"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.

[BuffaloBass]

THat's raw J bass, pure and simple. Exactly what my Lakland alder/maple with Aeros sounds like recorded. Studio ran it thru a Tech21, and then to the board. Any good maple necked jazz will sound like that.

That Geddy Lee should sound like that straight up.

BTW, I only use nickle rounds , DR LoRiders to be exact. I dont think you quite get that "sizzle" with SS rounds, and forget flats.

 

[sec106]

After combing this thread (and checking a few other things out), I dropped a pair of Model J's into my '76 fretless and WOW!!!, it's like a whole new bass.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[DAcat]

So as a pickup replacement noob-if I have an active Jazz bass, should I put in Active pups, ( will that they come with an " Active on board EQ ..or install passive pups and use my active EQ on my bass that I already have? Thanks...DAcat

 

[DAcat]

This is a "Help all you fellow TB pup installers" Message...I decided to get a set of Demarzzio Model J pups for my Active Squire Jazz bass and...the instructions for installation don't match at all the way the original pups are installed ...probally because its an active bass with an EQ and ... well, anyone have any ideas where to go from here? The original pups only had a red, black and a silver wire...my Model Js have a red, black, white and green( what to do with this one??) Thanks anyone for thier help...I'd really love to try these out tonight...Peace...DAcat

 

[chuck norriss]

I recently posted some sound clips of various J and P pickups on my site: ATKINSON BASSES - LIBRARY

very helpful, thank you.

 

[DAcat]

This is a "Help all you fellow TB pup installers" Message...I decided to get a set of Demarzzio Model J pups for my Active Squire Jazz bass and...the instructions for installation don't match at all the way the original pups are installed ...probally because its an active bass with an EQ and ... well, anyone have any ideas where to go from here? The original pups only had a red, black and a silver wire...my Model Js have a red, black, white and green( what to do with this one??) Thanks anyone for thier help...I'd really love to try these out tonight...Peace...DAcat

I figured it out ...if anyone is wrestling with the same problem ...the black and white wire are soldered together and covered with electricians tape to insulate the ends. the red wire is soldered to the 1st post of the snd pot(balance ) and the green wire is attached to the lower middle post of the balance pot...sounds great, like every one said...Peace...DAcat

 

[Tunaman]

Both the Dimarzio Model J & Area J are great pickups. The model J can sound a bit like a P bass, but the Area J sounds very close to a single coil Jazz pickup, with a little added thump. I just installed a set, and the Model J has finally been dethrowned as my favorite Jazz pick up....The Area J RULES!!!

Thanks Ragin... I'm rethinking P\Us as GAS is getting the best of me, so if I can grab a good set of P\Us vs a new MIA J I'll be better off

I did NOT like your model J youtube clips. I have a P bass & love it but want the J to sound different. Do you or anyone have Area J clips vs Model Js?

 

[chimobass]

Hi all. I buyed a Squier Jazz, Classic Vibes... It have a great sound, but I like to change the pickups.

I like a good vintage sound, a retro funk/disco sound. Any advice?

 

[Gord]

Just to tether myself to that last post, what do people mean when they use terms like "vintage"? What are some qualities that a vintage pickup would have over a more modern sounding pickup?

 

[Nedmundo]

The model J can sound a bit like a P bass, but the Area J sounds very close to a single coil Jazz pickup, with a little added thump. I just installed a set, and the Model J has finally been dethrowned as my favorite Jazz pick up....The Area J RULES!!!

I got an Area J set installed into my G&L JB last week, and I agree: they sound darned close to single coils, with a little extra thump, at least relative to the G&L's stock "vintage alnicos." They might be a little less "open" in the lows, but I think I actually prefer the extra thump. I haven't played them with the band yet, but have run them through my Roland Cube 100 and G-K MB-500/Neo 112 rig, and they sound fantastic. I'm thoroughly satisfied with the growly, crystal clear, hum-free J-bass goodness.

My other Jazz four has noiseless Fralins, and my Jazz V has noiseless Nordstrands, and these DiMarzios are a viable alternative IMO, at a much lower price. I've compared back-to-back with my Fralin-loaded Jazz using headphones, and the differences seem to be related more to strings than anything else. They're really close.

I'd say DiMarzio knocked it out of the park with these Area J's.

 

[chimobass]

@Gord: "Vintage Sound" or "Old Sound" is that sound taked from 50-60-70's basses, was warmest and have more middle/high freqs, hasn't that "punch" or Deep bass, like a "modern" sound.

So, some brands make pickups trying to give a specific sound for specifics functions:

-A very Punch and deep bass freq and highest high freq to a "modern" sound, used to play Rock, punk, metal, for a good slap...

-Or focus in make a warm sound (like that DiMarzio Area J), less bass and more middle freqs, although be modern pickups they have "old" (vintage) sound, used to play Jazz, blues, classic rock, funk, soul...

 

[RaginRog]

Thanks Ragin... I'm rethinking P\Us as GAS is getting the best of me, so if I can grab a good set of P\Us vs a new MIA J I'll be better off

I did NOT like your model J youtube clips. I have a P bass & love it but want the J to sound different. Do you or anyone have Area J clips vs Model Js?

Hey Tuna, sorry I missed this post. Have you decided/purchased anything yet. I may get a short video going....

 

[RaginRog]

I got an Area J set installed into my G&L JB last week, and I agree: they sound darned close to single coils, with a little extra thump, at least relative to the G&L's stock "vintage alnicos." They might be a little less "open" in the lows, but I think I actually prefer the extra thump. I haven't played them with the band yet, but have run them through my Roland Cube 100 and G-K MB-500/Neo 112 rig, and they sound fantastic. I'm thoroughly satisfied with the growly, crystal clear, hum-free J-bass goodness.

My other Jazz four has noiseless Fralins, and my Jazz V has noiseless Nordstrands, and these DiMarzios are a viable alternative IMO, at a much lower price. I've compared back-to-back with my Fralin-loaded Jazz using headphones, and the differences seem to be related more to strings than anything else. They're really close.

I'd say DiMarzio knocked it out of the park with these Area J's.

Glad you liked them. They don't have as much output as the Model J's, but they really have a great sound. Morso like that of a vintage sounding J single coil, that had a little more thump. I don't know from experience, but from what I've read and seen on Youtube, the 60's style J-single coils had a little more thump.......can anyone confirm?

 

[Tunaman]

Hey Tuna, sorry I missed this post. Have you decided/purchased anything yet. I may get a short video going....

Havent yet Ragin, if I see a used set I'm going to jump on them. I played a 2002 J bass with S1 switching MIA last week & HATED it, it was so noisy, like my MIM so I'm definitely leaning towards these... hell you bought a brand new MIA jazz & sold the pickups so my MIA jazz GAS has been quenched. I'm really considering these, just no time yet to execute. Would love a video of the Areas!

 

[RaginRog]

Havent yet Ragin, if I see a used set I'm going to jump on them. I played a 2002 J bass with S1 switching MIA last week & HATED it, it was so noisy, like my MIM so I'm definitely leaning towards these... hell you bought a brand new MIA jazz & sold the pickups so my MIA jazz GAS has been quenched. I'm really considering these, just no time yet to execute. Would love a video of the Areas!

ha....don't get me wrong...the stock MIA jazz pups sounded nice...but the majority of the time I play my Jazz basses with the neck pickup at 100% and the bridge at around 50-75%...so I'm not a fan of the hum. They also sound just a hair warmer than the stock single coils. Great pickups for $120.

I'll do a couple of clips later this evening. Maybe just upload some mp3's on a shared site.

 

[RaginRog]

Would love a video of the Areas!

Well, no video...it was much quicker to upload some sound clips.

The first 2 clips are longer ones...The first portion is the bridge pup soloed, then the neck pup soloed, and then both pups together (100%), with the tone knob up all the way.

The following 2 clips have both pickups on (100%), and the tone knob all the way up.

One thing to note is that while both sets of pickups are installed in Jazz basses (passive), the Model J are on a jazz with a maple fretboard, and the Area J jazz bass has a rw fretboard.
Area J
Area J- Bridge, Neck, then Both pups.wav
Model J
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Area J
Area J -both pups.wav
Model J
Model J-both pups.wav

 

[Tunaman]

Ragin for president! Great clips, thanks so much!

 

[pbass888]

punch and growl on my mia jazz (96) has been a quest for a while .... tried nordstrands,stock,and emg's ... I settled on s duncan sjb-2 (hot passive)... more thump and deep clear lows than a jazz and way more growl than my original stock which were not terrible. Generally more oomph on my bass, which is what I was searching for without loosing the classic growl playing fingerstyle. Growl is on par with my 74 jazz and a bengal tiger.
Rog thank you for the clips!

 

[RaginRog]

Ragin for president! Great clips, thanks so much!

I'm just an average player, so I'm glad they helped!

punch and growl on my mia jazz (96) has been a quest for a while .... tried nordstrands,stock,and emg's ... I settled on s duncan sjb-2 (hot passive)... more thump and deep clear lows than a jazz and way more growl than my original stock which were not terrible. Generally more oomph on my bass, which is what I was searching for without loosing the classic growl playing fingerstyle. Growl is on par with my 74 jazz and a bengal tiger.
Rog thank you for the clips!

Thanks.

I'm not surprised you had success with the SD sjb-2...their spb-1 P bass pickup has a very nice sound.

 

[mdorren]

Hi,
Great thread! I just bought a new MIM Deluxe Active Jazz Bass. Love the sound of the Fender "Noiseless" Jazz Pickups through the active EQ, but I'm not Lovin' the hum. Funny, I thought that I heard the Noiseless pups were humbuckers too. Anyway, I'm kind of eyeing the Area J's. Do you think they would come close to the Fenders except noiseless? ...and would they interact well with the active EQ? Thanks for your help. Great Forum!!
Marty

EDIT: BTW, I mostly play with a pick with a style similar to Greg Lake, Chris Squire, or McCartney, so I'm not sure the Area J's will translate well. Your thoughts?
MD