"J" pickups discussion and comparisons.

[ldervish]

l The strings – I forgot - it was strung with D'Addario XL Picolo’s. I started to pull my TI Jazz Flats off my MIA J bass, but no, I had a set of GHS Precision SS Flats somewhere. I put those on the “new to me” J – and WOOOHH! – I didn’t know a MIM J could make those sounds. Those pups are nice. Your description hit the mark. I want to pull them and put them in my MIA J, but no, I want to get a set of Model J’s and try them first, and then maybe switch them around to see what happens. I also want to try some different strings, maybe some LaBella’s as well as the TI Flats. Between all the different string, pup and bass combinations this could be fun (not to mention amps).

Thanks again, SMASH for steering me in the right direction!

I think you raise a great point, and that is the variation in sound "reported" by the pup depending on the string it is combined with. Some strings can really bring a bass to life. I use the GHS Precision SS Flats on my MIA J with Bart 9J1s and really like them. They have also worked pretty well on a P/J loaded with Dimarzio/Schaller P and Model J bridge pups. With the Barts and the tone rolled just about off, they give me an almost compressed sounding low and creamy upper mids. On the P/J the uppers aren't quite as creamy, but the bottom and mids are fuller if a little muddier, but not in a bad way. At least that's what my ears hear. I recently got some TI Flats and am interested to find out how the tonal qualities will change. I don't see the GHS Flats mentioned much in the forums here. (???)

 

[carved czech]

I have been through the Nordies, the Aero's, the Duncans, Van Zandt, Kent Armstrong, Lane Poor, EMG classic...I just got a send of Bart Classic Bass humcancellers (CBJD) and I think I've found my jazz pickups.

Oh, yes! Very similar to me.I have been through the J´singles:vintage Fenders (hum!),DiMarzio J´(fat), Fender Custom´60 (strange bottom), Fender Originals (best),Duncans Antiquity II(killer bottom) ,SD BassLines(made my flat strings sounded like a piece of wire),Lindy Fralins (overoutputting). I came allways back to the Fender "Original Jazz Bass Pickups". They are giving me the "old school" tone I can work with. I use flats strings on my 1968 Fender Jazz Bass fretted,no preamp, through all tube vintage Fender Bassman 100 head,Ampeg 2x10 cab. Temporarily happy.

 

[charic]

Im wondering which you would reccommend for Rock (acdc sorta style ) and metal (metallica, maiden, megadeth sort of metal "the proper stuff) . Just curious.

 

[mbut115]

have anyone used seymour duncan SJB-1 pickups? if so, how do you like them?

 

[SMASH]

I think you raise a great point, and that is the variation in sound "reported" by the pup depending on the string it is combined with. Some strings can really bring a bass to life. ...

I've also found this to be true and somewhere in this thread made mention of it as well.

Im wondering which you would reccommend for Rock (acdc sorta style ) and metal (metallica, maiden, megadeth sort of metal "the proper stuff) . Just curious.

Others may chime in with specific recommendations, but I can't really. I play, and have played, in bands purveying different styles of heavy rock and I've done so with greatly varying basses (from Bart-loaded P bass with flats to '70s J with stainless strings and Model J p'ups) and been satisfied with my tones in each case. A lot depends on what kind of mix you have to cut through, your rig, etc.

If you describe some specific tonal qualities you're after, that might help people recommend you something that'll suit you.

 

[Human Bass]

I would LOVE to see a review of some DELANO pups.

 

[PeteBassclef]

Hi Guys,
New to active PUPs.
I've been told to use 18v for my EMG's (JV-Set).
Where do I locate TWO batteries?
Guitar is a '76 re-issue JBass.
Japanese made,,,,,hence PUP upgrade.
Also, I'm now told I have to use a stereo jack so the batteries don't drain.Do I wire the jacks pin to pin?

Don't shout at me coz this is basic stuff to you guys,
remember I'm new to actives.

Thanks.

 

[bholder]

Hi Guys,
New to active PUPs.
I've been told to use 18v for my EMG's (JV-Set).
Where do I locate TWO batteries?
Guitar is a '76 re-issue JBass.
Japanese made,,,,,hence PUP upgrade.
Also, I'm now told I have to use a stereo jack so the batteries don't drain.Do I wire the jacks pin to pin?

Don't shout at me coz this is basic stuff to you guys,
remember I'm new to actives.

Thanks.

Look at the jacks closely, you'll see there are three solder tabs connecting to three parts of the jack - tip, ring, and sleeve. The tip should be obvious, it's the angled piece that "holds on" to the tip of the plug when it's plugged in - that's your main output signal from the bass. The outer sleeve part is the ground for the bass, and connects to the larges part of the shaft on the plug. The ring part is the inbetween piece - on a stereo jack/plug combo, it has the "hot" signal for the other channel. But in this application, you're using a stereo jack with a mono plug, and the ring section grounds out to the same portion of the plug shaft as the sleeve / ground, when the plug is actually plugged in. That's the entire point of this setup - you connect the ground from the battery to the ring connection on the jack. When there is no plug in the jack, the batteries aren't connected to ground, and so cannot drain. They are only "on" (in the circuit) when there is a plug in the jack.

Hope that helps...

Edit: here's a pic I found that may help....
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[pmaraziti]

Has anybody tried the Delano pickups, especially I'm interested in those with 9,5 mm poles (JMVC5 FE) ?

I heard a Jazz Bass with similar size poles (not sure the pups were Delano though) and it sounded so much better than my American Deluxe V... I wonder whether I should change my pups... if not Delano I was thinkinf of the Nordstrands...

Thanks, Paolo

 

[Doctor J]

I would hope that when I "unplug the battery" from my guitar I would stop draining the battery. Wouldn't it be easier to unplug the cable?

 

[judas jedermann]

Thanks for incredibly good thread. I just bought few weeks ago Dimarzio Model J pups to replace my 78 j-bass original pickups. I use also J-retro. Model J really improved my sound and I got rid of that annoying hum. Thanks Smash and folks for your very informative reviews.

 

[carved czech]

Thanks for incredibly good thread. I just bought few weeks ago Dimarzio Model J pups to replace my 78 j-bass original pickups. I use also J-retro. Model J really improved my sound and I got rid of that annoying hum. Thanks Smash and folks for your very informative reviews.

+1
Yesterday I also went from Fender singles to humbuckers DM "J", tired of hum on my 68 j-bass. Although I always want to keep vintage look and sound, recently prefered to have more accurate tone (playing with big band)to cut through the mix!.
DiMarzio are giving "that" signal, which my vintage Fender Bassman 100 tube can work with better than single coil´s (tubes+singles =too much soft in one place).
The J bridge pickup plus some tone roll off = the best solo tone I´ve ever had...

 

[beaumont2miles]

I'll chime in, too, and thank you all for a great thread. It's been going on a long time! I just ordered some DM 122's to replace some EMGs I've had since 1980 (or something like that). There are some active electronics that will come out with the EMGs, but does anyone know if the existing pot is going to work optimally with the DMs? I don't know what the resistance is -- or even if it was a replacement of the original pot when the EMGs went in eons ago. Does it even matter that much?
thanks!

 

[fenderjbassbabe]

Does anyone have a suggestion about which pickups ( I definitely need better ones) I should install on my cute (but lame) Fender Fretless J? It was one of those sleepy Mexican models...it really is a delight to play, but I am getting lazy response from the factory-installed pickup. How about a nice kick-ass replacement? What brand, and from where should I purchase it? Helllppppp. I love this sorry little animal, and she needs some more meat in her diet.

 

[bmc]

I don't have a lot of experience with different pickups. I replaced a set of EMG's in my fretless jazz with Fender Custom Shop 60's and I'm really pleased. More gain. Good growl. The EMG's are very sterile. Very quiet. Good pickups but I wanted more balls which the Custom SHop delivered. Good luck.

 

[BStringJerry]

Does anyone have a suggestion about which pickups ( I definitely need better ones) I should install on my cute (but lame) Fender Fretless J? It was one of those sleepy Mexican models...it really is a delight to play, but I am getting lazy response from the factory-installed pickup. How about a nice kick-ass replacement? What brand, and from where should I purchase it? Helllppppp. I love this sorry little animal, and she needs some more meat in her diet.

I have a set of Nordstrand NJ4s (mentioned earlier in this thread) on my Fretless MIM J bass. It made all the difference in the world. They can be had for about $150 new. I think there was a set for sale in the classified section of this forum - they come up from time to time. Try checking out

http://www.bestbassgear.com/nordstrand-pickups.htm

or

http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=150_360&osCsid=125824a16f7ab66d330222a498022ccb

or

http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=150_360&osCsid=125824a16f7ab66d330222a498022ccb

or

http://www.blueberryhillbass.com/NordstrandPickups.htm#traditional

Now if those Nordstrands aren't kick ass enough for you, check out Rio Grande's "Muy Grande" set at

http://www.riograndepickups.com/

 

[fenderjbassbabe]

Thanks guys - with a bit of research and leaning toward my own personal preferences in sound, I have ordered the Fender Custom 60's. I am fairly certain they will do what needs to be done to "Brandy The Fretless Freak" (all my basses have names....). Cannot wait to start tearing her apart. Now if I could only find a white-pearl pick guard for her I would be on CLEF 9.....thanks again for your input!

 

[avast_bass]

Now if I could only find a white-pearl pick guard for her I would be on CLEF 9.....thanks again for your input!

Amazing!!!

 

[hands5]

I've just taken the Ultrajazz pups out of my Jazz w/ J-retro, and put the Antiquity I's back in.
The Ultrajazz had a modernish punchy sound, a little bit compressed sounding. The Antiquity I's are definitely more vintage, more Jazz bass sounding, with a bit more bottom and a more sparkling top. Also, despite the BassPlayer ranking of them in the pup shootout, I would say the Antiquity I has a clarity of 4, the UltraJazz a clarity of 3. This is the reversal of the BP rating. Maybe it's just that the Antiquity I may sit better with the J-retro, who knows? Also, my bass has a heavy ash body, so that may have a bearing on it. Bottom line: in this particular bass, the Antiquity I smokes the Ultrajazz.[/QUOTE Agreed

 

[hands5]

I've just taken the Ultrajazz pups out of my Jazz w/ J-retro, and put the Antiquity I's back in.
The Ultrajazz had a modernish punchy sound, a little bit compressed sounding. The Antiquity I's are definitely more vintage, more Jazz bass sounding, with a bit more bottom and a more sparkling top. Also, despite the BassPlayer ranking of them in the pup shootout, I would say the Antiquity I has a clarity of 4, the UltraJazz a clarity of 3. This is the reversal of the BP rating. Maybe it's just that the Antiquity I may sit better with the J-retro, who knows? Also, my bass has a heavy ash body, so that may have a bearing on it. Bottom line: in this particular bass, the Antiquity I smokes the Ultrajazz.

Agreed,