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"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.

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#701
RaginRog said:
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.
Click to expand...

How did you like the sound of those? I'm considering them actually, because in both the EMG videos demoing the EMG Js and the EMG JVXs, the tone is very close to the Victor Wooten tone I like - clear, pretty, rich in character without being harsh and a strong distinction between notes.

Then again, I don't want a one-trick pony... so right now, I (think) I'm down to three options:

  • Area J's w/ Audere Preamp - versatile & noiseless
  • Aero Type 1s w/ some preamp - not noiselss, but most veratile in that the Aeros are known for capturing the full frequency spectrum available evenly and with a high response - thus allowing me to dial in whatever I'd like, theoretically (they suggest not to use the Audere Z-Mode Preamps, as they apparently do not work well with the High Z settings)
  • EMG Js or JVXs w/ EMG preamp & tone controls - these sound closest to my favorite tone (specifically the Js), but I'm afraid of them being too distinct in character that I can't reach anywhere else - though I'm not entirely sure that would be a bad thing. I am also worried about the amount of work that would go into installing these...

Thoughts?
 
#702
Hey phnord,

I might be a little late to your party, but I've got an Audere JZ3 in my MIA Jazz V. I paired it with Basslines Quarter Pounders as what I thought would be "stepping stone" pickups... a quick drop-in to see if I wanted to move to more exotic pickups like some you mentioned. My original thoughts are in post #598 of this thread, complete with visual comparison if you're interested.

I didn't think they would be all that much of a difference than the stock Fender p'ups since they were "just Basslines," but I was completely floored by how much I liked them. They're much more clear and powerful from top to bottom than I thought they'd be and while there's a wider, warmer low end, the low B doesn't get overly boomy at all. I haven't found a tone I can't get, either. Like you mentioned, I can get everything from smooth and well behaved to growly attitude. A group I'm playing with this weekend is doing some jazz funk tunes, and with minimal adjustments, I can go from palm-mute upright-ish Miles Davis to Jaco Weather Report to Marcus Miller tones in mere heartbeats. Put the Z-mode switch to low and dial back the treble knob and you can get a huge reggae/dub sound. Z-mode to high and you're kicking out some great grindy biting rock tones.

After almost a year with the Basslines in my Jazz, I haven't seen a need to switch them out with other p'ups. It's probably my most versatile bass and I get constant compliments on tone, so it has easily become my first choice, go-to bass.

Don't know if you've thought about the QP's and sorry if I'm complicating things... just thought I might throw in my $.02 since I've got the JZ3 as well. :bassist:

5sg.
 
#703
phnord said:
How did you like the sound of those? I'm considering them actually, because in both the EMG videos demoing the EMG Js and the EMG JVXs, the tone is very close to the Victor Wooten tone I like - clear, pretty, rich in character without being harsh and a strong distinction between notes.

Then again, I don't want a one-trick pony... so right now, I (think) I'm down to three options:

  • Area J's w/ Audere Preamp - versatile & noiseless
  • Aero Type 1s w/ some preamp - not noiselss, but most veratile in that the Aeros are known for capturing the full frequency spectrum available evenly and with a high response - thus allowing me to dial in whatever I'd like, theoretically (they suggest not to use the Audere Z-Mode Preamps, as they apparently do not work well with the High Z settings)
  • EMG Js or JVXs w/ EMG preamp & tone controls - these sound closest to my favorite tone (specifically the Js), but I'm afraid of them being too distinct in character that I can't reach anywhere else - though I'm not entirely sure that would be a bad thing. I am also worried about the amount of work that would go into installing these...

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I like the EMG's, but ...you'll need a Jazz bass with a side jack and battery compartment to make all of it fit, and still look aesthetically pleasing (read my review below).

I also like the Area J's but wished I had bought the Audere with the 2 band eq. Which do I prefer...I'd have to go with the EMG's because of the clarity, and very clean low end tone. It worked out for me because I did have the side jack and Gotoh battery box...

If you don't want to modify the body, then go Audere, and a single coil...especially if you're looking for nice highs. This of course is my opinion...I don't slap, and am more of a traditional rock n' roll player...but I like snap with some of the punk bass lines I'm playing. I can get plenty of thump from one of my P basses.

This is the review I did of the JVX pickups on Guitar Center's website:

Ed Friedland has a great review of these pickups on Youtube, and it's one of the reasons why I purchased them. Documented in Ed's review is the difficulty in getting the electronics to fit in a Jazz bass's narrow control cavity. I can attest to this...it was extremely challenging. If you're not dealing with a tradition Jazz cavity, installation will be extremely simple because of EMG's quick connect(solderless) installation. The bass I installed them in was an American Standard Jazz bass, which I modified by adding a battery box, and side jack. Initially I kept it with the volume, volume, tone, and used a 3 hole plate from a '62 Reissue. When played through my Markbass CMD 102P it had a very nice crisp tone, with some punch, and a slight grittiness when digging in. The harmonics were also very nice. I can't say it had the thump that I get from the Dimarzio Model J pickups that I have in my other Jazz, but still a very nice and usable tone. Additionally, unlike a stock Fender/CTS tone pot, which has a tendency to muddy the sound, the EMG tone pot maintained clarity, albeit with the highs rolled off. With that being said, I decided to add a BTC Control (Bass & Treble EQ), while keeping the volume, volume, tone. This really did it for me...I love this bass.

Pros: Nice crisp tone, vintage/traditional appearance, quick connect installation

Cons: tight fit in traditional jazz cavity
 
#704
I need some help picking out a new set of pups for my Fender MIM Jazz. Right now I've just got the neck pickup sitting in there. So far I've considered Dimarzio Area J, Model Js and Bartolini 9J1s. I'm looking for a mix of modern and vintage sounds, something that can cover classic rock tones (think Led Zep), but also easily go into modern alternative and hard rock tones (think Muse, Switchfoot, Anberlin.) I also need a passable jazz tone for a few months, but I can always dial that in when needed. I want a neck that can sound thumpy and p-bassy, and a bridge that sounds zingy and can be aggressive if needed. Any input?
 
#705
phnord said:
How did you like the sound of those?
[*] EMG Js or JVXs w/ EMG preamp & tone controls - these sound closest to my favorite tone (specifically the Js), but I'm afraid of them being too distinct in character that I can't reach anywhere else - though I'm not entirely sure that would be a bad thing. I am also worried about the amount of work that would go into installing these...
Click to expand...

Hey, I went ahead and did a quick sample review...mainly just messing around so you get an idea of what they'll sound like. I'm just a weekend warrior...no training...so don't expect anything fancy.

EMG JVX pickups and BTC control in Jazz bass - YouTube

This one is my Jazz with the EMG's vs. my Jazz bass that has Dimarzio Model J

EMG JVX pickups with BTC control vs. Model J pickups.wmv - YouTube
 
#706
Dumb newb question:
If I'd like a wider range of tone options, could I use a mix of pickups instead of a matched pair -- maybe a Model J and an Area J? Or do you end up with the worst of both?

I've got a Squier VM 70s Jazz that I bought used, and I can't hear much difference between the stock bridge and neck pickups. It seemed that swapping at least one might be fun to try.

I do understand that practice will help me more than messing with gear, but I've always enjoyed tinkering with stuff...
 
#707
I'd like to add my 2 cents on some less common J Style pickups in comparison to the fairly well known EMG J.

EMG J's
I have used these in my 62 J RI and I love the tone of it, not as modern as you might think but it does go low and you can't go wrong with it for most situations. Made a lot of recordings with EMG Js, these are the standard 9V ones.

Alembic Activators
These are my favourite. They are installed in a J config, in a self made bass. They go much lower than the EMGs and much higher too. With the filter you can roll back and get the vintage vibe. I used to use my own preamp, but I like the alembic filter so now I use a modified Alembic preamp (modified to take a locking neutrik jack and switching to 9v). They are low impedance pickups and if you know what you are doing you can make a preamp for it or use a commercial one. There is a myth going about that you must use alembic preamps, and that is not true. You can use a cheap stratoblaster circuit ( a standard Jfet preamp with about 20db boost) and it would suit this fine. The tone is sort of like 'smoothed out full range piezos', very clean. Almost acoustic like but fuller.

J-45 Willi Stich
Mr Lorenzo's organic pickups. They are now in my 62RI Jin a stack knob set up, and they are staying there. They don't go as low as the Alembics, but they get that vintage vibe. Smooth sounding, with enough top end without wanting more. No nasal nonsense here. They 'don't look' correct though as they have 'multi' pole pieces instead of 2 per string for a 4 string set. Once I parked my vintage MG on a roof top car park and a bloke was up there smoking a cigarette counting the spokes of my wire wheels - he said " You have seventy two spokes when you should have sixty". Only those types would notice that the J-45s have extra pole pieces...... But if you are after the total vintage look too, then you would not be considering these. Noiseless pickups, but not completely. Not hi-fi as often described, the Alembic Activator is hi-fi as are the EMGs.

Hope this helps somebody somewhere sometime.
 
#709
THORRR said:
I'd love to be able to get the P-Thump out of my Jazz without routing for a P-Split-Pup.

Which neck J-pups do you think most closely approximate the P-Bass sound?

Thanks

:bassist:
Click to expand...

Hey dude I read an article a long while back in a Guitar Player mag (before there was a Bass Player) and the author wrote how to get a volume pot with a pull switch which would make your two single coil pickups on the jazz bass into a single double coil pickup (without hum) that was all about mids and thump like a p-bass, without cutting a hole or buying new pickups and only spending $9 for a double throw pot. Do a search for it. I guess it was wired in series?
 
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#711
It is what Fender called the S1 switch on a Jazz Bass. They abandoned it. Indeed, 2 jazz bass pickups wired as a humbucking will sound muddy (like P Bass, yes, but a very muddy one!). Like many others, I tried that combination way before Fender's S1 and quickly realized it did not work.
 
#712
Frenchy-Lefty said:
It is what Fender called the S1 switch on a Jazz Bass. They abandoned it. Indeed, 2 jazz bass pickups wired as a humbucking will sound muddy (like P Bass, yes, but a very muddy one!). Like many others, I tried that combination way before Fender's S1 and quickly realized it did not work.
Click to expand...

Frenchy's correct, the S1 switch. It's what my Jazz V had before I replaced it with an Audere JZ3. It was a super stealth switch too, it's on the first volume knob and you can barely see it. The difference in sound wasn't huge, but it was definitely noticeable. Tough to describe though. Like a cross between a Jazz and a Pbass, but leaning towards the Jazz side of the sound. Maybe 3/4 Jazz bass, 1/4 Pbass sound.

5sg.

EDIT: No pics no proof, right? lol
IMAG1241.jpg


IMAG1238.jpg
 
#714
I just purchased an Aero Instrument JB5 type F replacement set this morning for my US passive Fender. I'll try to post a review as soon as possible, cos' it seems (just IMHO) that those 5 strings' pickups are not commonly used.

Thanks again to Paul at Paul's Bass Matters, such a nice person ;) (Nimegue, Netherlands)
 
#716
I started checking out this thread to help get an idea on upgrading the stock pickups in my 2006 MIM FSR jazz bass (one of the alder wood, natural finish ones put out by Guitar Center/Musician's Friend) and got to page 10 before I felt entirely overwhelmed.

I'm looking for a classic tone, nothing too modern. Not playing in a band right now, just jamming with friends on occasion, but given the people I'm playing with, I could easily see an alt-country band forming sometime next year (or something entirely different, so some versatility wouldn't be the worst thing in the world).

I was initially looking at the DiMarzio Model Js, mainly based on the excellent review they received early on in this thread and for their hum cancelling, but a comment saying they could "out-P a p-bass" kinda put me off on them (if that's what I wanted, I would have bought a p-bass).

So...any thoughts/suggestions? (Edited to add - upon further reading, I'm thinking the Aero Type 1's may be what I'm looking for, though they won't cancel hum, right?)
 
#717
Pickups click on that link you'll see what you need @ aero instrument, and there are MIM replacement pickups.

Most important thing about hum cancelling:
"Note: All J Bass 4 pickup sets (neck & bridge) come reverse wound, reverse polarity, for hum cancelling when both pickups are active."

That means single coils commonly generate hum, especially a solo'd single bridge pickup
edit: I'm talking about replacement PU's for mexican JB cos' their measurements are not standards.

"Mexican J Bass 4 Replacement The infamous pole piece pickup. The neck & bridge are identical!! Shorter and wider then the standard neck pickup, standard covers do not fit!!! The replacement pickup is designed to fit into the existing cover. New covers are not available through Aero."
 
#718
Thanks for the tip - didn't realize the MIM Jazz pickups were a different size.

That said, I'm not set on the Aeros. I'd prefer something that cancels hum regardless of the volume settings on both pickups (kinda how the Model Js act as humbuckers when wired in series), but all-in-all, that's a pretty minor concern. But with the MIM jazzes being a different size, how does that limit my options? Any other suggestions?

Edit: Based on this thread, it sounds like MIM jazz bases after 2001 use standard sized pickups. Since mine's a 2006, the standard Type 1s should be fine. So, the question is again, are the Aero Type 1s my best bet, or is there another pickup I should be considering given the above info?
 
#720
El_Duderino said:
Thanks for the tip - didn't realize the MIM Jazz pickups were a different size.

That said, I'm not set on the Aeros. I'd prefer something that cancels hum regardless of the volume settings on both pickups (kinda how the Model Js act as humbuckers when wired in series), but all-in-all, that's a pretty minor concern. But with the MIM jazzes being a different size, how does that limit my options? Any other suggestions?

Edit: Based on this thread, it sounds like MIM jazz bases after 2001 use standard sized pickups. Since mine's a 2006, the standard Type 1s should be fine. So, the question is again, are the Aero Type 1s my best bet, or is there another pickup I should be considering given the above info?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say they can out P a P bass, but when soloing the neck pickup, Model J's can come a bit close to a P bass' tone.
Also keep in mind that most folks tend to keep both pickups on when playing J basses (presumably). They sound like jazz bass pickups to me.

Here's a link to a vid I did (model j vs p bass):




No fancy playing...just trying to give an idea of the tones
 
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