too much variability. two sets of ant 2's might sound as different as two of each series. they dont put the same amount of wire on every set. ive owned multiple sets of 1's and 2's.
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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.
- Thread starter SMASH
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too much variability. two sets of ant 2's might sound as different as two of each series. they dont put the same amount of wire on every set. ive owned multiple sets of 1's and 2's.
Hi there,
I'm going to update the pickups in my Geddy Lee J bass.
The original pickups are a bit buzzy and not exactly the sound I'm looking for. However, recently I bought an Ibanez SR900. This model is like the current Ibanez SR500 and SR700 which have Bartolini Mk 1 pickups, and I absolutely love the sound of these basses (besides they are also very playable). These are an active bass with a clear strong growl to the sound.
So I'm thinking: What about my Geddy Lee J bass? Anyone got experience with the Bartolini 9J1 pickups? Will they be sort of the same even though its passive? An alternative could be Lindy Fralin?
Any comments welcome
I'm going to update the pickups in my Geddy Lee J bass.
The original pickups are a bit buzzy and not exactly the sound I'm looking for. However, recently I bought an Ibanez SR900. This model is like the current Ibanez SR500 and SR700 which have Bartolini Mk 1 pickups, and I absolutely love the sound of these basses (besides they are also very playable). These are an active bass with a clear strong growl to the sound.
So I'm thinking: What about my Geddy Lee J bass? Anyone got experience with the Bartolini 9J1 pickups? Will they be sort of the same even though its passive? An alternative could be Lindy Fralin?
Any comments welcome
this may or may not help but I pass it on fwiw.
I had a very similar question, based on my observations just like yours - hearing/playing the soapbar barts and being impressed with the solid and punchy bottoms, and wanting something like that in a J-bass form. so I wrote one of the talkbass sponsor/vendors and asked. the response was a reco for the 9CBJD-1 pups. supposedly dark/warm/full on the bottom tones. I've been in the lurch between trying those vs. Antiquity for my CVJ
I had a very similar question, based on my observations just like yours - hearing/playing the soapbar barts and being impressed with the solid and punchy bottoms, and wanting something like that in a J-bass form. so I wrote one of the talkbass sponsor/vendors and asked. the response was a reco for the 9CBJD-1 pups. supposedly dark/warm/full on the bottom tones. I've been in the lurch between trying those vs. Antiquity for my CVJ
hi guyz, first of all thank you for reading, im lookin foward to add new pick ups and circuit 3 eq band to a W-taurus T25, so I would like some insides on the sounds for this 3 pick ups bartolini 9j or dimarzio jazz vs seymour duncan ajj 1, the reason its mainly because i can get either 3 with a small diference in the price, im not that informed on pick ups so i though could get opinions here on diferences and reason to go with which ever of the 3, im lookin for something versatil, warm deep and powerfull with essence to add to my bass, thank you guyz, sorry if i missed some details on the question as i said im not very techy on pick ups
berkoff if you search enough you'll find some comparisons like this on youtube.
Invalid Link Removed example though not spot-on
Invalid Link Removed example though not spot-on
Just pulled the trigger on a set of Fralins for my Fender Jazz V mia. I'll see how I like them then post my response.
Just got my Fralin stock single coil pickups in the mail yesterday. First impression is that they are a very nice quality pickup. They came with covers and mounting screws, but no foam. They come wax potted with cloth insulated wire leads. The construction seems solid and I liked the gloss covers that came with the Fralins vs the slightly matte finish of the stock Fender covers. The Fralins are fitted into my MIA Fender Jazz V standard '01 model.
The sound of the Fralin pickups is on a professional level, meaning they sound big and clear and expose more flaws in my technique. They sound much fuller and better balanced string to string than the stock Fenders. The only thing that bothered me is while using low tension strings (I use TI jazz flats) these pickups start to "break up" a little sooner than the stock Fenders. I like the burp and all, but unless I'm playing funk or rocking hard that sound is useless to me. I guess the best way to describe what I am talking about is like striking and egg as hard as you can without breaking it, the Fralins break a little sooner. The Fralin Tone is mid heavy with high output. The sound is definitely punchy with lots of growl pretty characteristic of pickups that accentuate the midrange. If I tighten up the low end on these, they would be perfect, but I feel like they are missing some of the low end punch. I haven't gotten used to controlling these pups' output with my fingers yet so the low end slop could be my technique.
Got to use these at high volume at a rehearsal last night. Overall good sound, with more presence than my stock MIA 4string, but less low end punch. These are nicer for less polite music, I wanted that and Fralin delivered.
Overall I am pretty happy with these, but I am getting a set of Nordy NJ5FS Monday. I know I can't really compare the Fralins and Nordies since the Fralins are single coils and the nordies are hum canceling, but I want to try out both and sell the one I don't keep.
The sound of the Fralin pickups is on a professional level, meaning they sound big and clear and expose more flaws in my technique. They sound much fuller and better balanced string to string than the stock Fenders. The only thing that bothered me is while using low tension strings (I use TI jazz flats) these pickups start to "break up" a little sooner than the stock Fenders. I like the burp and all, but unless I'm playing funk or rocking hard that sound is useless to me. I guess the best way to describe what I am talking about is like striking and egg as hard as you can without breaking it, the Fralins break a little sooner. The Fralin Tone is mid heavy with high output. The sound is definitely punchy with lots of growl pretty characteristic of pickups that accentuate the midrange. If I tighten up the low end on these, they would be perfect, but I feel like they are missing some of the low end punch. I haven't gotten used to controlling these pups' output with my fingers yet so the low end slop could be my technique.
Got to use these at high volume at a rehearsal last night. Overall good sound, with more presence than my stock MIA 4string, but less low end punch. These are nicer for less polite music, I wanted that and Fralin delivered.
Overall I am pretty happy with these, but I am getting a set of Nordy NJ5FS Monday. I know I can't really compare the Fralins and Nordies since the Fralins are single coils and the nordies are hum canceling, but I want to try out both and sell the one I don't keep.
- Aug 21, 2003
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Nice review on the Fralins 4OnTheFloor
Not sure why they started breaking up a bit more.
Did you them overwound at all? (sorry if you mentioned that I did not see it)
Regarding exposing more...Try a graphite neck....
Nothing is your playing hides on a graphite neck it brings out the 'Good, Bad & Ugly' (Well in more cases then not...Its all good 
)
I'm building a 75 RI with a lighter ash body, Status neck, 60's spacing, 70's wind Nordstrand NJ4s with an Audere pre and Schaller bridge.
Not sure why they started breaking up a bit more.
Did you them overwound at all? (sorry if you mentioned that I did not see it)
Regarding exposing more...Try a graphite neck....
Nothing is your playing hides on a graphite neck it brings out the 'Good, Bad & Ugly' (Well in more cases then not...Its all good ) I'm building a 75 RI with a lighter ash body, Status neck, 60's spacing, 70's wind Nordstrand NJ4s with an Audere pre and Schaller bridge.
Nice info on the Fralins! Looking forward to hearing what you think about the Nordstrands. I almost bit on the single coil NJ5's, but in the end I couldn't decide between those and the pickups you mentioned. I ended up with Quarter Pounders to see how much difference pickups would actually make. (duh @ me, I know. lol)
5sg.
I'm just searching for true single coils that will CUT in a mix...sort of on par with the way a P does. But I'm not looking for stacks or splits. Just singles. I guess low-mid punch is what I seek? Playing an ash/rosewood 80's Schecter Jazz (60's styling and spacing)
Just adding to the thread....
Here's a clip of mic'd carvin J99 jazz pups into an ACG onboard preamp played with a pick, into my GK 700rbII, mic'd avatar 410.
Here's a clip of mic'd carvin J99 jazz pups into an ACG onboard preamp played with a pick, into my GK 700rbII, mic'd avatar 410.
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I'm trying to figure out what pickups would be best for my situation. There are a few tones that I'd be looking to dial in on them with a combination of different playing techniques and different settings on an Audere JZ3 Preamp.
The kinds of tones I'd be looking to dial in on these are:
I would think having the control of an active preamp would allow me to dial in many of these in terms of eq settings. Therefore I'd imagine the qualities I'd be looking for would be:
This is all speculative on my part, but I think those qualities would give me ample room to play with using the preamp.
Pickups that I've seen in the reviews of the first 5-10 pages that I'm considering for these qualities include: DiMarzio Ultra Jazz, EMG Active, Aero Type 1, & Nordstrand NJ4s.
But I'm completely new to mucking around with the electronics on my bass. I have no idea if I'm looking for the right qualities to produce the tones I've described above. Further, the first few pages where most of the reviews I've read are from are eight years old... so I don't know if these are the best pickups to be considering now for those properties.
Any input and feedback would be *greatly* appreciated!
- Andy
The kinds of tones I'd be looking to dial in on these are:
- Smooth, clear and beautiful - where each note in a four-part chord could ring true without being muddy, and yet without being harshly bright (think Victor Wooten)
- Thundering, punchy presence to cut through a loud mix
- Harsh, gritty, fat slap tone (think Marcus Miller)
- Natural, upright jazz tone - dulled top-end, acousticy
I would think having the control of an active preamp would allow me to dial in many of these in terms of eq settings. Therefore I'd imagine the qualities I'd be looking for would be:
- Well balanced and expansive frequency spectrum, from the lowest of the lows all the way up to the highest harmonics
- Clarity and definition of notes, even in four-part chords
- A high resolution in regards to volume
This is all speculative on my part, but I think those qualities would give me ample room to play with using the preamp.
Pickups that I've seen in the reviews of the first 5-10 pages that I'm considering for these qualities include: DiMarzio Ultra Jazz, EMG Active, Aero Type 1, & Nordstrand NJ4s.
But I'm completely new to mucking around with the electronics on my bass. I have no idea if I'm looking for the right qualities to produce the tones I've described above. Further, the first few pages where most of the reviews I've read are from are eight years old... so I don't know if these are the best pickups to be considering now for those properties.
Any input and feedback would be *greatly* appreciated!
- Andy
Thanks for the info Smash, I have a 2011 MIA Fender Jazz 4 string and I was thinking about swapping the pups - I will probably try the Duncans
could you detail your opinions? compared to what?
how is the bottom? can they detune well to D, C, B?
value in the mix?
live vs studio?
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
Andy, from personal experience I want to let you know that I wasn't a fan of the balance knob on the Audere's I've had. Fisrt off when at the center detent, it's not an exact 50-50 split between the pickups, additionally if you solo one of the pickups, there is a slight spike in the volume. Basically, the volume is less when both pickups are on...at what's supposed to be a 50-50 split. So, with that being said, I think it's a nice sounding preamp, and the 3 Z modes are nice for on the fly tonal changes, BUT, get a Volume, Volume, Treble, Bass configuration. It'll give you better control of the pickups.
I think that Dimarzio Area J's sound great with this preamp, because while they're hum free/split coil they sound somewhat similar to single coil J bass pickups. Since they have 5 wires, you have to watch the grounding...I actually created a thread regarding installation of Area J pickups with Audere preamps...just run a search and you'll find it.
I decided to go a completely different route and decided upon the EMG JVX pickups, wired VVT, and added a TBC control (treble/concentric knob) for a little more variety. It's a very clean sound, that can actually get a bit gritty when digging in.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
could you detail your opinions? compared to what?
how is the bottom? can they detune well to D, C, B?
value in the mix?
live vs studio?
For noiseless/hum free pickups they sound a little closer to single coil pickups than Dimarzio's other offerings.
Pro: single coil-like tone, traditional appearance, noise free, balanced tone, not hot or gainy, great price.
Cons: pole pieces are raised on A & D string...a little too high, not a lot of low end
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