Jazz pickups to avoid.

[Jeff S Smith]

Looking to install a j neck pickup on a flying V kit bass.

Any pickups that are a problem? Poor workmanship and short life span?

Thanks

 

[Warpeg]

Generally speaking, you may want to avoid the super-low-cost pickups you find on eBay and similar places. As with many things, you get what you pay for.

My advice is not to start with what NOT to get, but to instead focus on what you DO want in your pickups: Tone? Budget?

 

[pie_man_25]

As far as short lifespan goes, I have yet to see a pickup with a limited lifespan. My oldest and for the longest time only bass featured the cheapest pickups to be put on a fender, and those pickups are not only running strong, but they sound pretty darn good too.

Other than that it's not necessarily good to think in terms of "good" and "bad" so much as what makes the sound you want and fits your budget. Chances are a set of dimarzio model Js, EMGs or Seymour Duncan quarter pounders would suit you VERY well. They aren't cheap per se, but they aren't super boutique pickups hand wound by somebody. This being said, sometimes that's too expensive. What about the bass pickups at guitarfetish.com? Guitarists love those pickups, they're not so big in the bass world but I really don't see how they could be a bad purchase at all. Still too expensive? Yeah, maybe those no-name pickups on Ebay are in your budget, but they're probably no upgrade from the ones that came with your bass kit.

 

[Jeff S Smith]

Generally speaking, you may want to avoid the super-low-cost pickups you find on eBay and similar places. As with many things, you get what you pay for.

My advice is not to start with what NOT to get, but to instead focus on what you DO want in your pickups: Tone? Budget?

t

Generally speaking, you may want to avoid the super-low-cost pickups you find on eBay and similar places. As with many things, you get what you pay for.

My advice is not to start with what NOT to get, but to instead focus on what you DO want in your pickups: Tone? Budget?

Thank you Warpeg, i had failed to look at it that way.

 

[Jeff S Smith]

As far as short lifespan goes, I have yet to see a pickup with a limited lifespan. My oldest and for the longest time only bass featured the cheapest pickups to be put on a fender, and those pickups are not only running strong, but they sound pretty darn good too.

Other than that it's not necessarily good to think in terms of "good" and "bad" so much as what makes the sound you want and fits your budget. Chances are a set of dimarzio model Js, EMGs or Seymour Duncan quarter pounders would suit you VERY well. They aren't cheap per se, but they aren't super boutique pickups hand wound by somebody. This being said, sometimes that's too expensive. What about the bass pickups at guitarfetish.com? Guitarists love those pickups, they're not so big in the bass world but I really don't see how they could be a bad purchase at all. Still too expensive? Yeah, maybe those no-name pickups on Ebay are in your budget, but they're probably no upgrade from the ones that came with your bass kit.

That you Pie Man 25. I have no experience with J bass pickups, but for some reason I'm kinda drawn to the thought of the Seymor quarter pounders. They seem to be a favorite of many.