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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.

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#181
Hi guys I play mostly jazz and tropical music and never found a pick up that beat the ones of my 1966 fender jazz bass originals very deep tone suitable for salsa etc... but I'm looking to change the ones of my 6 strings and there's very little choices for it. I want it for studio recordings and want a bright modern sound. something with full EQ. (low, mid, hight and volumes for each pick up and active). Doesn't mather what kind could be J or bar soap. I've heard that Bartolinis is a good choice but what do you think? thanks for this usefull site is very informative considering I have more than 25 years playing this beautiful instrument.
 
#184
I like the vintage sound and I want a full sound for playing rock but I dont want to limit myself either. Are there any good p/j pick up combos sold, or would I have to buy seperate? I have seen that dimarzio sells a set that
gets good reviews. Any help is much appreciated.
 
#185
Interesting read...Though I seldom play live anymore, I do a lot of recording...

Currently I'm playing a Peavey Koa Unity w/ a passive J/P configuration. I replaced the stock J pickup (not sure who made it) w/ a Carvin for no other reason than I had one... May go back but I'm almost happy w/ my tone....not quite..

By the way I really love the tone the bass player for Afrigo gets..they're here at Youtube
 
#186
TheButler said:
I am thinking about a new project based on a jazz bass. I was thinking Seymour Duncan's antiquity II Pups, is this a wise choice or are there better alternatives ??
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hi guys....just installed these new Seymour Duncan's antiquity II Pups on my fender jazz bass , and i tell you , they are fantastic.....the pups that came with the base are trash in compare to Seymour Duncan's antiquity II ....and it was pretty expensive bass/$1100/....i am going to replace pups on my precision bass too.............:bassist:
 
#188
Robybass said:
Hi guys I play mostly jazz and tropical music and never found a pick up that beat the ones of my 1966 fender jazz bass originals very deep tone suitable for salsa etc... but I'm looking to change the ones of my 6 strings and there's very little choices for it. I want it for studio recordings and want a bright modern sound. something with full EQ. (low, mid, hight and volumes for each pick up and active). Doesn't mather what kind could be J or bar soap. I've heard that Bartolinis is a good choice but what do you think? thanks for this usefull site is very informative considering I have more than 25 years playing this beautiful instrument.
Click to expand...


I feel your pain. The selection of 6 pickups is not what it is for 4s. I have seen pics of a bass with Nordstrand 6 Jazz pickups in it (Cliff Bordwell) but they are not listed on the site. Nord has 3 models in the sig series that are "coming soon" as 6s, but it could just be that the site hasn't been updated in a bit. Duncan has 6 string soapbars (Invalid Link Removed. EMG has soapbars as well Invalid Link Removed but not everyone is wild about EMG. Carvin also sells single coil Jazz pickups for 6, but they are just OK. I have them in two of their basses. Sound pretty good, but probably not exciting enough to buy them as replacements.
 
#191
SMASH said:
DiMarzio Model J (aka DP123)



You can hard wire these easily in humbucking series or parallel. In parallel they're more standard / tame with better clarity, while in humbucking series they're almost perversely thick and beefy.


These are dead quiet due to the split-coil humbucker.
Click to expand...

Do You know if they're "dead quiet" wired in parallel, to?

By the way - the Bassplayer link didn't work (at least not for me), do You know wich issue it was?
 
#192
Thanks for starting this thread Smash, it's so informative I joined Talkbass to ask for some advice. I have a Highway 1 J and I'm looking to upgrade a bit and the first thing on my list are the pups. I used to own a Stingray and I love the low end growl (especially of the pre-EB models) and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a p/u that would still retain the jazz quality while bringing in some of the thump and roar of a 'ray while staying passive. I play through a Gallien half stack and I have the factory strings on it still. On my old bass I used DR lo-riders but the strings are the next thing I'm going to work on. The last thing, which is outside the scope of this thread but since you all seem to have experience with working on your basses I figure a good place to ask, I'm looking into replacing the neck entirely as well with a Warmoth neck and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with that and could offer some insight. Thanks again for this amazing thread, it's already been a huge amount of help, from what I have read I'm thinking the Nord NJ4 but I'm open to hearing differing opinions.
 
#194
Musicschild17 said:
Thanks for starting this thread Smash, it's so informative I joined Talkbass to ask for some advice. I have a Highway 1 J and I'm looking to upgrade a bit and the first thing on my list are the pups. I used to own a Stingray and I love the low end growl (especially of the pre-EB models) and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a p/u that would still retain the jazz quality while bringing in some of the thump and roar of a 'ray while staying passive.
Click to expand...

Trying it in series before swapping, otherwise a big bottom makes me think of Antiquity II (perhaps in series to get the 'Ray vibe?) or Dimarzio Model J. Otherwise J pickups tend to not have so much of the Singray vibe, I think.


I play through a Gallien half stack and I have the factory strings on it still. On my old bass I used DR lo-riders but the strings are the next thing I'm going to work on. The last thing, which is outside the scope of this thread but since you all seem to have experience with working on your basses I figure a good place to ask, I'm looking into replacing the neck entirely as well with a Warmoth neck and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with that and could offer some insight. Thanks again for this amazing thread, it's already been a huge amount of help, from what I have read I'm thinking the Nord NJ4 but I'm open to hearing differing opinions.
Click to expand...

Just be careful with the holes, the overall fit, before drilling/bolting.

The NJ4 are great pickups, but unless you're trying series I don't think you'll perceive a Stingray kinda buzz in the tone.

Strings make a big difference. LaBella Deep Talkin' have a huge low end, but are kinda dark sounding overall and can be pretty tight in tension depending on the gauge.

Good luck.
 
#195
SMASH said:
I'm on a soldering and wiring frenzy as of late, and as circumstances would have it I'm accumulating cool pickups which I'll be evaluating for my own amusement and will share my thoughts.

If anyone else wishes to add their thoughts, costs, or ratings on any of these (or other) J pickups then please do !

Tests are done with Fender pure nickel strings and I favor a thick meaty tone.


Overall scores so far :
- Seymour Duncan Antiquity II = 5 (best for a HUGE bottom with the vintage vibe)
Link Removed
Click to expand...

Hey, cool, I'm planning on getting the Fender Deluxe Precision Bass Special and replacing the pickups. I was just looking at the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II, do you think (or anyone else) it'll be close to Flea's tone? (when he uses the '61 Jazz Bass)

Thanks :hyper:
 
#198
Thanks for the good info on the Model J Dimarzios. I've been tossing between the Ultra Jazz and the Model J. Reading other reviews, etc the Model J makes more sense. Your review drove it home and makes me feel 100% in that decision. Thanks for the help. BTW - I have EMGs with the EMG BTC active tone circuit. I don't like for the same reasons you mention. I call the tone 'brittle'. Something's missing in the sound of them. The active tone circuit cant fix them either. It just adds mud or brittleness.
 
#200
Thx to Smash for his review on Jazz Bass pickups - I put Seymour Duncan Antiquity II's in My Geddy Lee Jazz Bass and the thing roars now. Any Geddy Lee users out there I would strongly recommend this mod. I put hipshot tuners as well which makes a huge difference,. that two weakest links on the Geddy's,..
Thx again to Smash! BooFooBass:bassist:
 
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