Jazz bass pickups that are responsive to harmonics

[jbailes]

Was wondering based on most people's experience with replacement pickups for a Jazz bass, what pickups were the most responsive to Jaco style harmonics.
I'm thinking of putting in some Antiquity II's in a MIM standard jazz bass I have, and DiMarzio ultra jazzes in an all-maple Squier I have, but your input would really help out. Thanks alot.

 

[David Jayne]

It really shouldn't matter, as harmonics are well within the frequency response parameters of any pickup out there. But you may find that 'hot' (overwound) pickups do it a little better. But then you might not like their tone for everything else so....

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Location is probably the biggest factor in whether or not the pickups will accurately pick up harmonic. As you start to get up there in the <2.8> and <6.1> harmonics, you begin to narrow the distance between your nodes and antinodes.

A mid-heavy tone (not the Ultra Jazz pickups, which have scooped mids) and emphasis on your bridge pickup will really help. I use the Nordstrand NJ4SV in my bridge and I absolutely love it. It's wound to vintage specs and has a slight mid boost to my ears. Sounds great on my fretless jazz. I can record a little bit for you tonight, if you'd like.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Location is probably the biggest factor in whether or not the pickups will accurately pick up harmonic.

+1

Bridge position pickups work well. Neck position pickups not so good. Its probably also good to not have the pickup right on an open string harmonic node.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

+1

Bridge position pickups work well. Neck position pickups not so good. Its probably also good to not have the pickup right on an open string harmonic node.

In doing some back-of-the-envelope calculations, I've found that the jazz bass has the neck pickup placed very nearly directly under the fourth (3.8th? major 10th + 8va) harmonic node.

 

[Audiophage]

+1

Bridge position pickups work well. Neck position pickups not so good. Its probably also good to not have the pickup right on an open string harmonic node.

Someone should tell Rickenbacker this.

 

[jbailes]

FumkMetal, that Nordstrand pickup you mentioned sounds pretty interesting.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

FumkMetal, that Nordstrand pickup you mentioned sounds pretty interesting.

Here's a pretty good video of them on a fretless. You can hear when he solos the bridge pickup that it has a very Jaco-esque tone: Modulus VJ Fretless Demo - YouTube