Precision like beefy sound from Jazz Bass

[Vennegaard]

Hello

I’m looking for a set of passive pickups to swap into a Fender CS 64 Jazz Bass, alder body with rosewood neck. I’m interested in getting a more beefy tone than the classic jazz sound – ideally something more in the area of a good thick and beefy Precision Bass. I’ll be using it mostly for classic blues rock with a twist, and have to compete with two guitars and keyboards in the sound mix, so it have to cut through the mix. I mostly play through and Ampeg SVT and 810E, but occasionally also an Aguilar DB750 with 410+212 cabs.

So far I’ve considered the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz based on their description on the Dimarzio site.

Any experiences with these pickups are highly appreciated, as well as recommendation for other good pickups for my need.


Thanks in advance

 

[trunkshope6]

I can't really comment on pickups but I have a buddy who has his jazz wired in series with a push pull pot ,and there is a very noticeable bump in the lower mids and does get it close a p tone, a little less focused but it surely is close

 

[Electricblue]

I can't really comment on pickups but I have a buddy who has his jazz wired in series with a push pull pot ,and there is a very noticeable bump in the lower mids and does get it close a p tone, a little less focused but it surely is close

I did the series mod. To me, all it does is suck all your highs outta the sound, and give you a slightly higher output. I have since changed it back.

Try Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder J pickups

 

[Vennegaard]

Thanks for your inputs so far.

I'm not sure I'm going to go for the series wiring - more like a Jazz Bass on steriods type of sound.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

So you want a jazz to sound like a Pbass, .........

Just get a P.

 

[gjbassist]

I have Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders and a series/parallel switch on my Jazz bass. It does the beefy tone thing quite nicely.

 

[recnsci]

Hello
So far I’ve considered the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz based on their description on the Dimarzio site.

Any experiences with these pickups are highly appreciated, as well as recommendation for other good pickups for my need.

Most people describe Ultra Jazz PUs as "modern" and "scooped". Not my idea of P tone, but YMMV.

OTOH, knee jerk response to "how to precisionificate jazz bass" is usually Model J from Dimarzio.

Here is review, and here are some real comparasions:
ModelJ vs Jag stock
ModelJ vs AreaJ
ModelJ vs bunch of PUs
ModelJ vs P
again, ModelJ vs P

In the end, since Dimarzios are some of the cheapest upgrade options I guess it wouldn't be bad first step, it's only 'bout $100 and easily resellable. And you wont know untill you try it in your bass on your amp.

...

anyway, IMHO J has wrong pickups (geometry wise) in wrong place to sound like P. And, again in my humble opinion, you should consider preamp as well (onboard or in pedal form), that could be more effective than pickup swap.

 

[bassbrad]

My trick is always to drop in a set of quarter pound stacks or Hot Jazz stacks and do series parallel switching on each pickup and the combo.

 

[kellyrojo]

You probably have already done this but why not ask? Did you try the neck pup at 10 and the bridge at 5ish and tone at 5ish? That always gets me somewhere near a P sound. Failing that I would say buy a p! Good luck! Sorry for the dumb answer!

 

[Problemchild]

Thanks for your inputs so far.

I'm not sure I'm going to go for the series wiring - more like a Jazz Bass on steriods type of sound.

If you are using roundwounds, the fender custom shop
jazz pick-ups should work well !

(500k pots and a 33 cap- a good dynamic amp will take care of
the rest. Also I rec DR Highbeams)

PC

 

[JB696]

Quarter Pounders in series, 250K pots, .068 cap, and LaBella flats. I fixed the thin, wimpy, twangy sound of my Jazz bass with these simple mods. It's wired like a P-bass, with a three hole control plate, volume-tone-output. Problem solved.

 

[chuck norriss]

@ recnsci + OP,
I have the Model J on my P Special fretless at the bridge pos. Plenty of mid>top end that work well on my P, but they leave a vacancy that is causing me to save up for a passive bart or a fralin.
My second thought is--and don't bite my head off--convert your CS64 into a Reggie-like adaptation, if you truly want that P sound up front @ the neck pos. (and I think that's the issue is,no?)

 

[chuck norriss]

JB696, that sounds like a thorough solution

 

[SGD Lutherie]

[shamless plug]

These sound a lot like a P bass.

Link Removed

[/shamless plug]

 

[Bobster]

You could replace the cap with a .1mfd. That would give it a warmer, thicker tone.

Plus it would only be a couple of dollars in parts.

Bob

 

[Mike M.]

Most people describe Ultra Jazz PUs as "modern" and "scooped". Not my idea of P tone, but YMMV.

OTOH, knee jerk response to "how to precisionificate jazz bass" is usually Model J from Dimarzio.

Here is review, and here are some real comparasions:
ModelJ vs Jag stock
ModelJ vs AreaJ
ModelJ vs bunch of PUs
ModelJ vs P
again, ModelJ vs P

In the end, since Dimarzios are some of the cheapest upgrade options I guess it wouldn't be bad first step, it's only 'bout $100 and easily resellable. And you wont know untill you try it in your bass on your amp.

...

anyway, IMHO J has wrong pickups (geometry wise) in wrong place to sound like P. And, again in my humble opinion, you should consider preamp as well (onboard or in pedal form), that could be more effective than pickup swap.

Thanks for supplying the clips from the Atkinson Library! Very helpful, as I'm looking to get some differant pickups for my Jazz bass. Offhand (and after a few listens) I really liked the sound from the DiMarzio Model J and the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II clips the best.

Man....so many pickups to choose from these days!

 

[electracoyote]

I can't really comment on pickups but I have a buddy who has his jazz wired in series with a push pull pot ,and there is a very noticeable bump in the lower mids and does get it close a p tone, a little less focused but it surely is close

Isn't this similar to what an S-1 switch does?

I have an American Standard Jazz with S-1, and when I engage the switch it takes on a distinctive P-Bass tone. It's great to get that tone on the fly whenever you want it.

 

[kasbrey]

The Delano J's on my Sandberg get the closest I've heard. I've tried Model J's and Ultra J's in the past and lost the J sound IMO

The Delano's sound very P in the neck position and also like a J when both pickups or the back pickup selected. You may have to roll off the tone a little though.

 

[recnsci]

Fat Neo Jazz.mp3

Wow.
Is that ND3-J4? Both p'ups in parallel?

Thanks for supplying the clips from the Atkinson Library!

You're wellcome. Just be carefull, I too liked Model J and Antiq best, but some pepole have complained that Model J looses too much definition, and after listening to all those examples, I think I get whats bugging them. But as always, only relevant test in your bass while you're playing.

The Delano J's on my Sandberg get the closest I've heard.

What Delano J p'ups? Any recordings?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Wow.
Is that ND3-J4? Both p'ups in parallel?

Yes, the ND3-J4s. First you hear the neck, both and the bridge.

You can also hear them in two of the videos I have on YouTube, both with fingers and a pick.