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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.
- Thread starter SMASH
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I have the P Quarter Pounders from Seymour Duncan in my Yamaha RBX250, and they are louder than a stock MIJ Jazz when on full. Really nice sounding as well.
- Aug 21, 2003
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
What, no one has any opinions?
LOL...Sounds like Dimarzio model Js is in the realm of what you are looking for.
Something on the thick sounding side.
I'll have to look into them then, I dismissed them earlier because I felt they might be to clean and active sounding (must be due to all the metal guitarists that use Dimarzio...)
- Aug 21, 2003
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- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Not the Model J DP123
I think its a great J bass pickups.
I IMHO find these are good J pickups for the P pass lover that is playing a jazz bass. (That might sound silly...but I'm sure your picking up what I'm putting down)
This is why I suggested them to you.
Check out what Smash says about them in the beginning of the thread (I agree with his thoughts all the way on them).
Cheers
Okay, I need to really check them out then and reread SMASH's review for a 4 time, as I seem to have missed something.
BTW, I might as well add my opinions on the SPB-3 Quarter Pound pickups.
I put a set of them in my Yamaha RBX250 to replace the flaky stock ones (probably due to age, the instrument is a couple decades old).
If you want a really "phat" sound, these ones are excellent, esp. when wired as the SD suggests. The tone knob goes from a sparkly hard rock sound to a sweet funky Duck Dunn sound all the way down to thump-heaven Jamerson like. They are also very responsive clean at the same time, no hum at all Yamaha with the stock shielding. Definitely worth it on any P-bass with "no-name" pickups. Just remember to upgrade the other electronics at the same time as the pots and capacitors on most basses aren't that great to begin with.
Only thing I didn't like about them was the huge pole pieces, but after a while they too grow on you, and nowadays I actually like their beefy looks compared to the anemic poles on the stock ones.
I put a set of them in my Yamaha RBX250 to replace the flaky stock ones (probably due to age, the instrument is a couple decades old).
If you want a really "phat" sound, these ones are excellent, esp. when wired as the SD suggests. The tone knob goes from a sparkly hard rock sound to a sweet funky Duck Dunn sound all the way down to thump-heaven Jamerson like. They are also very responsive clean at the same time, no hum at all Yamaha with the stock shielding. Definitely worth it on any P-bass with "no-name" pickups. Just remember to upgrade the other electronics at the same time as the pots and capacitors on most basses aren't that great to begin with.
Only thing I didn't like about them was the huge pole pieces, but after a while they too grow on you, and nowadays I actually like their beefy looks compared to the anemic poles on the stock ones.
Okay, I need to really check them out then and reread SMASH's review for a 4 time, as I seem to have missed something.
After reading this whole thread I decided on the Dimarzio Model J's for my J bass. Great decision it was. They give you the fatter, fuller P bass tone with way more bottom end plus you keep the J bass sparkle
Good day. Thanks for the very interesting information regarding J Bass pickups. I would like to replace the stock pickups on my Fender J. A bass colleague suggests the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickup. He suggested I go on Talk Bass to see if anyone has experience. I see the DiMarzios did well in your tests. You have any experience with the DiMarzio DP149's? Thanks.
Funky McNasty
Funky McNasty
Never mind answering. I've researched the forum and see there are many positive experiences with the DiMarzio J pickups. Although the Ultra Jazz pickup was not specifically addressed, it still appears DiMarzio J pickups are the sound I'm looking for.
Funky Mac
Funky Mac
I just put Fender Custom Shop 60's in my '96 Fender "Ventures" Jazz this morning. It previously had "American Vintage" pickups from the factory. At first, I was expecting to hear a huge difference, but that wasn't the case. I listened closely, and what I heard was what I wanted. More beef, punch, slightly less highs, and most important: More clarity and definition between notes. I am very pleased!
Hey!
I was wondering, do the antiquity II's or nordstrand true single coils have adjustable pole pieces? I like my strings to have the same 7.25" radius arch that vintage fender necks have but I have a problem with ridiculously loud E string, and the G sounds a bit loud too.. If not, could you recommend a nice, vintageish sounding single coil that does have that possibility?
I was wondering, do the antiquity II's or nordstrand true single coils have adjustable pole pieces? I like my strings to have the same 7.25" radius arch that vintage fender necks have but I have a problem with ridiculously loud E string, and the G sounds a bit loud too.. If not, could you recommend a nice, vintageish sounding single coil that does have that possibility?
- Oct 3, 2002
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- Endorsed by Ampeg, DR strings, strong relationship with Surine basses
I went through the Dimarzio DP123's, Lace pickups, and the original pups on my '92 MIJ '62 RI. I decided to get either the Seymour Duncan Antiquities, or the Nordstrands, but before I pulled that trigger I picked up a set of American Standard Fender Vintage pickups that you can get on eBay all day long for $40. Put them in my bass yesterday and my pickup search is now over. I know everyone's immediate instinct is to take out the stock pickups from their Fender so they can put some mystical high-end popular units in there, but if you ignore the hype and use your ears you might be surprised at what you already have in your bass.
That's a great point.
I did the same with my Fender 57 PBass pickups.
Search over...
- Aug 21, 2008
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The problem is that not all Fender pickups are created equally. In the low end basses they use cheap pickups.
I do agree with monkeybassist up to a point. A lot can be achieved with a good setup, and EQ tweaks before swapping out perfectly good pickups. You do get what you pay for though so in some cases a swap will be worth it.
Tried a bass with SDAII's in it, loved the tone, ordered a set. 
It's gonna be interesting to see what that and some new electronics and shielding does to my bass.
It's gonna be interesting to see what that and some new electronics and shielding does to my bass. 
I recently added the DP123's to my MIM Fender J. Along with the Badass bridge and the set of TI JF344's, my bass has come alive. I would highly recommend this combination to anyone who owns a MIM Jazz. Tone pot is actually usefull now and I have my Yorkie XS400 combo set almost flat now. The playability,sound and sustain is amazing. But then after playing for 40 years you would have thought it wouldn't have taken this long to figure out the sound I wanted.
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