Problem with Jim Reed Pickups - 1 year, 7 months, 19 days since ordering!

[Nyarlothep]

Well a quick update on your suggestions:

Unfortunately the green and red change over didn't go down well; phase issues etc. However, I did go ahead and swap the position of the humbucker so that it would match (be counterclockwise to) the winding of the single so as to be silent when in Jazz mode I just took them out of the housing and ran the wire between the pickups and re-grounded the solder points. This way at least it only hums in my least used position - the forward + forward. I am pretty certain that these pickups are all single coils though; I was under the impression that I was getting 3 split coil noiseless pickups in this configuration; single + humbucker = split coil single + two splitcoil singles in humbucker configuration. The original bartolinis were as such and they were dead quiet. I also assumed that the guy in the video also had a similar configuration as in the pickups were all split coils with the pure delight of tone associated with single coils - this was the dream anyway.

 

[Hopkins]

Well a quick update on your suggestions:

Unfortunately the green and red change over didn't go down well; phase issues etc. However, I did go ahead and swap the position of the humbucker so that it would match (be counterclockwise to) the winding of the single so as to be silent when in Jazz mode I just took them out of the housing and ran the wire between the pickups and re-grounded the solder points. This way at least it only hums in my least used position - the forward + forward. I am pretty certain that these pickups are all single coils though; I was under the impression that I was getting 3 split coil noiseless pickups in this configuration; single + humbucker = split coil single + two splitcoil singles in humbucker configuration. The original bartolinis were as such and they were dead quiet. I also assumed that the guy in the video also had a similar configuration as in the pickups were all split coils with the pure delight of tone associated with single coils - this was the dream anyway.

Are they epoxy potted? It would be very easy to determine if the single coil is hum canceling just by looking at it.

 

[Nyarlothep]

Are they epoxy potted? It would be very easy to determine if the single coil is hum canceling just by looking at it.

I assume they are noiseless when you have two counter clockwise coils under the same pickup cover (split coils) like the fender etc. noiseless pickups.

So no they are not epoxied; and I am pretty sure they are all single coils and not split coils - Jim already filled me in on the fact that they are as such. It was a disappointment to find out this way as I had asked about the noiseless nature of the pickups early on:


Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 11:01 AM
I think I'll go with the pickups that Rodriguez had - I found those pickups had more growl and clarity in the videos - I
just can't be sure about the neos. These are noiseless right? That's how I remember them but I'd like to be sure. Also,
they sound like the output is quite high - this is a good thing - as I use the bass in passive mode. I would like the
passive output to be as high as possible - the bartolinis currently use the maximum setting of the internal preamp
control. Again to be sure these won't require any routing or anything will they as I have found that the lakland single +
musicman pickups are rather shallow in comparison to lets say a set of stock fender pickups. Finally, my bass is a 5
string as in the video I hope you quoted me for the 5 sting version. thanks again.

Anyway, I never got a response to this so I assumed they were noiseless as the pickups we were recreating with a little tweak were the ones from the video where the guy says they are noiseless. Whatever, either way I got what I got and now will I write up a full review when I get to test these pickups for an adequate amount of time to be fair.

 

[Hopkins]

I assume they are noiseless when you have two counter clockwise coils under the same pickup cover (split coils) like the fender etc. noiseless pickups.

So no they are not epoxied; and I am pretty sure they are all single coils and not split coils - Jim already filled me in on the fact that they are as such. It was a disappointment to find out this way as I had asked about the noiseless nature of the pickups early on:


Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 11:01 AM
I think I'll go with the pickups that Rodriguez had - I found those pickups had more growl and clarity in the videos - I
just can't be sure about the neos. These are noiseless right? That's how I remember them but I'd like to be sure. Also,
they sound like the output is quite high - this is a good thing - as I use the bass in passive mode. I would like the
passive output to be as high as possible - the bartolinis currently use the maximum setting of the internal preamp
control. Again to be sure these won't require any routing or anything will they as I have found that the lakland single +
musicman pickups are rather shallow in comparison to lets say a set of stock fender pickups. Finally, my bass is a 5
string as in the video I hope you quoted me for the 5 sting version. thanks again.

Anyway, I never got a response to this so I assumed they were noiseless as the pickups we were recreating with a little tweak were the ones from the video where the guy says they are noiseless. Whatever, either way I got what I got and now will I write up a full review when I get to test these pickups for an adequate amount of time to be fair.

I was asking more about the single coil pickup. Is it two split or stacked coils?

Humbuckers by nature are noise canceling unless they are split.

 

[Nyarlothep]

I was asking more about the single coil pickup. Is it two split or stacked coils?

Humbuckers by nature are noise canceling unless they are split.

Neither, It is not vertical stacked like Seymour Duncans nor is it dual in line split like an Aguilar or Nordstrand jazz pickup. It is a single wound single pickup - now I am not a pickup expert and correct me if I am wrong but a standard jazz bass from Fender has two of these and they will be silent with both pots up as they have been counter wound and thus will cause noise when either pot is turned down. This is the case with my pickups they are all single wound and after my adjustment (flipping the humbucker) the bridge and the back pickup of the humbucker are counter wound so as to be silent when in use in Jazz configuration the forward pickup on the humbucker is wound the same direction as the neck single (so they cause noise when selected via the switch). If these are parallel or series I couldn't tell you - but if I were to try I'd say they were all series.

 

[Hopkins]

Neither, It is not vertical stacked like Seymour Duncans nor is it dual in line split like an Aguilar or Nordstrand jazz pickup. It is a single wound single pickup - now I am not a pickup expert and correct me if I am wrong but a standard jazz bass from Fender has two of these and they will be silent with both pots up as they have been counter wound and thus will cause noise when either pot is turned down. This is the case with my pickups they are all single wound and after my adjustment (flipping the humbucker) the bridge and the back pickup of the humbucker are counter wound so as to be silent when in use in Jazz configuration the forward pickup on the humbucker is wound the same direction as the neck single (so they cause noise when selected via the switch). If these are parallel or series I couldn't tell you - but if I were to try I'd say they were all series.

Ok, I thought from the beginning that you had a noiseless single coil with a 2 coil humbucker. In your situation Splitting the humbucker will make one coil hum canceling when combined with the neck pickup, and one of them will not.

What pickups did you order exactly?

 

[Nyarlothep]

Ok, I thought from the beginning that you had a noiseless single coil with a 2 coil humbucker. In your situation Splitting the humbucker will make one coil hum canceling when combined with the neck pickup, and one of them will not.

What pickups did you order exactly?

They were supposed to be a dual inline split for the neck and a quad coil for the humbucker; fully silent as the original bartolinis. Full disclosure: Jim has offered to build a quad- neodymium humbucker to work with a neo split coil for the neck; at least that is what I infer from the email he sent me. So I've asked him to clear up what the offer is and how to proceed. Also, I had said I'd be willing to keep this set and that maybe tone wise it was all for the best; I just asked for a replacement pickup cover for the humbucker so that the new one would fit the pole pieces correctly (the treble side doesn't atm - see pics).

 

[Reed James Eng]

for the record you did not order quad are splits you stressed point you wanted single coil tone, i remember stressing the point that only single coils sound like single coils at no point of time have you ever mention quad coil humbucker in the bridge no need to keep bumping this crap on talk bass you want my help email me keep it off this public site all business is privet,

 

[Reed James Eng]

They were supposed to be a dual inline split for the neck and a quad coil for the humbucker; fully silent as the original bartolinis. Full disclosure: Jim has offered to build a quad- neodymium humbucker to work with a neo split coil for the neck; at least that is what I infer from the email he sent me. So I've asked him to clear up what the offer is and how to proceed. Also, I had said I'd be willing to keep this set and that maybe tone wise it was all for the best; I just asked for a replacement pickup cover for the humbucker so that the new one would fit the pole pieces correctly (the treble side doesn't atm - see pics).

 

[SteveC]

Al I can say is they better be some kick ass pickups to go through all this. I would have given up after a month.

 

[Nyarlothep]

UPDATE

Email Chain
Oct 2
Jim,

It's fine: I am disappointed that they are not noiseless like we talked about at the start of our correspondence (Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 11:01 AM). I was under the impression they would be all split coil noise pickups (a single split and a quad split). Anyway, I got what I got and I will give them an honest review as soon as I have had the time to play them for a while; maybe the uncompromised single coil tone is all for the better in the long run. Finally, in terms of build you ought to have wound the bridge humbucker and the single in opposites so that the Jazz tone integrity is preserved - any future Lakland owning customers I am sure would like it like this.

I would however, like one thing from you and that is a humbucker housing that fits correctly; you can see on the post pictures that it doesn't fit the last pole piece on the treble side. This way I can install it and have an aesthetically perfect bass; its the least anyone can expect. Just send me an empty housing that fits right and we're cool. As far as the pickups go my initial impression is good; they deliver though they are not as hot as I expected but I guess that is unavoidable as they are rather shallow by design - it seems you have fit as much horsepower in there as possible. Tone wise they are open the - highs are harmonic all the way to the E - this way the preamp seems more responsive to pot movement. However, I found the B string a little tame but am experimenting with different pickup heights to get it where I want it. What remains is a live band environment so that I can truly gauge their grit. Thus, I will update the post one last time for the review and be done with it.
- Me

Oct 5

i can sens you a humbucker that is hotter, but i guess i misses the that
they where all supposed to be split from what i under stud is you wanted
single coil tone the single coil tone will be lost , unless you went neo
- Jim

Oct 5
give me a call i will be willing building a beta set of quad neo for you
to test now that i know we can get stuff to your door
- Jim

Oct 6
Hi,

Like a said I am willing to settle for these pickups and it'd be nice if you can build and ship me a pickup cover for the humbucker where the poles line up properly. Now, if you are telling me you would like to go the extra mile and rebuild a set of pickups that are a neodymium inline split coil for the neck and a neodymium quad coil for the bridge that would be closer to my expectation, then I'd be interested as a noiseless solution is what I was looking for in the first place - communication hasn't been our strong suite but we are getting there. You also stated that only with the neos would I get the single coil tone I have now - is this correct? Also, about the hotness of the pickups; currently they are pretty good - wouldn't making the whole set hotter lose some of the high end? Also, I'd need a full replacement I can't keep the single have have the humbucker overpower it - Seymour Duncans do that in the Lakland setup.

Of course there is the issue of shipping - now I have already paid 65 dollars to get this set through customs due to the price you correctly quoted on them (I know to get them insured) - now if you were to send a second set then I would have to cough up another 65 dollars which hardly seems fair as this set is essential a reparation for the miscommunication we experienced on the first set (noiseless/not noiseless). How would you like to handle it if we were to take this avenue? Thanks for the effort of making this right.


Oct 7

the Neo sound closer to single coils then the A5 splits but do not have
the peeking highs there more rounded but lots of harmonic detail
international shipping i have to insure it for exact amount are they will
not get there but you will be getting a $450 set of pickups is the cost
of exposed pole neo this you did not order ,you never mentioned quad
bucker in the bridge and thought we dismissed the split due to it will not
have the single coil tone you wanted ,regardless this talk bass poopie is
really, starting to piss me off to the point where i should just count it
as damage done and drop the whole thing.. if you want my help and want
something different, it would be best to do business with me like a Man
and you and I can work it out.
-Jim

Oct 7

Now for one I see nothing wrong with sharing our interaction on Talkbass as there is no better place to be "like a Man" than in an open forum with your peers and customers watching. Secondly, "but i guess i misses the that
they where all supposed to be split" this means what it means: you misunderstood - you can check the records as there is a written dialogue that all can see on the forum. Silent means silent - I asked for silent pickups for one of the most popular mass produced basses on the market; hence since you had worked on pickups for this bass as seen in the youtube video I assumed you knew how to build a pickup for it that functioned like the pickups it had as stock - a single split plus a quad split in the humbucker.

Now the business at hand: you offered to build me something that would actually cover my original expectation of a truly noiseless set in place of what I received, pickups that you by mistake or intentionally did not define as "not noiseless" leading me to believe my queries on the matter were unfounded. I also offered to make do with the pickups I did get and requested that you just send me a pickup cover that is drilled correctly - I did not solicit you to build me anything; it was you who offered to do it. Now am I expected to pay for these "New" pickups and pay 65$ to customs? You haven't answered that, regardless I don't want them: what I do want is the new pickup cover that actually fits the humbucker - everybody else seems to get this right you should be able to do so too. Send me the pickup cover and we'll be done with it.

-Me

 

[cronker]

Ummm.....

English please.

 

[Reed James Eng]

Ok I am done, this guy wants to copy and past privet emails, I do not have time for any of this, I got pickups to make for people who play music. I see no end to this.

 

[One Drop]

Ok I am done, this guy wants to copy and past privet emails, I do not have time for any of this, I got pickups to make for people who play music. I see no end to this.

Some friendly advice from a disinterested by-stander.

If you want to use TB to do business or to communicate with customers and potential customers, do it properly and take care how you present yourself and how you treat the complaints and demands of those people.

You aren't doing anyone any favours the way you are communicating now, especially yourself.

Making PUPs is one thing, and selling and servicing your clients is another, and if you want to do both you can't always call the shots.

I did notice you posted a customer's invoice and email address, so you can't complain about him posting emails.

Not to mention any legal ramifications.

Good luck and I hope you find the right balance, by many accounts you are making a fine product.

 

[Reed James Eng]

There is no wining with some people ,your rite, but for the record I offed to build something he did not order to make the customer happy. But that was a waist of time as well. Its true I have poor people skills and suck at typing. but getting better hopefully. I am sure it would of bean better ignoring this whole thing.

 

[The Chuck]

Insert picture of Michael Jackson eating popcorn here.

 

[Nyarlothep]

Update

Oct 7
Ill send you a pickup cover i have better tools now sence i made the
pickups .but you are a lire never onece hace you metiond quad bridge

I haven't written back as I see no need to at the moment. As you can see again I for some reason or other am a liar although I have proven without a doubt that the noiseless or not issue was clarified in the "These are noiseless right?" question I asked at the beginning of this transaction and the failure to reply to this question by James Reed which finally resonated in the "but i guess i misses the that they where all supposed to be split". I am only a layman in terms of understanding pickups for that reason maybe I asked the wrong questions - I thought I was being thorough - but that still doesn't mean I wasn't lead on. Anyway, let's remind everyone that I had already said I would be happy with just a pickup cover replacement; the logical fallacy in Jim's assumption is that by offering me some sort of self appointed restitution in the form of a new humbucker I automatically become the lesser morality by refusing it. I reiterated 3 times that I actually just wanted the pickup cover replacement; when pressed I questioned whether or not the humbucker would come with a split coil single that is pivotal to the noiseless aspect to work and got no reply apart from that I was a lair. This accomplished nothing.

Also, I got this email on Oct 8

I am shipping out a new cover insuring it for $20 with a value of $20 that
way I know it gets there, sorry you live in a country where you got to pay
taxes on things you receive, but that's not my problem I have to make sure
it arrives and learned that privet insurance is the way to go.

What is the deal with valuing a cover for 20$ when its worth at most 5$ (that is stretching it!)? I doubt I'll have to pay the 20% customs charge on this as it doesn't qualify as electronics etc but really you have to insure this because it will really damage your break even point at the end of the month right? Lets remember a shining example of customer service from Best Bass Gear shall we: I ordered tuning pegs for my Lakland; they were the hip-shot modern series. However, I received the vintage versions (which I reverted to after 7 years with the moderns) Brian at Best Bass Gear immediately rectified the situation by sending the new set that were retooled at HipShot at no charge - that is 150$ that he wrote off to customer support - now that's how you run a business.

I'll review the pups when I get a chance to play them live - for now so far so good apart from the shoddy workmanship.

Finally, no sir I am not a liar nor am I placated for the long and arduous business transaction I have suffered through.

I concede the "drop mic and exit stage left" to Jim he seems to enjoy that sort of thing. To the rest of you thanks for all of the support I'd like to think we've done some good here and talked a lot of bass in the process. See you soon for the review.

 

[twinjet]

Bump!!! Hey @Nyarlothep I hope this works out for ya.

 

[Hopkins]

This thread is turning into a dog chasing his tail, its getting nowhere. The OP got his pickups, Mr. James, albeit rather crudely, did try to right the situation by offering to send a different set of pickups and did replace the cover. I am honesty not sure why emails were being posted to the thread after that point.

 

[SteveC]

I don't understand how it can take over a year to build and ship a pickup. I mean, how does one stay in business?
And why would you wait that long for a pickup? Not that I know everything, but I am fairly aware of lots of stuff and I've never heard of that person or his pickups. They must be freaking amazing.