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Sterling punch out of a jazz?

#3
It depends on the jazz's configuration ( woods ) and pickups, but one can get very close by going 60-70% bridge. AERO pickups with their superb low Hz response work good as they provide a fuller bridge than most. Certainly fuller than Fender oem or Nordstrand, to my ears. But they'not dual coil HBs for sure

I own a Valenti J5 that can cop a Sterling pretty well. I'm adding an Audere Z6, and I bet that the bridge pup in lowZ mode solo'd or with 10-20% high Z neck blended in will cop any MM sound you want. At least close enough for the mix.
 
#4
Basshoofd said:
Well a jazz will never truly sound like a MM humbucker, but to get close I'd probably lean towards the bridge pickup a bit and then add some lows and mids. Or add two MM humbuckers:D
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I considered doing dual MM buckers but it'd cost a good amount of money to pay someone to rout our the body,and new pickup plus MM pups are more expensive than regular jazz.

And leaning towards the bridge would only simulate a single H model not a dual.

So I guess I'm just looking for a high range,aggressive pickup maybe pre amp configuration. I know that describes EMG but I just find EMG's too sterile.
 
#5
When I'm bored as **** I will somtimes try to EQ my basses around to make them sound like each other.

I'm not sure what kind of Jazz you have but the stock pickups in my Geddy can get a pretty good MM sound with the mids boosted and a little on the bass too, with tone nearly wide open and a strong right hand attack.

It's not dead on MM, but it punches and snarls like a MOFO. A Bongo is the only MM I own which is a really clean bass, but I can get pretty close to that with my Geddy as well, at least how fat it is, but not the piano like clarity.
 
#7
I love my Delano JMVC4 FE/M2 pups. They're split coil humbuckers that have alot of the MM sound but in a standard jazz shape.
delano-jmvc-4-fe-m2.jpg
 
#12
Get a used G&L L2000/L2500 Tribute and do the single coil mod for copping the jazz tones. I got my L2500 Tribute for under $400 in mint condition and can cop the MM and Jazz tones fairly well (of course not exact but more than close enough for me)
 
#13
jgroh said:
Get a used G&L L2000/L2500 Tribute and do the single coil mod for copping the jazz tones. I got my L2500 Tribute for under $400 in mint condition and can cop the MM and Jazz tones fairly well (of course not exact but more than close enough for me)
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The lady friend might destroy me if I buy yet another bass.

Thanks for that darkstrike. I'll try and find out the dimensions on those pups.

I really love the tone of nordy fat stacks but not only are they expensive but i'd still have to the body routed.

EDIT: Nvm the nordys are no more expensive than those delanos.
 
#14
5string5fingers said:
The lady friend might destroy me if I buy yet another bass.

Thanks for that darkstrike. I'll try and find out the dimensions on those pups.

I really love the tone of nordy fat stacks but not only are they expensive but i'd still have to the body routed.

EDIT: Nvm the nordys are no more expensive than those delanos.
Click to expand...

They're worth every penny....:hyper:
 
#20
Man, I dunno. I don't have a lot of experience swapping pickups out in J basses. Okay, none actually. But you're talking not just the pickups but the preamp as well with a Sterling. I play a Sterling 5 HH as my main gigging bass, and in 30+ years of playing out I've never had a bass (modded or otherwise) that sounds quite like it. You could spend a fortune on pups and preamps and routing and other customizations and still not nail that ridiculously aggressive, cutting tone. Maybe just start saving for the Sterling... once you've gigged with one it's hard going back to anything else....
 

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