Radius-ed J bass pickups (relentless)

[gimmeagig]

I have a Sire V7 5string J bass. The fretboard has such a severe radius that the distance of the center strings is creating a drop in volume. I tried to get the G and the B string as close as possible but I still feel the bass sounds weaker on the inner strings. The big radius totally messes up the balance. and I don't wan't to compensate for that at the bridge. Di Marzio came out with the relentless pickups that have a radius in the top. Seems like a great solution. Are there any other companies who make radiused J bass pickups? Or I suppose I could get a replacement neck with a flatter fingerboard.... Does anybody here know if something like that is available?

 

[sunbeast]

Nordstrand will make radiused pickups, as will many companies that build to order. First you'll want to measure the lengths and string spacing of your pickups (these are not standardized in 5-string pickups) and find a way to measure the radius of your fretboard. I've experienced this issue on 4-string J-basses with vintage (7.25") radius but usually 5-strings naturally have a flatter radius that makes it less of an issue if at all.

Another option if you have traditional alnico-polepiece pickups is to push the magnets out from the back manually to create the radius yourself- you may need to add a little heat to the magnets to unseat them first but may be able to do it just gently tapping them. There is some potential that this could damage the internal windings though depending on how the pickup was made (if the wire is wound directly around the polepieces and there is enough tension then you could drag the wire). Here is a thread where someone successfully moved poles on a 4-string Sire V7 so you might be in luck: Pole piece adjustment on a jazz bass

 

[NKBassman]

I have a Sire V7 5string J bass. The fretboard has such a severe radius that the distance of the center strings is creating a drop in volume. I tried to get the G and the B string as close as possible but I still feel the bass sounds weaker on the inner strings. The big radius totally messes up the balance. and I don't wan't to compensate for that at the bridge. Di Marzio came out with the relentless pickups that have a radius in the top. Seems like a great solution. Are there any other companies who make radiused J bass pickups? Or I suppose I could get a replacement neck with a flatter fingerboard.... Does anybody here know if something like that is available?

I had this exact problem with my Fender Geddy Lee jazz. You could look for pickups with adjustable pole pieces (such as Dimarzio Model J), but I settled on the Nordstrand Jazz Blades which put my GAS to bed for good.

 

[Sharko]

DiMarzio model J is your solution here

 

[DuluthDank]

Fralin, Loller, Nordstrand will do it upon request. Some Duncans are like that, like the Apollos. I wish it was the standard.

 

[BobKos]

As a test you can buy some small neo magnet 'dots' and stack them on your existing magnets. Something like these:

All Size 100 500 Tiny Small Neodymium Disc rare earth Magnets craft Warhammer | eBay

These discs are axially magnetized, so the strong North/South poles are in the center of the flat sides. That makes them easier to stack into a cylinder than to connect side by side. WARNING: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

www.ebay.com

As stated previously, most pickup makers can make radiused pickups. Just ask.

 

[Nedmundo]

As @sunbeast said, sizing is not standardized for five-string J pickups. Many are about 95mm at both neck and bridge, while pickups for Fender fives are longer. If your pickups are in one of these categories, you'll have plenty of options.

But some are the same lengths as four-string pickups, like those in my Sandberg TT-5. (Approx. 91mm neck and 95mm bridge.) Fewer options exist in this size, and very few of those offer radiused poles standard, but they can be ordered on some. I wanted either Fralins or Nordstrand's Big J Blades, but neither is available in this size.

 

[GDUBS]

The is one thing the OP needs to remember though.. Sire 5 string basses are 18mm spacing. Not 19mm. That will limit his options considerably on non custom pickups.

 

[pbassnut]

I have a Sire V7 5string J bass. The fretboard has such a severe radius that the distance of the center strings is creating a drop in volume. I tried to get the G and the B string as close as possible but I still feel the bass sounds weaker on the inner strings. The big radius totally messes up the balance. and I don't wan't to compensate for that at the bridge. Di Marzio came out with the relentless pickups that have a radius in the top. Seems like a great solution. Are there any other companies who make radiused J bass pickups? Or I suppose I could get a replacement neck with a flatter fingerboard.... Does anybody here know if something like that is available?

I have a set of Dimarzio Relentless J pickups on my 4-string Warmoth parts J and I am very happy with them ... particularly with their string to string balance. My Warmoth J neck has a 10" radius and the stock curvature of the pickups make for a perfectly balanced sound. The pole pieces are allen wrench adjustable for even finer grain tweaking but were perfect right out of the box for me.

 

[Hot Rats]

With the Nordstrand Jazz Blades, string spacing becomes a non-issue. I use the 4 string versions on my 5'er.

 

[Nedmundo]

With the Nordstrand Jazz Blades, string spacing becomes a non-issue. I use the 4 string versions on my 5'er.

Cool! That possibility crossed my mind, but I was concerned the sensing area wouldn't be long enough. What's the string spacing on your five?

I've also considered Lace Man O' Wars, which I've been told (by Lace in a TB thread) can work with narrow-spaced fives.

 

[Jopelo]

Seymour-Duncan quarter pounder jazz pickups are radiused - at least the bridge one (I have PJ Duncans) - so i suppose the neck one is radiused too. And like mentioned DiMarzio have them. Nordstrand too. Then there are some others but not really that many.

You can ease this problem by using a compressor which evens out this irritating problem. If you just don't mind using one.

 

[Hot Rats]

Cool! That possibility crossed my mind, but I was concerned the sensing area wouldn't be long enough. What's the string spacing on your five?

I've also considered Lace Man O' Wars, which I've been told (by Lace in a TB thread) can work with narrow-spaced fives.

Pretty narrow. I converted a P-bass neck to 5, so it's only slightly wider than standard P-bass. I have the saddle as wide as they go so it's a little wider.

 

[DCCat]

But some are the same lengths as four-string pickups, like those in my Sandberg TT-5. (Approx. 91mm neck and 95mm bridge.) Fewer options exist in this size, and very few of those offer radiused poles standard, but they can be ordered on some. I wanted either Fralins or Nordstrand's Big J Blades, but neither is available in this size.

Wilde J-45 pickups are worth a look here. Standard 4-string enclosure, but the unique pole layout works for 4- or 5-string basses. Radiused poles are an option.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

DiMarzio model J is your solution here

When did they start making a 5-string version of the Model J for 18mm spacing? Interesting.

 

[NKBassman]

Cool! That possibility crossed my mind, but I was concerned the sensing area wouldn't be long enough. What's the string spacing on your five?

I've also considered Lace Man O' Wars, which I've been told (by Lace in a TB thread) can work with narrow-spaced fives.

I firmly do not recommend Lace Man-O-Wars for a bass with a tight radius fingerboard. They were very uneven sounding in my Geddy and forced my switch to Model Js, followed by the Nordy Jazz Blades.

 

[NKBassman]

You can ease this problem by using a compressor which evens out this irritating problem. If you just don't mind using one.

In my experience, no amount of compression helped enough to sufficiently even it out while still preserving some dynamic to the notes.
Best to go with radiused pickups to solve this problem.

 

[Sharko]

When did they start making a 5-string version of the Model J for 18mm spacing? Interesting.

I see what you’re saying, I see Area J’s in 5 string option but no Model J’s, could be a dead end

 

[Nedmundo]

I firmly do not recommend Lace Man-O-Wars for a bass with a tight radius fingerboard. They were very uneven sounding in my Geddy and forced my switch to Model Js, followed by the Nordy Jazz Blades.

I believe it. I have them in a G&L JB with a 12" radius fretboard, and they work fine there, better than the OEM vintage alnico pickups with flush poles. So I considered swapping them into my Sandberg TT-5 with a 14" radius board, but fives are more of a challenge with the A at the peak of the fretboard. I have Aero Type 1 with raised poles under the A string only, which are a huge improvement over the stock pickups, but the G string is sometimes a little hot because the bass sets up best with that saddle on the deck. Overall, though, it works most of the time.

In my experience, no amount of compression helped enough to sufficiently even it out while still preserving some dynamic to the notes.
Best to go with radiused pickups to solve this problem.

Totally agree. I remain mystified about why so many J-bass pickups have flush poles, especially for fives. I assume cost is part of it, but I also wonder whether some players are simply accustomed to weak A and D strings so they've become a component of "traditional" tone.

I hope G&L releases a JB-5 MFD. I used to have a JB-5, and I loved the overall feel, and the MFD J pickups have adjustable poles so the balance would be perfect. MFD pickups are great for this.

 

[gimmeagig]

Another option if you have traditional alnico-polepiece pickups is to push the magnets out from the back manually to create the radius yourself- you may need to add a little heat to the magnets to unseat them first but may be able to do it just gently tapping them. There is some potential that this could damage the internal windings though depending on how the pickup was made (if the wire is wound directly around the polepieces and there is enough tension then you could drag the wire). Here is a thread where someone successfully moved poles on a 4-string Sire V7 so you might be in luck: Pole piece adjustment on a jazz bass

I have replaced the pickups with EMG J 5s because somebody told me their magnets inside their housing are radiused but it turns out that is not the case.
I did'nt realize there as so many options . I tried the EMGs first because I am definitely looking for hum cancelling ones that still have the clarity of singles.