MIM Fretless Jazz Pickup/electronics replacement suggestions…

[PFDarkside]

I've got a 90's MIM fretless Jazz Bass that plays well, looks great and was sounding decent for practice. Now I am recording (direct in, VSTs) and I'm experiencing the same thing everyone did (and I did with my MIM Jazz V and MIM Strat) the pickups are just awful. Weak but oddly trebly yet also muddy? You know the drill.

I'm not looking for the Jaco sound, I like the modern fretless tone. Think 80s fretless like Pino the 80's/90's studio and R&B sound and modern jazz players.

I'm open to Passive, Active, passive with a preamp or active with a preamp. I'm intrigued by the EMG J system since it drops right in. If a passive set of Aguilar, Duncan or Dimarzio would fit the bill, that's great too. I may need to drill for a side jack which makes me a little nervous. A preamp that fits the battery and all under the plate might be much more convenient.

Not looking for a specific tone, other than an improvement to the MIM stock sound and some of that high end clarity I associate with the eras above.

 

[JRA]

you wouldn't go wrong with the EMGs (active systems) IMO. also (again, IMO), an audere preamp would pump up your J-bass love, too, with any of the pickup choices you mentioned.

i've used both preamps in my PJs (EMG, audere) and while they're a little different, both can turn run-of-the-mill into spectacular! what i like about either one, besides the great EQs, is the active blend/pan component: really opens up tonal possibilities.

i've had several EMG configurations over the years, but here is the audere that i'm currently using in my only active ax:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

of course, there are other great preamps, but i only have experience with those two brands. i think you'll get a lot of great suggestions --- enough to make your head spin.....

good luck with your search and your choices!

 

[PFDarkside]

you wouldn't go wrong with the EMGs (active systems) IMO. also (again, IMO), an audere preamp would pump up your J-bass love, too, with any of the pickup choices you mentioned.

i've used both preamps in my PJs (EMG, audere) and while they're a little different, both can turn run-of-the-mill into spectacular! what i like about either one, besides the great EQs, is the active blend/pan component: really opens up tonal possibilities.

i've had several EMG configurations over the years, but here is the audere that i'm currently using in my only active ax:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

of course, there are other great preamps, but i only have experience with those two brands. i think you'll get a lot of great suggestions --- enough to make your head spin.....

good luck with your search and your choices!

Thanks!

I've got one of the Audere preamps and Quarter Pounders in my Jazz V mentioned above. That's probably the easiest to install, just mini screws and the battery clip built-in like the EMG J-System.

After listening to some YouTube clips I'm wondering if just trying some Dimarzio Ultra Bass pickups might be a good start. They have a lot of bass extension and treble detail that I'm not getting now. I'm also very interested in the EMGs, I know I'll get that top end detail and sparkle with them.

 

[JRA]

After listening to some YouTube clips I'm wondering if just trying some Dimarzio Ultra Bass pickups might be a good start. They have a lot of bass extension and treble detail that I'm not getting now. I'm also very interested in the EMGs, I know I'll get that top end detail and sparkle with them.

i can't speak to those pickups specifically, but i think the brand churns out great electronics...you need some more feedback/suggestions from others, but if you're looking for easy install/setup, i agree: the audere stuff is pretty cool!

 

[EvilJ]

You can't go wrong with Audere or John East pre's.

 

[DownLowJoe13]

Lindy Fralin and a 920D Stacked Knob control plate. It's what's going into my Sire V5 Fretless. After hours of watching and listening to reviews and knowing the quality of the components in the system from 920D, add in the fact that the stacked knobs will give you tone control for each pickup individually… winning combo. Many say that just upgrading these components might make a bigger impact on tone than the pickups, especially if you like the voice profile.

Concentric Jazz Bass® Control Plate Upgrade - JB-CON-CH-BK

Our JB-CON-CH/BK Dual Bass Concetric Control Plate is not only a massive mouthful of a name - it's also a major upgrade from stock plates. Our pre-wired, drop-i

920dcustom.com

 

[PFDarkside]

Lindy Fralin and a 920D Stacked Knob control plate. It's what's going into my Sire V5 Fretless. After hours of watching and listening to reviews and knowing the quality of the components in the system from 920D, add in the fact that the stacked knobs will give you tone control for each pickup individually… winning combo. Many say that just upgrading these components might make a bigger impact on tone than the pickups, especially if you like the voice profile.

Concentric Jazz Bass® Control Plate Upgrade - JB-CON-CH-BK

Our JB-CON-CH/BK Dual Bass Concetric Control Plate is not only a massive mouthful of a name - it's also a major upgrade from stock plates. Our pre-wired, drop-i

920dcustom.com

Which Lindy Fralin? I'm only familiar with LF in the guitar world which target vintage tones. I think I'm looking for a more modern sound. Your suggested setup sounds like a perfect first year Jazz Bass setup though!

Reviewing the options on his site, I wonder if the split Jazz might fit the bill since you can do under winds and overwinds. They also make the dual neck size an easy option for my MIM.

I'm wondering about an underwound for more high end with a Audere preamp…

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I unequivocally recommend Wilde pickups for fretted or fretless bass.

I have 4 fretless , 2 jazz , 2 pj. One Jazz is passive with Fender SCN Noiseless, the other Jazz has a John East preamp & Di Marzio Model Js.

One pj has an original EMG set & the other has Wilde J-45 & P-46 & is passive.

3 have GHS black tapewounds & the SCN equipped j has GHS Precision Flats.

I enjoy all 4 but lean towards the Wilde loaded one the most.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fralin +5%

 

[PFDarkside]

I unequivocally recommend Wilde pickups for fretted or fretless bass.

I have 4 fretless , 2 jazz , 2 pj. One Jazz is passive with Fender SCN Noiseless, the other Jazz has a John East preamp & Di Marzio Model Js.

One pj has an original EMG set & the other has Wilde J-45 & P-46 & is passive.

3 have GHS black tapewounds & the SCN equipped j has GHS Precision Flats.

I enjoy all 4 but lean towards the Wilde loaded one the most.

I'm completely unfamiliar with Wilde, is there a specific model? Or just that structure in general?

 

[ctmullins]

I also strongly recommend the Wilde J45s. Like all of Bill's pickups, they have a healthy output with plenty of clarity. Run them passive for a while, then decide if you also want a preamp.

 

[hooky_marr]

I'm completely unfamiliar with Wilde, is there a specific model? Or just that structure in general?

Wilde is the company started by the late pickup legend Bill Lawrence, currently run by his wife and daughter.

Bill Lawrence Pickups

wilde, guitar pickups, steel guitar pickups, tele pickups, strat pickups, L500XL pickups

www.wildepickups.com

The J45 is a rather unique noiseless design, and pretty affordable too.

J-45

The J-45 is a coaxial coil design incorporating our air spaced micro-coil system, to reproduce a noise free and Traditional Jazz Bass Sound. Nine evenly spaced direct Alnico 2 magnets provide a wide magnetic field to perform equally well on most 4 and 5 string basses. The J45 comes in a black...

www.wildepickups.com

(BTW as your J is MIM, be sure to measure the pickup lengths, as some MIMs used two equal length pickups vs the traditional shorter neck and longer bridge pickups)

 

[hooky_marr]

I would recommend Delano JC4 HE/M2 pickups - brilliant hi-fi clarity, works passive or active:

DELANO JC 4 HE/M2

A split coil humbucking JB® 4-string pickup with the narrow sensing area of a classic single coil, the JC 4 HE/M2 gives you a full range single coil tone without any of the headaches of previous designs.

www.delano.de

As for the preamp, if you're going for a Pino sound, you might want something that gives you tones like his 1979 StingRay, which had a 2-band EQ. This would fit easily on a J plate (master volume, bass boost/cut, treble boost/cut, output jack) or theoretically you could put it in a DIY pedal casing.

There are several reproductions of this circuit on the market like this one from Griffin Effects:

Musicman Stingray Bass Preamp - Griffin Effects

Griffn Effects Fender Musicman Stingray Bass Preamp

griffineffects.com

 

[Malak the Mad]

Wilde is the company started by the late pickup legend Bill Lawrence, currently run by his wife and daughter.

Bill Lawrence Pickups

wilde, guitar pickups, steel guitar pickups, tele pickups, strat pickups, L500XL pickups

www.wildepickups.com

The J45 is a rather unique noiseless design, and pretty affordable too.

J-45

The J-45 is a coaxial coil design incorporating our air spaced micro-coil system, to reproduce a noise free and Traditional Jazz Bass Sound. Nine evenly spaced direct Alnico 2 magnets provide a wide magnetic field to perform equally well on most 4 and 5 string basses. The J45 comes in a black...

www.wildepickups.com

(BTW as your J is MIM, be sure to measure the pickup lengths, as some MIMs used two equal length pickups vs the traditional shorter neck and longer bridge pickups)

@PFDarkside; If you decide to go that route, another TB'er (i.e.: not me ) is selling a J45 set for a very good price.

• https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/wilde-j-45-set-barely-used.1651342/

 

[PFDarkside]

Wilde is the company started by the late pickup legend Bill Lawrence, currently run by his wife and daughter.

Bill Lawrence Pickups

wilde, guitar pickups, steel guitar pickups, tele pickups, strat pickups, L500XL pickups

www.wildepickups.com

The J45 is a rather unique noiseless design, and pretty affordable too.

J-45

The J-45 is a coaxial coil design incorporating our air spaced micro-coil system, to reproduce a noise free and Traditional Jazz Bass Sound. Nine evenly spaced direct Alnico 2 magnets provide a wide magnetic field to perform equally well on most 4 and 5 string basses. The J45 comes in a black...

www.wildepickups.com

(BTW as your J is MIM, be sure to measure the pickup lengths, as some MIMs used two equal length pickups vs the traditional shorter neck and longer bridge pickups)

Yes, it's the double short style.

I should have said I'm familiar with the 500XL from Dimebag but not the bass side. Are they similarly hifi and detailed sounding like the guitar pickups?

 

[Lo-E]

I tend to prefer active electronics when I play fretless; not exclusively, but as a general rule. Something that worked well for me for a long time was a pair of (old) EMG pickups wired to a passive J-bass circuit. Just VVT but with lower value pots to work better with the active pickups.

For a thicker but still modern sound I like the Bartolini original series p'ups and either a Bart or Nordstrand 2-band EQ.

Just personal preference, of course. You've got a zillion options.

If you want to go passive I highly recommend the Wilde p'ups, or Delanos for the tone you're looking for.

 

[PFDarkside]

I tend to prefer active electronics when I play fretless; not exclusively, but as a general rule. Something that worked well for me for a long time was a pair of (old) EMG pickups wired to a passive J-bass circuit. Just VVT but with lower value pots to work better with the active pickups.

For a thicker but still modern sound I like the Bartolini original series p'ups and either a Bart or Nordstrand 2-band EQ.

Just personal preference, of course. You've got a zillion options.

If you want to go passive I highly recommend the Wilde p'ups, or Delanos for the tone you're looking for.

Excellent, thanks for the feedback.

I'm kind of split on EMG vs Delano/Wilde w/ preamp. In all honesty I think any option is going to be loads better than the stock pickups, so I'll probably go with what is immediately available in stock.

 

[MonetBass]

For my custom fretless project, I chose Fender Custom Shop 60s pickups. Recently I recorded it for the first time and WOW they sound amazing.

 

[ctmullins]

Yes, it's the double short style.

I should have said I'm familiar with the 500XL from Dimebag but not the bass side. Are they similarly hifi and detailed sounding like the guitar pickups?

YES

 

[ADHD librarian]

I put Gen 5 Noiseless in my fretless, running them passive, and I am loving the tone!