thanks for that,there had to be a reason hehe. I too like the sound of the noisy ones, just not the hum when not both at full volume. true I only hear it if I turn up, but still, it's there.
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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II
- Thread starter grygrx
- Start date
I have a g&l custom J and I really would like to upgrade the p-ups, thinking aguilars, any recommendations?
Its not that the G&l's are bad, its just that I feel like there are better out there.
Its not that the G&l's are bad, its just that I feel like there are better out there.
I agree. I usually dislike noiseless pickups but recently discovered the Delano JMVC pickups and love them.Now, If you really want an authentic Jazz Bass sound you have to stick to single coils and accept the idea of dealing with a little hum. I felt the same with Fender Stratocasters.
I'm first going to apologize and just say. i'm a novice and have never tired to mess with wiring. so i am completely clueless. i tried searching around for an answer. but had trouble finding it.
after reading these reviews, I'm going to buy a set of Antiquity II and put them on my J-Bass deluxe.
it is obviously already active.
do i need to get new pots and make this bass passive? or can i use the Antiquity II's active?
after reading these reviews, I'm going to buy a set of Antiquity II and put them on my J-Bass deluxe.
it is obviously already active.
do i need to get new pots and make this bass passive? or can i use the Antiquity II's active?
I have owned a 2004 Am. dlx. jazz V fmt. since new. This was my first active only bass. It is a great player, but I never warmed up to the PUPs. After several amps, tube and SS, I was always searching for a tone that allowed even response from each string, any fret. A couple weeks ago I traded my new Phil Jones SC & C4 for a Mesa Boogie Prodigy. WoW. Now the brightness and fret noise are extreme. My choice for equal replacement was- $1,700.00 to buy the new Fender active/passive dlx. V, or a Marcus Miller jazz V @ $2,295.00. SO, I removed the electrics in one piece, careful to mark each wire before cutting it, then I removed it as a whole from the cavity. I Cut 2 white p/u wires, 1 white wire @ the input jack, 1 blue wire @ input jack (to battery) and the 2 incoming battery wires, or just wiggle them thru the provided hole. Remove 4 nuts and washers holding pots (4) in place. I saved this as an assembly in a zip bag, just in case. I mounted 3, 250k pots, wired it to 2011 Fender standard jazz specs. Using a .05 cap. on the tone control. It is now VVT. All of the pdf. service information is online and easy to follow. The R and R from active to passive takes about 1 hour. The cost was less than $20.00. The results are: My Prodigy is a different amp. with a passive jazz V bass. I would, recommend this option. It was fun and can be reversed, should you want to. I am very well pleased. The stock Fender N3 noiseless (yes)PUPs sound great with XL Flats, IMHO.-------Leon
Anyone have any suggestions as far as the most "J" sounding passive pickup in a soapbar? I have a Schecter 5 string (I know, I know... but it's just so comfortable!) that I would like to change the pickups on. It will have a onboard preamp running as well.
Or is there a way to put a regular J on a bass routed for soapbars that won't look flat out stupid?
Or is there a way to put a regular J on a bass routed for soapbars that won't look flat out stupid?
Nordstrand Big Singles or Big Splits may work for you.
http://www.bestbassgear.com/nordstrand-pickups.htm#nordstrandbsingle5
http://www.bestbassgear.com/nordstrand-pickups.htm#nordstrandbsplit5
Hello all, I was wondering if any of you could answer a question for me. I have a Squier VM Jazz. I want to put EMG's in it. Was planning on putting the JAX's in it. But a buddy of mine is selling off a whole ton of stuff and one item is the EMG MJ's. But I know the MJ's are the same sized J pups that were specifically designed to be dropped into an MIM Jazz. Would the MJ's fit my VM Jazz???
I thought some one could possibly help me out with choosing pickups, or knows if it might be the preamp, which makes me want to change things.
My Victor Bailey 5 it has a really thick Koa top, with original SCN pups and original electronics.
In the first moment, one might think it sounds really good, but to me its not as clear as I think it could be.
The preamp is pretty versatile too, but its just not clear. No detail, no depth, not so much alive, not that much harmonics / overtones
My other bass, has Duncan Duals its a Koa Imperial with Walnut wings it has it all spades, if it runs single coil mode. Its very clear very detailed, full spectrum overtones all you would want, its in the face but not aggressive.
I dont expect that much, but Im sure that the VB can do better then it is doing now.
Now the big question is, what is the bad part, the preamp or the pups or both.
From listening to bad internet examples, I would guess something like Dimarzio, which unfortunately don't fit, or Aeros would be nice.
Preamps, I looked in to the Noll 3 band parametric or the Pope Flex.
The AGC filter is probably not for me.
Aguilar ist most likely not what Im looking for, Audere I don't think the one with the Z switch is for me.
I hope that post ist not to much in the wrong place.
I have no Idea about this and read a ton of posts and youtube and other examples of Pups
first it would be nice to get a idea what in what kind of category the 7ender SNC would be.
Im not sure but it seems that the Fodera Duncans have a taller bobbin, like the aeros or the Duncan Antiquity II, this might be part of the trick.
Those active EMGs JVX or JAX seem interesting too, bot it looks like there ist only one size.
I hope Im not totally in the wrong place for questions like this.
Any insight would be highly appreciated
My Victor Bailey 5 it has a really thick Koa top, with original SCN pups and original electronics.
In the first moment, one might think it sounds really good, but to me its not as clear as I think it could be.
The preamp is pretty versatile too, but its just not clear. No detail, no depth, not so much alive, not that much harmonics / overtones
My other bass, has Duncan Duals its a Koa Imperial with Walnut wings it has it all spades, if it runs single coil mode. Its very clear very detailed, full spectrum overtones all you would want, its in the face but not aggressive.
I dont expect that much, but Im sure that the VB can do better then it is doing now.
Now the big question is, what is the bad part, the preamp or the pups or both.
From listening to bad internet examples, I would guess something like Dimarzio, which unfortunately don't fit, or Aeros would be nice.
Preamps, I looked in to the Noll 3 band parametric or the Pope Flex.
The AGC filter is probably not for me.
Aguilar ist most likely not what Im looking for, Audere I don't think the one with the Z switch is for me.
I hope that post ist not to much in the wrong place.
I have no Idea about this and read a ton of posts and youtube and other examples of Pups
first it would be nice to get a idea what in what kind of category the 7ender SNC would be.
Im not sure but it seems that the Fodera Duncans have a taller bobbin, like the aeros or the Duncan Antiquity II, this might be part of the trick.
Those active EMGs JVX or JAX seem interesting too, bot it looks like there ist only one size.
I hope Im not totally in the wrong place for questions like this.
Any insight would be highly appreciated
Last edited:
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Make sure that you consider the underlying wood of the instrument before you spend a lot of money on reworking the pickups and electronics. I have had no less than five (5) Victor Bailey Jazz Basses in my hands for a decent amount of time (I owned two of them, one of them for several years and one for a bit over a year) -- all the four string model. The difference in tone between them was very significant. I was able to set all of them up the same way, used the same strings on them, etc. When examples of this model are good, they are about as good as a JBass gets. Certainly different tonally than a "regular" JBass (I have an all original 1964), but if you like the tone, they can be truly outstanding. However, the tone across the five of them that I had the opportunity to play was quite inconsistent.
So, play the instrument acoustically for some time in a quiet room -- if you like what you hear that way, then it is worth messing with the electronics...unfortunately the description you give of your instrument's tone pretty much nails the description of what happens if a bass is built with dead sounding wood (assuming, of course, that your set-up is right, the strings are reasonably new and your batteries are fresh).
I hope this makes sense.
Kindest regards,
Jason
Thanks Jason =)
I don't think its a dead wood bass at all, it resonates a lot and I do like what I hear.
actually it sounds quite similar to my imperial, dry with out any amp.
I thinks its the electronics mostly and possibly part is the pups.
it sounds to me like there harmonic distortion (?)
Both batteries have 9.3 Volts can't be that.
I think its just a bad designed circuit or cheap parts on it.
I don't think his bass can get to the sound depth and 3D image in the air of a Fodera with Walnut wings, I don't expect that but Im pretty sure it can do a lot better. in the Fender text it says that the bass has a pre shape built in and that these are special samarium cobalt ...
Sure it does not really sound bad, just not 3d and that usually the electronics mostly if there is phase issues
actually if they pre shape there it gets already out of phase and usually out of phase kills that clearness. at least as far as I know.
Maybe the pickups are not close enough, but I don't like if it starts smearing the tone.
I try tonight again.
I don't think its a dead wood bass at all, it resonates a lot and I do like what I hear.
actually it sounds quite similar to my imperial, dry with out any amp.
I thinks its the electronics mostly and possibly part is the pups.
it sounds to me like there harmonic distortion (?)
Both batteries have 9.3 Volts can't be that.
I think its just a bad designed circuit or cheap parts on it.
I don't think his bass can get to the sound depth and 3D image in the air of a Fodera with Walnut wings, I don't expect that but Im pretty sure it can do a lot better. in the Fender text it says that the bass has a pre shape built in and that these are special samarium cobalt ...
Sure it does not really sound bad, just not 3d and that usually the electronics mostly if there is phase issues
actually if they pre shape there it gets already out of phase and usually out of phase kills that clearness. at least as far as I know.
Maybe the pickups are not close enough, but I don't like if it starts smearing the tone.
I try tonight again.
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
its not the string height, Im going to short cut the pups to the jack with no preamp and see what that sounds like.
I'd try a set of true vintage-style single coils -- as long as you can tolerate 60-cycle hum if you solo one of the PUP's. That should take some of the shroud off of the tone...
Cheers,
J
