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Replace pickups or just turn up the amp?

definenredefine

definenredefine

Nobody likes a drummer...
Mar 11, 2022
5,345
7,985
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North Carolina
#1
Hello folks,

My J bass has Fender SCN pickups in it. Recently I've noticed that, compared to my other basses, the output is a bit low (especially compared to my P.) I like the tone of the SCNs, though I gotta say that sometimes it doesn't have quite the nasally growl that I associate with J basses (think David Sims' tone in Jesus Lizard.)

I assume the first step is to up the gain on my amp (and I will - promise!) But, if that doesn't quite get me where I want to go, tone and volume wise, what would y'all recommend as a relatively inexpensive replacement?

I should add that I love the tone of my P bass, which has a quarter pounder in it. Maybe QPs would be a good way to go in my J as well?
 
#5
definenredefine said:
Dumb question but what do Fralins sound like, just in terms of generic description? A lot of folks here seem to swear by them but...I don't think I've heard them before. How would they compare to what I have and what I'm looking at (SD QPs)?
Click to expand...

Fralins, bruh!

I think they are just being hyped automatically at the moment, as many other brands have been in the past. The Seymour Duncan set will get you into Jesus Lizard territory for sure.
 
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#6
Polfuste said:
If you are using the P and the J in the same gig and like the sound of your actual pickups, just use a pedal to boost the J volume to reach the P level. By the past i've used a Boss Geb7 eq pedal for that purpose. It was pretty good, as i could work on some frequencies at the same time.
Click to expand...
I thought about maybe getting a clean boost pedal for this purpose. However, I usually only bring one bass or another to a show, so I don't really have need for that since I could just turn up my amp when I bring my J.
 
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#9
If you like the tone/voicing of your current pickup you can just get a cheap clean boost pedal. Or turn up the amp. New pickups will give you a slightly different tone, which may not be what you want? If you want a 100% classic J-bass tone you will need to go single coil and be prepared for a bit of noise.
 
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#10
Deleted member 271037 said:
If you like the tone/voicing of your current pickup you can just get a cheap clean boost pedal. Or turn up the amp. New pickups will give you a slightly different tone, which may not be what you want? If you want a 100% classic J-bass tone you will need to go single coil and be prepared for a bit of noise.
Click to expand...
I guess that's ultimately what I'm asking. I like the tone of my pickups but I'm not opposed to something a little more lo-fi/growly, and, if I'm replacing the pickups anyway, might as well find a pair with more output than the SCNs I have now.

I was also hoping to get some opinions on the QP J pickups, since I already know and like the QP P-bass pickup.
 
#12
definenredefine said:
Hello folks,

My J bass has Fender SCN pickups in it. Recently I've noticed that, compared to my other basses, the output is a bit low (especially compared to my P.) I like the tone of the SCNs, though I gotta say that sometimes it doesn't have quite the nasally growl that I associate with J basses (think David Sims' tone in Jesus Lizard.)

I assume the first step is to up the gain on my amp (and I will - promise!) But, if that doesn't quite get me where I want to go, tone and volume wise, what would y'all recommend as a relatively inexpensive replacement?

I should add that I love the tone of my P bass, which has a quarter pounder in it. Maybe QPs would be a good way to go in my J as well?
Click to expand...
Have you checked the height of your pickups? You obviously don't want them too high, but I'm sure there is a Fender spec on the height for that model, and I would imagine you can raise them above that spec, at least a little, without causing a problem.
 
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#14
definenredefine said:
Hello folks,

My J bass has Fender SCN pickups in it. Recently I've noticed that, compared to my other basses, the output is a bit low (especially compared to my P.) I like the tone of the SCNs, though I gotta say that sometimes it doesn't have quite the nasally growl that I associate with J basses (think David Sims' tone in Jesus Lizard.)

I assume the first step is to up the gain on my amp (and I will - promise!) But, if that doesn't quite get me where I want to go, tone and volume wise, what would y'all recommend as a relatively inexpensive replacement?

I should add that I love the tone of my P bass, which has a quarter pounder in it. Maybe QPs would be a good way to go in my J as well?
Click to expand...
Jesus Lizard?
I know that this is not what you asked for, but do you have the time to talk about our lord saviour Tronographic Rusty Box?
 
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#15
definenredefine said:
Hello folks,

My J bass has Fender SCN pickups in it. Recently I've noticed that, compared to my other basses, the output is a bit low (especially compared to my P.) I like the tone of the SCNs, though I gotta say that sometimes it doesn't have quite the nasally growl that I associate with J basses (think David Sims' tone in Jesus Lizard.)

I assume the first step is to up the gain on my amp (and I will - promise!) But, if that doesn't quite get me where I want to go, tone and volume wise, what would y'all recommend as a relatively inexpensive replacement?

I should add that I love the tone of my P bass, which has a quarter pounder in it. Maybe QPs would be a good way to go in my J as well?
Click to expand...

I went to a band jam a month or so ago. I noticed most of the collection of passive Fender basses out for the night were louder than mine. That said, I've owned this bass for almost 20 years and I've never had issues hearing it on stage, and never had a a sound man or sound engineer in the studio mention I had a weak gain.

I must be in the turn up your amp group, but if you are not getting the right timbre from your instrument? That is more of an issue than gain, and resolution might be more involved than just your pickups.

Best wishes.
 
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#18
If the situation is that your bass once had more output level, but has come down with a case of lower output, a solder joint may be coming loose. If you're not uncomfortable soldering or troubleshooting, maybe that could be a thing to look at. I have a voltage meter that has a tone setting for continuity. Really good for checking continuity. If you're soldering a reliable iron and some electronics grade solder that has 15% silver content is the stuff. Also some liquid flux for electronics and one of those squeeze bottles that has the tip that looks like a small state cathiter is a great delivery system for said flux. Check your knobs for scratchy potentiometers, make sure the output jack is solidly connected, all are usual suspects….
If your bass has always had low output, then maybe your pickup height is too low. Try raising them evenly, until they are at the correct height.
if that fails, you have a case to upgrade pickups. I have had two basses with Lindy Fralin PJ Pickups. One I sold, one I have currently, So I am a repeat buyer.
Listen to YT at their site or at least make sure it's their video. Don't want you to get a biased or poor impression because of video creator user error. Listen with good headphones. Fralins are nice pickups. Very clear, but not in a sterile EMG kinda way. They can have that raspy character that's nice sometimes if you want it. Both times I bought mine I got the +5% split coil j pickup.
Fralin does that because you can lose some umph b/c of the coil split. The +5% puts it back so you break even…
Compared to my Mex Fender P with stock pickup, I think the Fralin is a little stronger, and a little clearer, but without losing that vintage-ey vibe.
Also, everyone in this thread has been doubling down on the Fralin Pickups. but there are lots of good ones out there. I had a PJ a while back that had Bartololini pickups in it. It was very nice as well. Never had Duncan's, or an EMG Geezer Butler set, but I hear good things…
Good luck!
 
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#19
Make sure you pickup height is set correctly. If so, maybe it is time to change. To me, noise canceling J pickups always sound weak and lifeless (other than Dimarzio Model Js). I prefer single coils by a mile.

I put Franlin standard wind single coils in my Fender American Standard J5. OMG made a huge difference in tone. Those pickups have the "it" stuff, for sure.
 
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#20
Good things posted. First thing I would do is see if the pickups can be raised. If it's still weak, check for bad wiring connections, jack, and pots by wiggling things. If it was bad then better to come apart now than during a gig. If you can't solder, and don't want to learn, any electronics tinkerer can do it for you. You don't necessarily need a guitar tech.

If you find you want new pickups, I would suggest something first before going out and buying pickups. If it's a simple passive bass anyway. Wire the ones you have in series, making sure the phase is correct. You'll get a hotter output, and usually a more P bass like sound. At least you can see if you like the sound or not.
 
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