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Replacement J pickup suggestions for Warwick

engedi1

engedi1

Sep 16, 2005
3,896
1,883
Nashville
www.kevinkirkpatrick.net
#1
I am looking at a used Warwick Corvette (one of the passive ones you can get for $800 from GC) I like the 24 frets, solid construction, neck, and in fact most things about this bass, except for the MEC pickups which suck pretty bad.
This bass is going for about $500 and is a killer deal but I would like to replace the pickups. I want to still keep it as a passive J bass type of vibe, with the volume, volume, tone config it currently has. I would like to have a hot, bright, punchy as hell type of tone with aggressive midrange, not scooped. Totally open to any ideas, but at the moment would lean towards EMG HZ's. Anybody have experience with EMG HZ singles? Or can you recommend something else?
 
#2
I used a set of DiMarzio Model Js in that exact same model bass for years and loved the tone, as well as zero hum. They are voiced just like regular J pickups, with great burpy mids at the bridge, and lots of creamy thunder at the neck. They drop right in and won't break the bank.
 
#3
staccatogrowl said:
I used a set of DiMarzio Model Js in that exact same model bass for years and loved the tone, as well as zero hum. They are voiced just like regular J pickups, with great burpy mids at the bridge, and lots of creamy thunder at the neck. They drop right in and won't break the bank.
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Cool. I am a big DiMarzio fan myself, since that is what Sadowsky uses in his J Basses. What is the difference between the model J and the Ultra Jazz. Also, do you want to sell your Warwick? ;)
 
#4
The UltraJazz pickups have a scooped midrange compared to the Model Js. The Model J growls with midrange, while the UltraJazz is more high fi. I've tried both pickups and clearly prefer the Model Js, and would use them again. Both pickup models have plenty of bass and output. My Warwick Corvette was a very sweet sounding and playing four-string model. I sold it a while ago when I chose to play five-string basses.
 
#6
Without hesitation the Delano JMVC 4 FE/M2 is what you are looking for period!!! They are hot! no preamp needed.

Just put a set in my Jazz bass and they are amazing! I used another delano model in my corvette but i should have gone with these lovely pups
 
#7
bassman74 said:
Without hesitation the Delano JMVC 4 FE/M2 is what you are looking for period!!! They are hot! no preamp needed.

Just put a set in my Jazz bass and they are amazing! I used another delano model in my corvette but i should have gone with these lovely pups
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Big +1 on these

I just put these in my fretless 4 'vette. I also copper shielded the control cavity.

I now have 0 hum or rf noise. These pups are clearer and punchier than the Mec's. I still have all of the Warwick "sound" too.

I would do it again in a second!
 
#9
engedi1 said:
Are the Delano Pups true singles, or stacked humbuckers? I have been intrigued by Delanos for a while, and I appreciate the positive feedback.
Scary Bill, how much of a pain was it to sheild the cavity yourself?
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Everything you want to know about Delano Pups. They are split coils.

Shielding is not hard, just takes time. :)
To shield the control cavity I removed the pots and jack. I used copper foil tape that has a conductive adhesive, that way overlapping pieces of tape are electrically connected as well. I got it from stew mac. Well worth the money.

I precut strips of foil and laid them in the cavity making sure the pieces had some overlap. I covered the holes for the control pots and used a blade to slice openings in the tape for the pots shafts. The pots metal case are tied to ground already so installing them back in place will ground the copper tape as log as they are touching.

I also covered the inside of the control cover with foil, make sure that the foil will make contact with the copper tab on the lip of the cavity. That will connect the plate to ground when it is on.

I always use a VOM (volt-ohm meter) to check continuity of my shield jobs. I plug a short cable in to the output jack. Set the meter to Ohms and touch one lead to to the sleeve of the cable and then touch different places in the cavity. I would check the cases of the pots and even the strings too. It should read very close to 0 ohms, not in the Kohms (thousands).


If you do it well it will keep the RF noise out of your signal, if you end up with a badly grounded shield it can make it noisier as you have a good antenna in your base :eek:

It all sounds way harder than it is. It only took me 15-20 min to do the cavity. I had the bass apart anyways.


I have never been happier with this bass. :hyper:
 
#10
My wenge neck 'vette is on the way and I was shopping around for a good set of replacement p'ups. I like what I have read about the Dimarzios and the Delanos. I will be trying the Dimarzios first since the set is cheaper than one Delano and if I don't like them I can sell them here on TB pretty quickly, seeing as how eveytime a set comes up they disappear pretty damn quick. Does anyone know if the stock Warwick pots are 250K? Wondering if I will need to buy new pots as well.
 
#11
I used DM Model Js with the stock Warwick electronics with good result. I left the electronics stock for resale purpose. I kept the MECs as well, in case someone wanted everything stock, which is typical.
 
#12
staccatogrowl said:
I used DM Model Js with the stock Warwick electronics with good result. I left the electronics stock for resale purpose. I kept the MECs as well, in case someone wanted everything stock, which is typical.
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That's what I was hoping for. I will probably do the same thing you did, keep the MECs just in case, but I don't see myself ever letting this one go. About a year ago I had one of those ash body 'vettes with the red finish. Didn't like it, the body wood was very soft and the finish is like a cheap paint that eventually flakes off and the ovengkol neck was really chunky and heavy. I jumped at the rare chance to get a wenge neck 'vette. Now I just gotta wait for it to arrive. :hyper: Can't wait to get it and slap a set of Dimarzio Js in it. :bassist:
 
#13
I just got a Warwick Corvette Fretless w/ Nordstrand NJ4SE's and Audere 3 band preamp. I have no idea on the improvement from the original since it came like this. It has great tone and sustain. I have had a few sets of Nordstrands and really have become a fan. My MTD Grendel 4 has NJ4's w/ 70's windings.
 

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