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New member with question about Jazz Bass pickups

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Strummerson, Jul 17, 2013.

  1. Jul 17, 2013 #1
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    Hi All,

    I'm a guitarist and songwriter in the market for a low cost bass to use in home recording demos. I've come across a Fender Jazz bass that seems very well priced. Seller claims it is his father's old bass. Thing is that it sports pickups I've never seen on any other Jazz. Seller claims not to know if they are original. They have aluminum covers like the neck pickup on a telecaster.

    [​IMG]

    Are these original to an idiosyncratic model? Or upgrades of some sort? Are there other basses that use similar pickups?

    Any input would be helpful and most appreciated.
     
  2. Jul 17, 2013 #2
    wes stephenson

    wes stephenson

    Dec 18, 2009
    Dallas Texas!!!!
    I'm no expert but those are definitely not original.
     
  3. Jul 17, 2013 #3
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    Thanks Wes. That's what I thought. Truth be told, I've rarely seen pickups of this style on a bass at all. And I know several tele players who remove the cover on their neck pups as they think it improves sound (I generally play a GreTscH hollowbody or a Reverend solid body with P90s). Any experience with pups of similar design?
     
  4. Jul 17, 2013 #4
    kevteop

    kevteop

    Feb 12, 2008
    York, UK
    They don't look big enough. Maybe they are Telecaster pickups?

    On the positive side, if you remove them you'll no doubt find the original pickup cavities are still the same dimensions, so you could fit a set of J pickups. Although I guess you'd need a new pickguard or you're need to cut a bigger hole in that one.

    And I guess you'd have some screw holes down by the bridge where that weird black cover's been added.
     
  5. Jul 17, 2013 #5
    mcarp555

    mcarp555 Guest

    Jul 14, 2013
    Are you sure they're *not* Tele pups? They look pretty small.
     
  6. Jul 17, 2013 #6
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    The other candidate, btw, is a Squier Precision Special with Dimarzio DP126 pickups. If the general quality of Squier basses equals that of Squier guitars (aside from the lowest end "affinity" line), then it should suffice for my needs.

    [​IMG]

    Just wondering if the quality overall will be palpably superior on the Jazz (non-Squier) if the replacement pickups are decent.
     
  7. Jul 17, 2013 #7
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    Why would someone put tele pickups in a bass? They do seem like they would miss some vibrations from the E and G strings...
     
  8. Jul 17, 2013 #8
    mcarp555

    mcarp555 Guest

    Jul 14, 2013
    You might as well ask why anyone does something stupid.
     
  9. Jul 17, 2013 #9
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    Good point.

    Seems like I'd be better off with the Squier.
     
  10. Jul 17, 2013 #10
    wild4oldcars

    wild4oldcars

    Jan 22, 2012
    Garner, NC
    looks to me like a fender neck slapped on something that came out of 1970s japan. ive seen no-so-different pickups in some of those strange Japanese fender copies
     
  11. Jul 17, 2013 #11
    Strummerson

    Strummerson

    Jul 17, 2013
    Thanks all. Think the Squier Precision Special with the DiMarzios is a better bet. I'm a tad worried about descriptions of these pups as "hot." Not really what I look for in guitar pups. But as it's mainly for recording, I can always turn them down and dial them in.