New DiMarziao J Pups Advise

[heavyhitter]

I have a Jazz Bass with Dimarzio Model J setup wth some flatwounds.
I have a second Jazz Bass that I plan on using with nickle rounds.

I like the mellow smooth sound of the one with the Model J's, but I want a more aggresive sound with my other Jazz- a hotter sound with more bottom end, closer to my P-bass sound. I can get some new Dimarzio Ultra Jazz for $75.
Are the Ultra Jazz pups hotter and bassier than the Model J's?
I am happy with the Model J's but I just want a different sound. I was considering some quarter pounders too but I really dont want the single coil hum. I mostly play Black Sabbath, Rush, Smashing Pumkins, Zepplin, Nivarna type music.

 

[Craig_S]

The ultra Jazz pickups have big low end and crystal clear highs with a slightly scooped mid range. If that's your idea of aggressive, they're for you. When I think aggressive, I think boosted mids and big growl. I love the sound of my Ultra Jazz pickups.

 

[GeoffByrne]

Are your Model J's wired parallel or series?

 

[heavyhitter]

Thats, a good question. I am not sure. It has been along time since I wired them up @ 3 years. I just followed the .pdf. If I can recall I think that the extra wires I had left over I wired together to the same pickup. I do remeber they had more wires than the stock ones had.
How can I tell and what kind of difference will it make? Thanks!

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

The ultra Jazz pickups have big low end and crystal clear highs with a slightly scooped mid range. If that's your idea of aggressive, they're for you. When I think aggressive, I think boosted mids and big growl. I love the sound of my Ultra Jazz pickups.

Isn't that a bit contradictory, a scooped sounding pickup is the opposite of what I'd call agressive. I never played an ultra-jazz equipped bass though.

If you like scooped mids, the ultra-jazz might be for you if not, look elsewhere.

 

[heavyhitter]

Are your Model J's wired parallel or series?

Looks like I have them wired in series. I call Dimarzio and he said that wiring them parralled would make them brighter. He also said that the Ultra Jazz had a bigger bottom end closer to that of a P-bass.

How does they Seymore Duncan hot stacks sound? Almost every tone chart I look at regardless of brand have the mids lower and the bass and treble rated higher for the J style pickups..

 

[heavyhitter]

Isn't that a bit contradictory, a scooped sounding pickup is the opposite of what I'd call agressive. I never played an ultra-jazz equipped bass though.

If you like scooped mids, the ultra-jazz might be for you if not, look elsewhere.

The only scooped sounding player I know of is Stanley Clarke.. I cant think of any other bass player that have a "scooped" sound. He is a great player but not the sound I am going for.

I guess that in the end I want my J to sound more like a P. I can see the responses now. "then play a P" but I have a P and I love it, I have another J and love it. I just want to get this particullar J to sound closer to a P with changing pups. Maybe there is another Pickup I should be considering?

 

[koobie]

I've got DiMarzio Ultra J's in my J type bass (with rounds) and it has a beautiful, deep tone. I'd agree with Craig_S about the Ultra J's having recessed mids, though I wouldn't consider them massively scooped. Unless you can boost the heck out of the mids on your rig, the Ultra J's aren't what I'd recommend for aggressive tones.

I personally like the tone of the Ultras, but I had an itch for some more mids and bought a set of standard Dimarzio J's (not yet installed). The more I play the bass with the Ultras, the more I dig it, so the standard J's will probably find their way onto a different bass.

 

[Jefenator]

I haven't tried a bunch of J pickups yet, but I've had the Ultra Jazz in a '76 J and now in a Nash '63 replica. The description on their web site pretty much nails it: deep lows, percussive highs, round, not muddy, good response and very musical overall. I would say that for a passive setup, it's very modern-sounding but very juicy & organic - not sterile or mechanical at all. I'm really loving it, actually.

But the Ultras are definitely "scooped"! (BTW I think that sound has a wider user base than just Stanley Clarke. )

Just been doing some A/B ing. Though the neck pickup is similar in concept to a P (split coil humbucker) it doesn't sound anything like it. (At least not my '78 P! ) The neck solo'd is a bit deeper and more focused but still way scoopy.

You might want to check out the J pickup sticky - IIRC it's mentioned that the SD Antiquity IIs are capable of getting you to P-land. Also maybe start a new thread with that specific goal in the title.

Happy hunting!

 

[Jim C]

I bought a set of Model J's in the late 70's; I assume they haven't changed the design
Mine are currently wired with each pickup being a humbucking and not single coil
Roll of the bridge pickup for more aggressive but cleaner P sound; both pickups for Jazz sound, and bridge only (with a substantial low freq amp bum) gives a killer "Radar Love / All Right Now" tone

 

[allexcosta]

I find the DiMarzio J's more aggressive than the Ultrajazz, with more bite and stronger mids.

 

[slyjoe]

Agree with Allex.