Since getting my 2005 Skyline JO4 I've been on the hunt for the right pickups- it is quite a warm bass inherently and I like a fair amount of growl, bite and punch (using Roto RS66 strings). I've always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with J-basses in general (apart from my first bass 20 years ago, I've never kept any Jazz bass longer than a couple years), but I decided to stick it out with this one as it feels so good. I have no predetermined need for humbucking (split-coils) J pickups, but so far seem to slightly prefer them tonally with a few exceptions.
My experiments so far:
-Fralin Singles- the stock pickups from the bass. Too warm and indistinct/muddy for me on this bass, though they do sound great in certain mixes and on brighter basses.
-Fralin Split-coils- surprisingly a bit clearer and with more growl than the singles, though with less extension on top. Better but not quite there.
-Nordstrand NJ4SE Split-coils- I have tried the SV set on a previous bass and remembered them being too aggressive at the time. This set is similar- a TON of upper-mid bite and punch, but maybe too much so and pretty tight in the lows (maybe too much so). I do like these alot though! No hum, but a decent amount of buzz when you take your hands off the strings.
-Duncan-Designed/ SJB-1 Singles- These might be my favorite single coil pickups so far. The Duncan-designed set is the one found on older Squier VM basses and is very similar to the SJB-1 set IME, but a little tighter and lower output. Probably the best deal of any good J set (especially if you can get a used set of the Duncan-designed p'ups, though the SJBs are relatively cheap too).
-Fender Super 55 Split-coils- I really dig these. Great growl and punch, and more clarity than either of the Fralin sets IMO. Can get a bit clanky on higher tone settings. No hum and just a little buzz when you take your hands off the strings.
-Delano JMVC4 FE/M2 Split-coils- These are the ones with the large Stingray-esque polepieces. As a big G&L L2000/L1000 fan I've always wanted to try these. They really do seem to split the difference between the immediate punch of an MM or G&L and the give/growl of a Fender. Lots of clarity and depth, and plenty bite and growl when you play hard (they have a bit of that naturally compressed flavor that I loved in my G&L that makes it easy to get different tones based on dynamic changes). These are easier to control clank with and the tone knob seems to be the most useable with this set to get different character. They might be a bit scooped compared to the others I've tried thus far, but I'll have to hear them in a mix to really be sure. They are totally silent, even when taking your hands off the strings!
For now I'm am split between the Delano set and the Fender Super 55s, with a current lean towards the Delanos. Also curious about Lollar J singles, as they make perhaps my favorite vintage-style P pickup.
My experiments so far:
-Fralin Singles- the stock pickups from the bass. Too warm and indistinct/muddy for me on this bass, though they do sound great in certain mixes and on brighter basses.
-Fralin Split-coils- surprisingly a bit clearer and with more growl than the singles, though with less extension on top. Better but not quite there.
-Nordstrand NJ4SE Split-coils- I have tried the SV set on a previous bass and remembered them being too aggressive at the time. This set is similar- a TON of upper-mid bite and punch, but maybe too much so and pretty tight in the lows (maybe too much so). I do like these alot though! No hum, but a decent amount of buzz when you take your hands off the strings.
-Duncan-Designed/ SJB-1 Singles- These might be my favorite single coil pickups so far. The Duncan-designed set is the one found on older Squier VM basses and is very similar to the SJB-1 set IME, but a little tighter and lower output. Probably the best deal of any good J set (especially if you can get a used set of the Duncan-designed p'ups, though the SJBs are relatively cheap too).
-Fender Super 55 Split-coils- I really dig these. Great growl and punch, and more clarity than either of the Fralin sets IMO. Can get a bit clanky on higher tone settings. No hum and just a little buzz when you take your hands off the strings.
-Delano JMVC4 FE/M2 Split-coils- These are the ones with the large Stingray-esque polepieces. As a big G&L L2000/L1000 fan I've always wanted to try these. They really do seem to split the difference between the immediate punch of an MM or G&L and the give/growl of a Fender. Lots of clarity and depth, and plenty bite and growl when you play hard (they have a bit of that naturally compressed flavor that I loved in my G&L that makes it easy to get different tones based on dynamic changes). These are easier to control clank with and the tone knob seems to be the most useable with this set to get different character. They might be a bit scooped compared to the others I've tried thus far, but I'll have to hear them in a mix to really be sure. They are totally silent, even when taking your hands off the strings!
For now I'm am split between the Delano set and the Fender Super 55s, with a current lean towards the Delanos. Also curious about Lollar J singles, as they make perhaps my favorite vintage-style P pickup.
