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New Jackson JS2 Concert bass - low output?

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Demonizer

Jan 3, 2021
24
8
#1
I just picked up a new (used) Jackson JS2 Concert bass - the latest style, maybe a 2020 model in great condition. Plays well, but the output for the pickups is pretty low for a passive PU

Jackson Description - "Painstaking voiced and full of fat, punchy tones, the Jackson high-output bass humbucking pickups give you plenty of low-end punch without too much top-end sizzle.

Compared to my BC Rich Warlock with a split coil P bass PU & the explorer with a single soapbar PU, its considerably lower so I have to turn up my amp so its equal.

The sound is pretty good, but my preference is with one mid mount pickup rather then a bridge & neck to blend.

Anyone else have experience with this bass thats similar? Are the PU's just not that loud?
 
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#2
The JS2 is passive all the way. I personally would have gone with a JS3, with the preamp instead of the JS2 for 50 bucks more. The pickups are passive, not sure about the whole "high output" they wrote, but hey that's Jackson advertising i guess ( I still love Jackson though ).
 
#3
SCH1SM1C said:
The JS2 is passive all the way. I personally would have gone with a JS3, with the preamp instead of the JS2 for 50 bucks more. The pickups are passive, not sure about the whole "high output" they wrote, but hey that's Jackson advertising i guess ( I still love Jackson though ).
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I don't really care for active electronics - all my basses are passive & have about the same output level. The JS2 is just weaker output than any of them. I got it used really cheap, so not a big deal. I can always pop in some EMG's if it bothers me too much. Other then that its a nice bass.
 
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#4
Demonizer said:
I don't really care for active electronics - all my basses are passive & have about the same output level. The JS2 is just weaker output than any of them. I got it used really cheap, so not a big deal. I can always pop in some EMG's if it bothers me too much. Other then that its a nice bass.
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Probably best to put in EMGs in it. EMG HZ are their passive version of their actives and they don't sound half bad, so i would go for EMGs if i can. A i am a fan of active electronics as they can help with getting a good tone.
 
#5
Cool, Im not against active PUs & EQs, never tried em, but since the 80's I always set up my guitars & bass with the pickups i like & volume & tone is always fully open (some I set up I just used an on/off switch for the pickup & that was it). I shaped/model the sound sound on the amp/cabinets - keeping the instrument as a simple source. All the tone shaping on the guitar itself seems odd to me - specially if you have volume & tone at partial values... they wont stay there long, specially live. But thats just me... its 2021 & Im really into Amp modeling like Amplitube which sounds surprisingly good - maybe venturing into active PU's is something to look at also.
 
#6
Demonizer said:
Cool, Im not against active PUs & EQs, never tried em, but since the 80's I always set up my guitars & bass with the pickups i like & volume & tone is always fully open (some I set up I just used an on/off switch for the pickup & that was it). I shaped/model the sound sound on the amp/cabinets - keeping the instrument as a simple source. All the tone shaping on the guitar itself seems odd to me - specially if you have volume & tone at partial values... they wont stay there long, specially live. But thats just me... its 2021 & Im really into Amp modeling like Amplitube which sounds surprisingly good - maybe venturing into active PU's is something to look at also.
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The EQs are useful if you're playing live at certain places, where you plug in directly into the mix table and then into a PA system, since they don't offer much tone shaping at all. Also i agree with you on Amplitube and PC amp modeling in general, that poopie is a god sent gift to people either recording or for practicing at home. Although i wish they had more options then Ampeg, Fender or Orange amps for bassists, i'd kill for a Darkglass or Aguilar pack. Or maybe even the Mesa Boogie bass amps.
 
#7
SCH1SM1C said:
The EQs are useful if you're playing live at certain places, where you plug in directly into the mix table and then into a PA system, since they don't offer much tone shaping at all. Also i agree with you on Amplitube and PC amp modeling in general, that poopie is a god sent gift to people either recording or for practicing at home. Although i wish they had more options then Ampeg, Fender or Orange amps for bassists, i'd kill for a Darkglass or Aguilar pack. Or maybe even the Mesa Boogie bass amps.
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yup - Amplitube seems more geared toward guitar, but still its a great practice ap & easy to record with. Fingers crossed for more bass amp models to come :)
 
#8
Demonizer said:
I don't really care for active electronics - all my basses are passive & have about the same output level. The JS2 is just weaker output than any of them. I got it used really cheap, so not a big deal. I can always pop in some EMG's if it bothers me too much. Other then that its a nice bass.
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I tried one out today, back to back against a Yamaha bb234, and a classic vibe 60s p bass and also noticed..... not much output. Like the 24 feet neck, the rosewood fingerboard and the look/feel, but a little quiet!!!
 
#9
Actually the output it's pretty high and good with the right tone hits higher than most basses at this price range and even twice more expensive, the humbuckers are excellent for the price with that extra powerful sound!!

I got it new and for over 3 years this is been excellent. I totally recommend for anyone at any level(15+years rocking) the jackson concert js2 it's a plain but solid piece of music hardware worth it every penny.
 
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#10
MCMX said:
Actually the output it's pretty high and good with the right tone hits higher than most basses at this price range and even twice more expensive, the humbuckers are excellent for the price with that extra powerful sound!!

I got it new and for over 3 years this is been excellent. I totally recommend for anyone at any level(15+years rocking) the jackson concert js2 it's a plain but solid piece of music hardware worth it every penny.
Click to expand...
May I ask you to elaborate a little? I own one of this otherwise excellent instruments, but the pickups are their weakest components in my opinion. They're just weak, depthless and dull sounding even with really bright Roto stainless steel strings played with a pick and tone pot fully open. Just can't find then right tone. And yes, I can confirm, these pickups have pretty low output.
 

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