Passive Jazz Volume Differences

[mellowinman]

I have two Squier Jazz Frankenbasses I purchased off of eBay.

The four string is a Squier body, which the seller changed out the pickups to passive EMG Selects.

The five string is a Squier affinity, with changes as described by eBay seller:

"Pots were upgraded to full size Alpha pots and a Sprague "orange drop" .050 mfd tone cap was installed, so the electronics are equivalent to US built J basses."

The five string is noticeably quieter than the four string. The tone isn't as quite as nice, for my money, but it's OK.

What I'm wondering is if those pots and cap are making the difference, or if its because of the stock Squier pickups vs the EMG Select.

I really do like the sound of the four string, and would like to make the five string closer in volume, so I can use the same settings when I switch onstage.

I could use some help on this, as I have never done much with electronics on any instruments I have owned.

Here is a photo of both instruments. The sellers did all the conversions to make them look like Fenders.

Link Removed

 

[line6man]

Makes no difference unless you changed the values.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The two sets of pickups are not made the same. The selects are split coil humbuckers with ceramic magnets. They are probably wound hotter than the pickups in the five string.

Changing pots wont make it louder.

 

[mellowinman]

The two sets of pickups are not made the same. The selects are split coil humbuckers with ceramic magnets. They are probably wound hotter than the pickups in the five string.

Changing pots wont make it louder.

I am unable to find an EMG Select or any EMG passive pickup that would work for a five string jazz.

What would be comparable?

I really like the sound of the EMG Select on that four string.

 

[Thundar]

Cant you just put some Selects in that 5 string? Im a big fan of EMG Selects, even though most folks poo poo them...or are the Selects too small for the fiver?

 

[mellowinman]

Cant you just put some Selects in that 5 string? Im a big fan of EMG Selects, even though most folks poo poo them...or are the Selects too small for the fiver?

That's a good question. I'm afraid I don't know the answer.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Not sure if EMG offers a 5 string version in their Select series, but they do in their standard (USA) line. If you like the EMG tone, consider this route as an upgrade for your Squier V. EMGs are fairly reasonably priced, yet many high end basses feature them as standard equipment. Someone recently mentioned one thing abouts EMGs was that they made every bass they were installed in sound the same, which is cool if you like that sound.

I have 1 guitar (Fritz Bros. Roy Buchanon Bluesmaster/Tele) with EMGs and it does sound great. None of my basses have EMGs but I'm gassing for an ESP Vintage 4 I've found used with EMGs in a p/j setup.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Cant you just put some Selects in that 5 string? Im a big fan of EMG Selects, even though most folks poo poo them...or are the Selects too small for the fiver?

The 5 string has wider pickups.

 

[mellowinman]

I couldn't find a passive jazz EMG for five string.

What might be similar?

 

[keithbaynes]

EMG doesn't make a jazz style 5 string pickup at all. They were supposed to have had one available this past summer but it never happened. I contacted them within the last month and they have no idea when they'll have them availabel

 

[mellowinman]

So does anyone have a suggestion for the best pickup I can use in the five string that will be similar to the EMG Selects in the four string?

It would be very, very helpful.

 

[WorkingBassHero]

So does anyone have a suggestion for the best pickup I can use in the five string that will be similar to the EMG Selects in the four string?

It would be very, very helpful.

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