New Jazz bass pickups decision.....With poll!!!

[bdplaid]

Did we talk different strings in this discussion?

 

[40Hz]

Hey @40Hz, thanks for the info! Seeing as how you have basses with Klein 62 J's and Aguilar 4J 60's, how would you describe the top end of each pickup compared to the other? What I'm looking for are the pickup's with the "sweetest", most useful, unclanky treble response. It also seems like the Aguilar single coils have a nice woody bite to them....

I’d call the Aguilars a little sweeter up top whereas the Klein has a more woody sort of character. Of the two I liked the Aguilars a little bit better and thought they were marginally a more versatile vibe for all around use. Which makes sense since I kept the JB with the Aguilars. But I’d also better say that while I like JBs just fine (a cousin’s JB was the first “real bass” I played when I first started out), I’m not really what you’d call a JB player. When I think of the “ideal” JB sound I think of Mike Visceglia’s tone when he plays with Suzanne Vega - super deep with a lot of rich mids and zero clank or honk. So keep what’s below in mind when reading the above.

 

[Pbassmanca]

I’d call the Aguilars a little sweeter up top whereas the Klein has a more woody sort of character. Of the two I liked the Aguilars a little bit better and thought they were marginally a more versatile vibe for all around use. Which makes sense since I kept the JB with the Aguilars. But I’d also better say that while I like JBs just fine (a cousin’s JB was the first “real bass” I played when I first started out), I’m not really what you’d call a JB player. When I think of the “ideal” JB sound I think of Mike Visceglia’s tone when he plays with Suzanne Vega - super deep with a lot of rich mids and zero clank or honk. So keep what’s below in mind when reading the above.

Okay that's good information, I actually am not really a primary J bass guy but for some of the music we do I find it quite versatile to have the two pickups. I had mentioned that I have used a variety of strings on this bass. I started out with Marcus Miller fat beams and once those were broken in I was more interested in trying flats and I kept a set of LaBella 760 FL on there for about two years until I wanted to go back to a round wound sound, but something more mellow so I put the fender 7150 pure nickels on. Those things are deader than a door nail now and the bass is a lot more functional on the top end and now that those strings have lost completely all of their zing they actually sound great but there's still way too much top end to these pickups. I don't know if I can really stress just how insane the amount of treble there is on the top of these jazz bass pickups, but if I was able to record it I would and you guys would know what I'm talking about! I've never heard anything like it in J bass pickups. I still seem to be deciding between the Aguilar 60's single coil and Klein single coil although the Aguilar hum cancelling sound fantastic as well and all of the clips that I've listened to.

 

[Pbassmanca]

- super deep with a lot of rich mids and zero clank or honk.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

 

[40Hz]

although the Aguilar hum cancelling sound fantastic as well and all of the clips that I've listened to.

Can’t help you there. I’ve never played the hum canceling version. But Aguilar does make a fine (and reasonably priced!) pickup so it wouldn’t surprise me if those sounded equally good.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Well I'm still deciding I think between the single coil Aguilar 60s and the Klein's but I do wonder if the Aguilar hum cancelling jazz pickups would suit my needs as all of the clips I've heard of them sound amazing?....

 

[808P123]

I just put a pair of Aero Type 1 pups in my Jazz. Punch, big tight lows, sweet subdued tops, pleasant mids. I'm digging 'em!

I got a set of those 20 years ago and they are great pickups as well. I run them in my other J bass

 

[Pbassmanca]

Well alright folks! I just popped on the Aguilar 60's single coils! Thanks for everyone's input, and I will tuck away everyone's very helpful suggestions for future J bass mod projects that will most surely come along! I'm going to post a review of the pickups as I experience them on the thread linked below if anyone is interested in my impression of the pickups and discussing J bass pickups in general. Thanks Ya'll!

"J" pickups discussion and comparisons - PART II

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

... voted Aguilar but I’d rather buy the noiseless because their tone is very similar to that of the 60’s voiced single coils ... I’d pass on the 70’s ...

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Funny enough, I'm basically after a similar version of what is stock in the bass, that is: A classic sounding Jazz pickup with big, clear lows, and growly mids but with a WAY softer top end and a bit more "woody bite" in the tone. I definitely hear this in the Aguilar 60's J's and the couple clips of the Klein 62's that I could find sounded fantastic as well. Not to mention that everyone raves and drools over all of the Klein pickups, (I have an Epic series 62' Precision pickup waiting to go in a P bass, but that is for another thread....) To put in perspective just how bright the stock HWY 1 pickups are in my bass ; I've had a set of Fender 7150 pure nickel's on the bass for 2 years with hundreds of hours on them and the tone STILL starts to get overly clanky when turned up past about 2/3's.That's a lot a highs meng! I play a lot of old soul and funk music, favouring the neck pickup and both pickups on full.

@Pbassmanca , the two PV ‘64 pickups in my Am. Or. Jazz bass are barely controllable when working together at full volume ... the bass growls a lot when adding tone ... I play and like your exact kind of music, but with that bass I necessarily have to favour the neck pickup when playing certain styles of tame thd tone .. the sound won’t be right otherwise ahahah .. on the other hand with these pickups Jaco is there in front of you ... it’s pity they aren’t sold anymore separately ... I consider them the best jazz bass pickups I played di far ... I’m curious about your impressions concerning the Aguilar

 

[PawleeP]

for me? Bartolini 9J1 alllllll day

what do those barts look like? i think i have a set.. are they enhanced in the highs and spltcoils? thanx, p

 

[Pbassmanca]

@Pbassmanca , the two PV ‘64 pickups in my Am. Or. Jazz bass are barely controllable when working together at full volume ... the bass growls a lot when adding tone ... I play and like your exact kind of music, but with that bass I necessarily have to favour the neck pickup when playing certain styles of tame thd tone .. the sound won’t be right otherwise ahahah .. on the other hand with these pickups Jaco is there in front of you ... it’s pity they aren’t sold anymore separately ... I consider them the best jazz bass pickups I played di far ... I’m curious about your impressions concerning the Aguilar

I keep meaning to put those pickups in, but it's -18° Celsius right now and I feel lazy......Wind chill factor of -39° Celsius, I'm staying inside!!!!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I keep meaning to put those pickups in, but it's -18° Celsius right now and I feel lazy......Wind chill factor of -39° Celsius, I'm staying inside!!!!

Whoa! Chilly! I’m planning a build with the Aguilar PJ set (passive build with Tonestyler installed) ... looking now for the StraTosphere to put up an Am. Performer body in penny finish for sale ... I think I’ll install a MIM lacquer ‘60s Jazz Bass neck on it ... it should sound massive ..

 

[JZQuantum]

If Fralins are a possibility, I would talk to Lindy about a 2% or 5% overwound set (to reduce the “bright and clanky”).

I just talked with Lindy today about the same clank reduction. He recommended 2% overwound and that's what he's making for me.

I tried the stock wound and still found them too bright.