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Jazz Bass - best build

#21
i have one jazz with a maple neck, ebony fingerboard and FWIW: it's an allparts neck i bought new (probably 30 years old), but it has never needed attention even though it's strung with round wound strings and it's fretless! so: maple and ebony are a great combination for you to consider, too.

i don't have any pickup tips (the previous suggestions would be good ones, i think) as i have found that some pickups might sound better on one ax than another --- sometimes you gotta' just try 'em and see...even when a pickup is top-rated it could disappoint on a specific ax -or- surprise and delight (IME). so: pick a set and go from there. good luck on your jazz bass quest! :thumbsup:
 
#24
Sadowsky pickups came in my custom Filakovsky Jazz.

I've heard that Sadowsky pickups are wound by DiMarzio, but I don't know how different they are compared to regular DiMarzios.

This bass naturally has a warm, 60s/70s type sound. I love it.

Koa over swamp ash. Ebony booard.

Mike
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#26
Douglas101 said:
Hello Talk Bass people

I'm building a Jazz Bass - starting with a swamp ash body and a maple neck - these seem to be good for tone - I'm wanting a classic 60s kind of sound - I particularly like The sound Norman Watt-Roy gets. Do you have any tips on the best pick ups for a jazz bass.
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Personally, I prefer ASH but the difference may be negligible compared to alder. Also, IMO, the differences between necks (thickness and materials, maple, maple/rosewood etc.) matched with a particular body (ash or alder) will also be a factor.

Of course there are many factors incl. but not limited to p/ups (position), bridge and the nut. Frets. or lack of, also contribute.

Simplified
Ash vs Alder: The Fender Tone Woods | World of Music
 
#28
Douglas101 said:
Hello Talk Bass people

I'm building a Jazz Bass - starting with a swamp ash body and a maple neck - these seem to be good for tone - I'm wanting a classic 60s kind of sound - I particularly like The sound Norman Watt-Roy gets. Do you have any tips on the best pick ups for a jazz bass.
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I personally prefer Jazz pickups from the 70's era. Fender currently makes a "pure vintage '74" set. I'm also a big fan of Tom Brantley's Geddy Lee pickups, and I have a set in one of my Jazz basses. If you ware wanting a 60's sound, Fender makes two sets: the "Custom Shop 60's", and the "Fender Original Jazz Bass" series.
 
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#29
bassdude51 said:
There are soooooo many good pickups for a Jazz Bass out there that you can't even shake a stick at them all!

My .02 cents. The best are the Aero Instruments Type 1 Jazz Bass pickups. But they are so expensive! OUCH!

One J pickup set that is very affordable and sounds excellent are these..................Genuine Fender '75 reissue J pickups. $80 for a set but you have to buy them individually. I have a set of these in one of my basses and I LOVE THEM!

Don't be fooled by the '75 reissue title. They sound like a classic J.

NEW - Genuine Fender '75 Reissue Jazz Bass Neck Pickup, 005-5230-000 717669063863 | eBay

NEW Genuine Fender '75 Reissue Jazz Bass Bridge Pickup, 005-5231-000 717669063870 | eBay
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I agree those are great pickups
And the Pure 74s are great too!
 
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#30
pedroims said:
Vintage I would say Norstrand, Fender custom, Lindy Fralin, Lollars. But Lakland, Aero, Sadowsky, Aguilar, SD, Dimarzio along many other are also great.
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This^ is a great list ! I would go with Nordstrand, Fralin, and custom shop fender. Do not get the “Fender Original” pickups as they are the weakest sounding pickups ever ( I know the price is tempting but pass ).
 
#31
Douglas101 said:
Hello Talk Bass people

I'm building a Jazz Bass - starting with a swamp ash body and a maple neck - these seem to be good for tone - I'm wanting a classic 60s kind of sound - I particularly like The sound Norman Watt-Roy gets. Do you have any tips on the best pick ups for a jazz bass.
Click to expand...
it depends if you like to play with the volume knobs and play with one pickup full and the other less than full. If the hum bothers you you can try the original Dimarrzio model J or Area J also Lindy Fralin makes a great Hum cancelling pickup as does Aguilar the Dimarrzios are the least $ Fender custom shop Jazz pickups sound great. I myself never play with both pickups full on you seem to experience a mid cut with both full on.
 
#32
90% of TB will disagree with me, but I don't think that your wood choice is of utmost importance here for the tone. If you also want the look then I would say it matters much more.

60's pickup placement and proper pickups will be the biggest factor, imo. And of course strings, and your playing.

There's a set of 60s wind Aguilars in the classifieds right now:
For Sale - Aguilar AG 4J-60 Jazz Set
 
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#33
AcridSaint said:
90% of TB will disagree with me, but I don't think that your wood choice is of utmost importance here for the tone. If you also want the look then I would say it matters much more.

60's pickup placement and proper pickups will be the biggest factor, imo. And of course strings, and your playing.

There's a set of 60s wind Aguilars in the classifieds right now:
For Sale - Aguilar AG 4J-60 Jazz Set
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Thanks - it's tone first for me -
 
#35
Here is an (old) but nice interview with Norman Watt-Roy. The "hits" are played on a P-bass.

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Asked what models he currently plays.
"I've got a '62 Jazz that I use most of the time, the gold one and I've got a '70 maple neck Precision that I adapted, that's the one I played on all the hits, I put a jazz pick up on it as well so I can get the jazz tones out of it. It has a maple neck which is not like the ordinary Precision, it's slightly thinner, but a little bit wider than a Jazz. "
 
#37
Most important thing is your own ability and experience as a player. Get in the shed! Woods make some difference, especially the finger board wood. Maple is brighter. Rosewood more woody. Pickups make more difference. I like EMGs. Clear and growly. Fender CS-60 are nice. Nordstrand NJ4 ok. Fralins getting a bit dark. Not keen on noise cancelling apart from the EMGs which are noiseless single coils. Strings make a big difference. External EQ is very important to shape your sound. Then there’s the amp and external effects. And the room you are playing in.
 

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