazzy, hum-free, thumpy, but not muddy. Here's a demo I posted to another thread earlier today. See if it agrees with your ears.

 

[stambroker]

Speaking only from my experience, I find the Classics to be closer to B-Axis pickups in their capabilities...deeper, thicker and more impactful than the Originals.


That's actually a good encapsulation of how I've been describing B-Axis pickups...Jazzy, hum-free, thumpy, but not muddy. Here's a demo I posted to another thread earlier today. See if it agrees with your ears.

Wow, your demo sounds fantastic! Great playing and tone!

My contenders include the Bart Classics, the Aguilar 4J-HC recommended in this thread, and the Seymour Duncan Apollos after a ton of researching and videos. Definitely need to research the B-Axis more!!

 

[Malak the Mad]

Wow, your demo sounds fantastic! Great playing and tone!

Ugh! I only wish it was me playing!

Apologies for any confusion, but that's not me. I see, now, how poorly I phrased it. That's on me! I just thought it was a really good demo.

There are others, also not by me, that I feel are a good representation of the B-Axis' capabilities, for example...

 

[SharpCat]

Well, I couldn't stand it. Got a set of the B-Axis. Holy Moly, they are nice. I think by about 1% I like the Nordstrand nj4sv set better, but it's dang close. B-Axis are clear, warm, high output.

Tested with EB Group III flats. Bass is Fender jazz MIM player alder body, with a wenge neck.

 

[SharpCat]

Anyone have experience with the 62 style control plate with stacked dual vol/tone? I'm building one just for interest sake, wondering what to expect.

TIA!

 

[claudel]

Anyone have experience with the 62 style control plate with stacked dual vol/tone? I'm building one just for interest sake, wondering what to expect.

TIA!

Probably not what you're after, but I used one on my latest J build with VVT & an electrosocket side jack.

2 tone controls seems to be one too many for me...

 

[Lucca]

Hi everyone! I'm hoping to recreate my main gigging bass (see avatar) and want the same pickups in a new build. I'm under the impression that its pickups are likely Fender AVRI '75 or possibly '74. I have a couple of '75 bridge pickups, but can't find the related neck pickup anywhere. So my question is, would the surgical approach involving flipping pickup magnet polarity used in the YT video (link below) allow me to use a '75 bridge pickup in neck position and achieve the normal humbucking result with both pickups wide open?
A.I. mentions that two single-coil Jazz Bass pickups requires opposite magnetic polarity and for them to be wound in opposite directions to achieve the hum-cancelling effect when both are engaged. If they have the same polarity, the hum will not cancel out. So if the video approach won't work because of winding direction, then what else can be done?
Can I safely select a different Fender neck pickup to pair with a '75 bridge pickup? What should I be aware of when looking for a neck pickup that pair properly with it? Here are the DC Resistance and Inductance details for the Fender AVRI '75 pickups:

Fender AVRI '75 bridge pickup ~ DC Resistance: 7.5K Ohms ~ Inductance: 3.35 Henries
Fender AVRI '75 neck pickup ~ DC Resistance: 7.25K Ohms ~ Inductance: 3.2 Henries

I greatly appreciate your continued valuable guidance!

​

 

[llemon]

Just wanted to say i put Kloppmann JB 61 (the bass the world edition, with the slightly overwound bridge p/up) in my Am Pro II Jazz and they BLEW MY MIND. i was very skeptical (mostly because of the affiliation with "Bass the world", i don't trust that guy as all of his reviews are positive) but i have to say these are really incredible. I can't put my jazz down now

 

[Brad Maestas]

Earlier this year I got my hands on a vintage Fodera Emperor Deluxe (JJ) from 1988. I had been searching for another one after foolishly letting go a very similar example from 1989 (PJ) that I found in Nashville during college. According to Fodera, the 1988 example shipped with Bartolinis and a HAZ Labs preamp but when I received it, it had some very old EMGs in it, so the Barts must not've lasted very long.

For months I tried to see all the good things in that combination but it just wasn't doing it for me. The EMGs have a very particular sound across all frequencies as does the HAZ Labs pre. This of course is a classic combination in Spectors for rock music, with the 2-band EQ boosted. But I typically run pretty flat. It also sounded pretty horrible when panning to either pickup. So I started thinking about replacing the electronics and the first thing that came to mind were Aeros.

I have tried some of the Aero humbuckers in Foderas over the years, but never the single coil JB4s. I got on the phone with Larry a few weeks ago and had a nice long discussion about a great many things. We chatted about preamps and how they are often superfluous. I agreed. I get spectacular tone out of my Fender Jazz with Fralins and just volume-volume, no tone control (though I've left it intact so I can put it back in the circuit if I wish). So I decided to go with the JB4 Type 1s and do volume-volume, no tone, and use the roll off on the amp like I already do. That bass has an early Fodera bridge with no lateral string adjustment, just cut brass, so Larry had to take measurements and custom space the polepieces for this bass. It's slightly narrower than the standard Fender spacing. Gotta love that!

Larry suggested a 22pF ceramic disc capacitor. I wired one up to a linear pot just in case I ever want to add in the tone control. While I was waiting for them to be custom made I dropped in some standard Fralin pickups and that was already a big improvement. I was really excited to see the differences between the Fralins and the Aeros. I've used Fralins in a lot of my Fenders over the years so I am very familiar with their sound and response.

The Aeros arrived earlier than Larry estimated. I installed them a few days ago and I couldn't be happier with the results. Everything that's been said about them seems to track with what I hear and feel. Compared to the Fralins, there is the sensation of a wider frequency response overall. Surprisingly clear but not harsh. Very good output, especially without a tone pot in the mix. There's a really nice texture in the bass and midrange that I've been going for with my technique that comes out even more now with this setup. Think Steve Swallow but without a pick. It has more detail in the highs which is what I was going for as well. This is my modern Jazz bass that I'll use with my Brazilian/latin/jazz groups and the Fralins are a perfect fit for my Fender CS 1960 RI that I use on my folk/rock/country/reggae gigs.

 

[LoveThatBass]

I had a set of Aero JB-4 type 1’s in my bass and loved the tone. A couple years ago I put an Audere Preamp in it. Found the JB-4’s would not work with the Audere. I stupidly sold the JB-4 pickups here on TB. I removed the Audere that I had paired with Aquilar Noiseless pickups. It eventually found the Audere to be flat and lifeless sounding and removed it. About 2 months ago I decided to get another set of JB4-type 1’s and called Larry. He is down to earth and very helpfful. While talking I decided to ask him about how close his Noiseless pickup sounded to the JB4- type 1’s. He said some reported to hear a slight difference while others say they do not. He said he personally did not hear the difference. With that I decide to buy a set. So far I really like them.

 

[TonyP-]

Earlier this year I got my hands on a vintage Fodera Emperor Deluxe (JJ) from 1988. I had been searching for another one after foolishly letting go a very similar example from 1989 (PJ) that I found in Nashville during college. According to Fodera, the 1988 example shipped with Bartolinis and a HAZ Labs preamp but when I received it, it had some very old EMGs in it, so the Barts must not've lasted very long.

For months I tried to see all the good things in that combination but it just wasn't doing it for me. The EMGs have a very particular sound across all frequencies as does the HAZ Labs pre. This of course is a classic combination in Spectors for rock music, with the 2-band EQ boosted. But I typically run pretty flat. It also sounded pretty horrible when panning to either pickup. So I started thinking about replacing the electronics and the first thing that came to mind were Aeros.

I have tried some of the Aero humbuckers in Foderas over the years, but never the single coil JB4s. I got on the phone with Larry a few weeks ago and had a nice long discussion about a great many things. We chatted about preamps and how they are often superfluous. I agreed. I get spectacular tone out of my Fender Jazz with Fralins and just volume-volume, no tone control (though I've left it intact so I can put it back in the circuit if I wish). So I decided to go with the JB4 Type 1s and do volume-volume, no tone, and use the roll off on the amp like I already do. That bass has an early Fodera bridge with no lateral string adjustment, just cut brass, so Larry had to take measurements and custom space the polepieces for this bass. It's slightly narrower than the standard Fender spacing. Gotta love that!

Larry suggested a 22pF ceramic disc capacitor. I wired one up to a linear pot just in case I ever want to add in the tone control. While I was waiting for them to be custom made I dropped in some standard Fralin pickups and that was already a big improvement. I was really excited to see the differences between the Fralins and the Aeros. I've used Fralins in a lot of my Fenders over the years so I am very familiar with their sound and response.

The Aeros arrived earlier than Larry estimated. I installed them a few days ago and I couldn't be happier with the results. Everything that's been said about them seems to track with what I hear and feel. Compared to the Fralins, there is the sensation of a wider frequency response overall. Surprisingly clear but not harsh. Very good output, especially without a tone pot in the mix. There's a really nice texture in the bass and midrange that I've been going for with my technique that comes out even more now with this setup. Think Steve Swallow but without a pick. It has more detail in the highs which is what I was going for as well. This is my modern Jazz bass that I'll use with my Brazilian/latin/jazz groups and the Fralins are a perfect fit for my Fender CS 1960 RI that I use on my folk/rock/country/reggae gigs.

Great post Brad…I always thought of -Aeros as “Neutral as it gets” J pickup and gets more of the sound of the wood of your instrument. Where so other pickups have more of a “distinct sound” and offer less nuances of the wood do to a dominant personality.

Model Js (which I love) would be the opposite.

If I had an all walnut Jazz bass and wanted to capture that sound I would go with Aeros.

 

[ectoflanger]

Planning on building a Jazz bass out of Warmoth parts and was considering the Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz set since I have a Fender American Standard with stock pickups.

Any opinions on thie Hot Jazz pickups? And should I go with the one .047 uF capacitor or one for each pickup as they did with early Jazz basses?

One more question- should I go with 500 K pots with the hotter pickups?

 

[ThaCoast]

Planning on building a Jazz bass out of Warmoth parts and was considering the Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz set since I have a Fender American Standard with stock pickups.

Any opinions on the Hot Jazz pickups? And should I go with the one .047 uF capacitor or one for each pickup as they did with early Jazz basses?

One more question- should I go with 500 K pots with the hotter pickups?

I'd go 500K for the hotter pickups certainly - i've done so with my home built J bass using SD 1/4 pounder set. I've no opinion on the hot J pickups, but if they're anything like the Hot Pbass pickups to some degree, be prepared for a compressed tone my hot P set was as such, it wasn't open like vintage style pups or driving like the 1/4 pounds. But again this is my hot P pickup, don't take it as gospel truth in regards to the Hot J set.

 

[Bent77]

So does anyone actually like the Vmod pickups?

 

[TonyP-]

Planning on building a Jazz bass out of Warmoth parts and was considering the Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz set since I have a Fender American Standard with stock pickups.

Any opinions on thie Hot Jazz pickups? And should I go with the one .047 uF capacitor or one for each pickup as they did with early Jazz basses?

One more question- should I go with 500 K pots with the hotter pickups?

The 500K will allow a little more high end.
It’s easy to dial back, but harder to put it in there so to speak.

 

[ectoflanger]

I'd go 500K for the hotter pickups certainly - i've done so with my home built J bass using SD 1/4 pounder set. I've no opinion on the hot J pickups, but if they're anything like the Hot Pbass pickups to some degree, be prepared for a compressed tone my hot P set was as such, it wasn't open like vintage style pups or driving like the 1/4 pounds. But again this is my hot P pickup, don't take it as gospel truth in regards to the Hot J set.

I like the American Standard J pickups fine but since I was building from scratch, I thought I might try something different-

I had MJS Custom Pickups make a couple of soap bars with high output double-barred single coils in the Rickenbacker style that sound phenomenal in my 1985 Aria Pro II ZZB. Sounds way better than the stock reverse P soapbars it came with.

So thought I might try something like that. The Hot Jazz ones sounded pretty good in. YouTube video demo.

I would talk to Smitty at MJS about their J pickups but they're located in Ontario and the tariff situation may be prohibitive-

 

[eddiemac]

I thought the SD Hot P were a little much in my flat-wound strung Precision, but the Hot Jazz in my round-wound American Standard is just the ticket. I don't like the thin Jazz sound - (have DiMarzio J's in my other Jazz bass) - so the Hot Jazz add some depth in the lower mids while still bringing enough crispness higher up. It's got 250K pots (the DiMarzio has 500K).

 

[MrB64]

I like the American Standard J pickups fine but since I was building from scratch, I thought I might try something different-

I had MJS Custom Pickups make a couple of soap bars with high output double-barred single coils in the Rickenbacker style that sound phenomenal in my 1985 Aria Pro II ZZB. Sounds way better than the stock reverse P soapbars it came with.

So thought I might try something like that. The Hot Jazz ones sounded pretty good in. YouTube video demo.

I would talk to Smitty at MJS about their J pickups but they're located in Ontario and the tariff situation may be prohibitive- the hot stack jazz pickups?

I have the SD Hot Stack pups in my Geddy Signature right now. I looked at the EQ chart on the SD website for both the Hot and the Hot Stack, and both boost the mids to get their hot output. My hot stacks are fine. I'm sure the ones you're looking at will be, too.

 

[ectoflanger]

I would like to thank everyone for their feedback but I changed plans.

So I found a good deal on this online and went with it as I wanted a whiter white than Warmoth offered for their body finishes.

A 2023 Fender Mod Shop Jazz Bass-

Have no idea what pickup option the original buyer specified but if I decide to swap the pickups, I’ll know where to start.

 

[MrB64]

I would like to thank everyone for their feedback but I changed plans.

So I found a good deal on this online and went with it as I wanted a whiter white than Warmoth offered for their body finishes.

A 2023 Fender Mod Shop Jazz Bass-

Have no idea what pickup option the original buyer specified but if I decide to swap the pickups, I’ll know where to start.

View attachment 7355382


View attachment 7355383


View attachment 7355384

Is there a spec sheet for that, or anything like? Seems like there would be if it was an ordered model.