Noiseless pickup swap for Fender Standard Jazz...

I have fralin split j’s in a bass and they sound just like jazz pickups, not like Precision pickups. Also, they’re very clear and actually noiseless.

 

Dimarzio UJ. Stone quiet, great jazz tone. Installed them 10 yrs ago in my MIM Jazz, those and TI rounds = yum

 

I've played both the Nordstrand NJ4SV and the Wilde J-45. Both are outstanding.

 

Aguilar hum cancelling

 

IIRC, after 2001 should be standard Fender. Before 2001 both pickups will be the same (neck size).

 

Noiseless pickups to check out-
Price friendly - Dimarzio Area
Higher budget - Lindy Fralin Split Coil

 

If you go with the ultras, be advised that they sound different than normal jazz pickups. They lose a lot of the mids and sounds overall "darker" in a band mix.

If you like the way your bass sounds, you might want to try a little diy project of shielding everything with conductive tape (it's cheap) and seeing if there buzz improves.

 

mine are noiseless when i turn in the right direction....LOL #singlecoils rule

 

Nordstrand Noiseless J's

 

Old MIM's (approx. 2005 and earlier) had two pickups the same size. Newer ones are the same size as USA. I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) that if they had white plastic numbered knobs, like a strat, those are ones with two same p/u's.

 

I replaced my noiseless pickups with a set of Lindy Fralin. I had them over wound 8% to get more lows and mids but still get the highs. They sound great. I do a lot of music for television and my business partner who produces and records all the time has told me its the best sounding Jazz bass he's ever heard. Nordtsrand NJ4, NJ4SV Hum Cancelling and Fender Custom 60 and 70s pickups are also nice. It really depends on the sound you want.

 

The Nordstrand NJ4SV are nice, but have this sort of high end "sheen" (for lack of a better) word, that I didn't like. By "high end" I mean frequencies, not price (although they're also high end pickups pice-wise — so many similar adjectives!).

The Dimarzio Area Js are real nice and not expensive, and are very close to the original jazz sound.

Aguilar hum cancelling pickups sound very close to the area Js, but have SLIGHTLY less low end and maybe a hair more highs.

I have Area Js in one bass. I had them in another, but unlike the ones in the first bass, they were a bit microphonic (they'd pick up the sound of my fingers hitting the case). It led me to think that maybe the quality control isn't super good on them. I replaced them in that bass with the Aguilars.

 

I have Fender noiseless in my Jazz, but I only got it yesterday, and it hasn't seen a stage yet. They sound good in my office. My fretless Jazz has EMG's and while they are good, they don't sound like Jazz p/u's.

 

I went offroad with my vote and I suggest you hunt down a set of Fender Super 55s. Fender stopped making them several years ago so you're likely going to need to hunt a bit to find them. If you're interested in keeping your jazz sounding like a jazz, but without the single coil hum, find a set and you won't be disappointed.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-super-55-split-coil-jazz-bass-pickup-set