Looking for J pickups with sharp articulation and good mids.

[Strurs]

I've got an MIJ Fender Jaguar with J pickups in 70s pickup placement. It has the stock pickups it came with (some Fender American Vintage Single-Coil). I've been wanting to replace the pickups and I'm just not really sure about what I want, except that I like cutting through a mix, I don't want wooly bass, and I want some nice articulation for slapping.

I had been considering these (all matching neck/bridge set):

• Lindy Fralin split-coil
  
• DiMarzio Relentless (more low mids than high mids)
• Aguilar 4J-HC
• G&L CLF Research JB

One of my problems is that I don't know whether I want hum cancelling pickups or true single coils. I do mostly use the jag with both pickups on where it should be hum cancelling anyway (it isn't). There are also surprisingly few demos for these, and no comparisons.

I am in Europe, so the Fralins and the G&Ls aren't the easiest to come by here. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[ctmullins]

Anyone in Europe should consider Delano! The JMVC are pretty awesome.

 

[Strurs]

Anyone in Europe should consider Delano! The JMVC are pretty awesome.

Great suggestion. I think I might end up adding them to the list. Do you have a set yourself? If so, are they much of a departure from a single coil sound?

 

[Killing Floor]

Fralin ships to Europe. He’s the real deal.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Wilde J-45

 

[Strurs]

Fralin ships to Europe. He’s the real deal.

I'm aware, but unless I'm really sure I want those, I'd like to avoid the shipping and import tax. I like what I've heard, I'm just not sure and what to hear what people think!

 

[Killing Floor]

Notorious tone chasers and legends like Jeff Beck, Adam Clayton, Bill Frisell, David Gilmour, Brad Paisley... This is a partial list of people known for their tone that buy Fralins. He never sponsors players, they have to buy them. That should tell you something.

But there’s no best. It’s all subjective and it’s definitely a rabbit hole.

 

[birminghambass]

You described EMGs

 

[rojo412]

Also a great description of the Dimarzio Model J set.

 

[TJH3113]

You described EMGs

I was going to suggest some EMG Alnicos.

 

[logdrum]

Lollars. But it's a Jag. Offset guitars need something funkier and quirkier - maybe a Curtis Novak. He is from here in NM and it's not hot enough here so he moved to one of the hottest places on earth in the Mojave. He is also pretty brainy having worked at the defense labs where ther are more Phd's and engineers per square foot. Funky but based on science.

I am helping out here in the ABQ guitar show today and some of these Novax equipped are simply amazing

 

[scuzzy]

If you don't want active, get the lace sensor man-o-war jazz pickups. They are incredible, and they describe what you are looking for.

 

[bassdude51]

Kind of a fine line. Articulation ( under 7k ohm) and mids are thin. Nice mids (8ishk ohm), articulation diminishes.

I personally would not use hum cancelling for what you want.

IMHO and IME, suggestions. Aero Type 1 J pickups (very expensive) but VERY excellent! (The Aeros will very likely get you there.) And decent with fairly good balance of mids and articulation (very affordable) Fender American Vintage '75 Js.

Good luck with your pickup quest. Can be a long and winding road of experimentation.

(Strings will play a big part with articulation.)

 

[ctmullins]

Great suggestion. I think I might end up adding them to the list. Do you have a set yourself? If so, are they much of a departure from a single coil sound?

I do! But

• There is no one “single coil sound”; they all sound different
• Mine are installed in a ten-string double-course bass, so not exactly mainstream
  

 

[logdrum]

I have an EMG-GZR PJ equipped 1984 Jazz Bass Special PJ. I also used the included tone and volume knobs from them as well as a switch. Very useable on the workhorse bass. My favorite PJ control scheme is VVT + switch. My Pedulla bass is the same but has a Bass Treble preamp.

Victor Wooten uses EMG PJs too. His tone is not bad

Here is my little noodling. There is a drum track after the soloed bass. I moved the controls around but not in any logical manner.

 

[Grinderman]

Maybe I should make myself a file folder of image-based stickies for topics like this one.

 

[Strurs]

You described EMGs

Hadn't considered EMG, but I think I'd rather go passive.

 

[Strurs]

Also a great description of the Dimarzio Model J set.

How do these compare to the Relentless or Area Js?

 

[Strurs]

Lollars. But it's a Jag. Offset guitars need something funkier and quirkier - maybe a Curtis Novak. He is from here in NM and it's not hot enough here so he moved to one of the hottest places on earth in the Mojave. He is also pretty brainy having worked at the defense labs where ther are more Phd's and engineers per square foot. Funky but based on science.

I am helping out here in the ABQ guitar show today and some of these Novax equipped are simply amazing

I had a listen to the Lollar B.S. jazz, and I think they're pretty close to what I want. But it seems nobody has reviewed them anywhere.

 

[rojo412]

How do these compare to the Relentless or Area Js?

Area J are like a traditional fender sound, balanced and nice, but not as crispy or aggressive tonality as the Model J.

Haven’t tried the Relentless set though.