Replacement pickups for 5 stringer (J style)

[LTSmash]

Hi,

I have this Ibanez GSR-205 bass, but I believe the PU's aren't punchy enough even using a lot of bass equalization (both on and off-board), so I was thinking of switching them, but it seems hard to find a pair of J pickups that are for a 5 stringer... I'd like something that sounds almost as a humbuker, punchy, agressive and dark but not that much, any suggestions?

I mostly play rock and metal...

Thanks in advance

 

[FunkMetalBass]

J pickups wont sound like a humbucker. However, there are about a million 5-string jazz drop-in options.

When I think of aggressive pickups, I think of Seymour Duncan, Delano, and EMG. All three of those companies make 5-string jazz pickups.

 

[LTSmash]

Well, I'm looking for a tone like this: , but dunno if which PU's should I get! I guess something with a nice attack and a darker tone :S

Do you think any replacement PU's for a Jazz bass will fit my bass? Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[David1234]

It's possible that your bass doesn't have enough clear bottom end in its sound, in which case upgrading the pickups is of limited value.

I'd suggest you have a try with your existing pickups in series first, that makes a "kinda" humbucker and you can see if that is to your taste .. .and without wasting a lot of money.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

From the first video, any of the pickups I previously mentioned will get you close. Because of pickup placement and all of the coil tapping of the humbuckers, it's hard to really say what will work best; especially if you're wanting to just go with a passive VVT setup. I don't know that you'll be able to nail all those tones exactly. If you're handy with a router, you can certainly install two humbuckers though.

In the second video, it sounds like a P-bass, and I don't think any jazz bass can really cop that tone.

 

[LTSmash]

Ok!

The problem is that I live in Mexico and its kinda hard to find good pickups (I have only found both of the Dimarzio Models that are available on their website for 5 string basses... do you think any of those will work for my style? Or at least, to get a better tone that with stock PU's)

Thanks

 

[LTSmash]

Oh, and my PU's are already out-of-phase, so they do work as humbuker when at the same volume, but I need a little more output and clearer punchier tone

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I've never been a fan of DiMarzios, personally, although many people here like the Model J's. I can't recommend anything locally for you, unfortunately, but I can say that shipping to Mexico, especially given the low weight of pickups, is quite cheap.