Jazz pickup to go with PV63 pbass pickup

[Firemedic73]

Building a passive PJ bass. Already have the PV63 looking for a good split coil Jazz bridge pickup to pair with it.

Interested in Budget options up to $100ish
Thank you

 

[AK Bass Guy]

If you want a J pup for blending (not solo IMO) the Dimarzio Ultra J is very loud and bright, it compliments the P pup very well.

 

[Malak the Mad]

If you want a J pup for blending (not solo IMO) the Dimarzio Ultra J is very loud and bright, it compliments the P pup very well.

Funny you should say that. I was just going to recommend against the Ultra. I don’t want to be a contrarian, but I found the bold-and-brash ‘63 very much dominated the mix and reduced the “presence” of the Ultra bridge, despite how strong it is on it’s own.

Full disclosure, though…I don’t gig or play out, so I do not own a serious amplifier or other tone shaping gear. Also, my P-pup might have a slightly different placement than a standard P/J, so “grain o’ salt” and all that.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Funny you should say that. I was just going to recommend against the Ultra. I don’t want to be a contrarian, but I found the bold-and-brash ‘63 very much dominated the mix and reduced the “presence” of the Ultra bridge, despite how strong it is on it’s own.

Full disclosure, though…I don’t gig or play out, so I do not own a serious amplifier or other tone shaping gear. Also, my P-pup might have a slightly different placement than a standard P/J, so “grain o’ salt” and all that.

It’s really hard to predict how one pickup will react with another especially a PJ with the pickups in parallel.
I used the Ultra with a Split P and it was great when blending a little in. But not so great when the ultra was solo or a 50/50. No offense to anyone who rocks a completely set of Ultra Js, just not my cup of tea.

 

[Malak the Mad]

It’s really hard to predict how one pickup will react with another especially a PJ with the pickups in parallel.

You can say that again! At the very least, finding a good balance between odd P/J match-ups is difficult and takes a lot of experimentation…that, or a really lucky break!

I haven’t tried everything out there, but so far, I’ve only found a really good match with an MIJ split-coil and a Super 55 J-pup…my “lucky break” which, in hindsight, I probably should’ve left alone…and, most recently, a DiMarzio Sixties P/J set. I did do a set of Bartolini Classics that were fine, but they didn’t “scratch that itch”, if ya know what I mean.

@Firemedic73; If you plan on sticking with the PV’63, just make sure your bridge pup is similarly bold. With that split-coil, yer gonna need it.

 

[Firemedic73]

Funny you should say that. I was just going to recommend against the Ultra. I don’t want to be a contrarian, but I found the bold-and-brash ‘63 very much dominated the mix and reduced the “presence” of the Ultra bridge, despite how strong it is on it’s own.

Full disclosure, though…I don’t gig or play out, so I do not own a serious amplifier or other tone shaping gear. Also, my P-pup might have a slightly different placement than a standard P/J, so “grain o’ salt” and all that.

What would you recommend? I have the same pickup in another pbass and love it.

 

[Malak the Mad]

What would you recommend? I have the same pickup in another pbass and love it.

I totally get that. If my bass was a Precision, instead of a Jazz bass re-routed into a P/J, I would’ve been perfectly happy, too. In my opinion, though, it was too much/too bold/too “whatever” when I tried matching it with the Ultra. The bridge pickup was barely noticeable when the PV’63 was running at 100%, which I usually run it on. (The P is the “meat” and the J adds the “spice”.)

It’s probably fair to say many aftermarket pickup designers will try to make sure their P/J sets are a good match with each other. So, if you’re gonna make a “shake & bake” P/J, it’ll take experimentation, some blind luck or someone who’s tinkered enough to know which pups play well with each other.

 

[Firemedic73]

I have a split J bass pickup in another bass I may pull and try. It is an artec JBS4 split coil. I. Completely forgot it was a split coil. Resistance is roughly 13kohm. Hopefully it will work out.

 

[manchego_eggo]

The Artec is good, but I think Dimarzio Model J/relentless or Delano JMVC FE/M2 are the best bets

 

[Firemedic73]

So I'm considering getting a SD hot stack jazz pup to try it with the PV63? Any thoughts or opinions?

 

[crucislancer]

So I'm considering getting a SD hot stack jazz pup to try it with the PV63? Any thoughts or opinions?

I did this, I thought it sounded great. A good match in terms of volume, and more often then not I would run the Hot Stack at 100% with the PV'63 dialed back a bit for more definition. I pulled those pickups out and installed a set of EMG PJs, but I'm thinking about going passive with that bass again (Precision Deluxe Spc Ed). I might pair those two up again, or go a different route.