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PU's on a DJ5.

H2ODog

H2ODog

Sep 30, 2003
477
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Roseville, CA
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#1
I own a JO5 with the Lakland pu's and i'm shopping around for another 5 (a DJ5 maybe) but since Lakland now puts it's own PU's on the DJ (instead of Aeros) what is the difference (tonally) between the two? When it had the Aeros at least there was some difference...now? Unless i missed something at their web site. Anyone have any info on this?
 
#2
H2ODog said:
I own a JO5 with the Lakland pu's and i'm shopping around for another 5 (a DJ5 maybe) but since Lakland now puts it's own PU's on the DJ (instead of Aeros) what is the difference (tonally) between the two? When it had the Aeros at least there was some difference...now? Unless i missed something at their web site. Anyone have any info on this?
Click to expand...

I haven't directly A/B'd the Lakland Pickups vs. The Aeros, but I had the Aeros in each of my Darryl Jones 5 (DJ5's) and I ended up either selling the bass or replacing the pickups. I have Nordstrands in my DJ5 now. I played the Lakland ones in the current DJ5 at the Hollywood Mesa Boogie Store and as I recall, I like them better. They are more 60's Fender sounding, less 70's fender sounding. The bass sounds more like the JO5 loaded with Fralins, which was still my favorite combo. I'm not the only one who thinks so, other people on the forum have said there is less of a difference between the JO5's and the DJ5's with the Lakland pickups now. If you're thinking of a DJ5, I say go for it.
 
#4
Sorry to disagree with Poon, but the DJ5 with Lakland pups sounds absolutely nothing like a JO with Fralins to me. The JO5 with Fralins is very smooth and fat sounding just like a typical 60's bass. The DJ5 with Lakland pups is grindy just like a 70's style J bass.
 
#6
H2ODog said:
My JO5 has the Lakland PU's, the question is does a New DJ5 with the Lakland PU's (the lakland web site seems to say they have the same PU's now) sound the same? It would be redundant for me to get a DJ5 if it sounds the same as a JO5 (with the new Lakland pu's)
Click to expand...
No, they're still different sounding. Much more to the two instruments' tone than the pickups. However I believe they are wound differently as well. The DJ bass is Laklands 70's style instrument with the aggressive tone. The JO5 is the smooth and fat 60's instrument.

I'm pretty sure you can still get Aero's in the US DJ's if you put in a custom order. They also have the new Chi-Sonic pickups.
 
#8
Eublet said:
Sorry to disagree with Poon, but the DJ5 with Lakland pups sounds absolutely nothing like a JO with Fralins to me. The JO5 with Fralins is very smooth and fat sounding just like a typical 60's bass. The DJ5 with Lakland pups is grindy just like a 70's style J bass.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I haven't done a direct A/B comparison. I was thinking they are probably wound differently to sound similar to their original counterparts (i.e. the Fralins for the JO and the Aero's for the DJ). However...contrary to what many believe, myself and a few of my bass player buddies actually found the fralins more "aggressive" sounding than the Aeros. Just goes to prove tone is in the ears of the beholder. But I would say Eublet is probably a better judge of tone on this one. It's been over a year since I've tried the DJ5 with the Lakland pickups and even longer than that since I've tried an Aero DJ5. And I'll tell you something I'm sure of...my memory is not what it used to be.

-Poon
 
#10
I haven't spent much time with the JO5 so I won't comment on that, but I played an older DJ5 with the Aero's and a newer one with the Lakland pickups side by side, and based on what I had read I expected the Aero's to be the more aggressive, edgy sounding ones.

Not so...the Lakland pickups definitely had more of an aggressive sound to me. They also seemed to have more bottom.

The deciding factor for me besides tone was the hum. The Laklands have the single coil hum you expect when one pickup is soloed, but not bad. The Aero's hummed like crazy, way too noisy for me.

I bought the Lakland version and love it.
 
#12
H2ODog said:
I own a JO5 with the Lakland pu's and i'm shopping around for another 5 (a DJ5 maybe) but since Lakland now puts it's own PU's on the DJ (instead of Aeros) what is the difference (tonally) between the two? When it had the Aeros at least there was some difference...now? Unless i missed something at their web site. Anyone have any info on this?
Click to expand...
I have recorded sound samples comparing the two (4-string only). PM your e-mail address if you're interested.
 
#13
Indeed Lakland's design goal with their Lakland pups was to have something with a little more color and distinctive tone while staying within the vein of what brought them so much success. As for the Chi's, I really like them, but they are very different from the Lakland pups. The Chi's are more mellow and round but with a BEAUTIFUL sounding passive bite and output. Between the two options, I would think most players could find something they like.
 
#15
From: L A [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 9:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: DJ5
Hi Dan,

I purchased a Skyline JO5 last March and it has the new Lakland pu's. The bass has been great and i like it very much. I have a question for you. I'm looking for another five string and was thinking of getting a Skyline DJ5. When i look at your web site i see that both the DJ and JO have the same pu's in them? If I'm right it would not make much sense for me to get one as i would be duplicating what i have in the JO. Are they different pu's on the DJ as opposed to the JO? Any info that you can provide would be appreciated.




From Dan Lakin <[email protected]>
to L A <[email protected]>
date Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 8:15 AM
subject RE: DJ5
8:15 AM (3 minutes ago)
Reply


Yes we use the same pickups in both models so the tone is very similar. I would recommend a 55-02 if you are looking for something different.

The main difference in those 2 basses (DJ and JO) is the size of the body. The DJ is slightly down-sized.

Dan
 
#16
Thanks for the research on this. Having played both, I guess it's subjective to the listener how "similar" or "different" they are even if the pickups are the same. They were pretty different sounding to me, but similar I guess in that they both sounded like a Jazz bass. But from Dan's perspective I can certainly see why he'd recommend a 55-02 as it does bring a lot more variance to the table, and the 55-02 in "Jazz" mode using the coil tap is a different sound also. That's why I'm shopping for one myself! :D
 
#17
Eublet said:
Thanks for the research on this. Having played both, I guess it's subjective to the listener how "similar" or "different" they are even if the pickups are the same. They were pretty different sounding to me, but similar I guess in that they both sounded like a Jazz bass. But from Dan's perspective I can certainly see why he'd recommend a 55-02 as it does bring a lot more variance to the table, and the 55-02 in "Jazz" mode using the coil tap is a different sound also. That's why I'm shopping for one myself! :D
Click to expand...


I may be doing that myself but dang it, i love the way the DJ looks (black/rosewood). I'm tempted to get one with the J-retro in it so it would have a more modern sound as opposed to my JO. I saw a few 55-02's for sale on the listings here :)
 
#18
H2ODog said:
I may be doing that myself but dang it, i love the way the DJ looks (black/rosewood). I'm tempted to get one with the J-retro in it so it would have a more modern sound as opposed to my JO. I saw a few 55-02's for sale on the listings here :)
Click to expand...
Yeah, I like the looks of the DJ over the JO since the DJ is a bit more unique. I like the smaller body size as well as a standard Jazz just always feels rather large after playing so many modern basses. Plus I just love the look of block inlays! :bassist: If you want that look, I'd think it would be pretty easy to find someone with a DJ5 who is willing to trade with you if you are patient.

That said, I love the look of the 55-02 as well, especially the deluxe versions in cherryburst or sunburst. The body shape is pretty unique yet still traditional enough not to draw attention unnecessarily. And the authority of the B string in the 55-02 with the MM/J config is really something.
 
#19
So, what about pickup spacing on the DJ ? Is it 70's spacing rather than 60's spacing or is the spacing the same on both ? Dan didn't comment on that. Can someone that owns a DJ & someone that owns a JO measure the bridge pickups length of placement from the bridge ?
 

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