My search turned up little, if someone can direct me to a helpful thread it would be apprec., anyway have a old Ibanez RD650 with a passive PJ setup, the bass is nearly 25 yrs old and the tone is just not cutting it anymore, everything just sounds weak, its not my main bass but it is a reliable back-up that has served me well and I want to keep it around, my other basses are active, and I know all the brand names but was wondering what the TBer's would suggest for replacements, thx for any advice. Hwystar.
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Suggestions for passive PJ replacement.
- Thread starter hwystar
- Start date
Nordstrand does make a killer precision pup, though I haven't tried their jazz pickups. I expect they're stellar though. As "T" states, the nordy is definitely a punchy beast... I love it. I've got one in an SX precision copy and it sounds as good or better than pretty much anything else I've tried.
That said, you don't have to spend a fortune to sound good. The basic Seymour Duncan Vintage precision pup sounds exactly the way you'd want a traditional P to sound, and doesn't break the bank. I've got one in a custom relic'd P and it too sounds fantastic, it's just not quite as "forward" as the Nordstrand.
Other options that are proven to be good: Lollar makes a killer vintage sounding pickup, both precision and jazz pups. Dimarzio makes great 'modern' sounding noisefree pickups. i'm not sure which precision pickup it was by dimarzio, but the one I tried in a Nash was one of the deepest passive sounds I've ever heard. And another option that might be worth exploring are the Hanson pickups, which come stock in Lakland basses. I'm a huge fan of both the precision and jazz pups in those, and I see they make a couple PJ sets.
One thing to keep in mind, depending on your application you might want a noiseless jazz pup since a PJ won't be hum-cancelling when both pickups are set to full (the way a jazz bass would be).
That said, you don't have to spend a fortune to sound good. The basic Seymour Duncan Vintage precision pup sounds exactly the way you'd want a traditional P to sound, and doesn't break the bank. I've got one in a custom relic'd P and it too sounds fantastic, it's just not quite as "forward" as the Nordstrand.
Other options that are proven to be good: Lollar makes a killer vintage sounding pickup, both precision and jazz pups. Dimarzio makes great 'modern' sounding noisefree pickups. i'm not sure which precision pickup it was by dimarzio, but the one I tried in a Nash was one of the deepest passive sounds I've ever heard. And another option that might be worth exploring are the Hanson pickups, which come stock in Lakland basses. I'm a huge fan of both the precision and jazz pups in those, and I see they make a couple PJ sets.
One thing to keep in mind, depending on your application you might want a noiseless jazz pup since a PJ won't be hum-cancelling when both pickups are set to full (the way a jazz bass would be).
That was a great post by ishouldbeking. I've been on a pj pickup changing binge for the last two months and the only pickups I haven't checked out are the SD's and that's only because of personal mojo going back to the 80's. lol
Others may agree or disagree, but I think the best reason for a pj is to have a bass that has the ability to do both the low midrange sort of old school thing, and the really clean more modern lows.
The reason for this is that, and this is where some may disagree with me, but I believe that because of the difference in both recording and PA technology from years ago, there are more front men with either tenor or bass voice fronting bands then there were 30-40 years ago. You don't hear a Geddy Lee / Chris Squire tone in a band like Pearl Jam because it would crowd into the guitars which would in turn, crowd into the vocals. If you want to be the idiot who keeps folks from being able to hear front men like Eddy Vedder, then treble away! lol
Okay, so what I'm getting at is if you're looking for good advice, what kind of music are you playing right now, and what is the lineup of musicians?
Others may agree or disagree, but I think the best reason for a pj is to have a bass that has the ability to do both the low midrange sort of old school thing, and the really clean more modern lows.
The reason for this is that, and this is where some may disagree with me, but I believe that because of the difference in both recording and PA technology from years ago, there are more front men with either tenor or bass voice fronting bands then there were 30-40 years ago. You don't hear a Geddy Lee / Chris Squire tone in a band like Pearl Jam because it would crowd into the guitars which would in turn, crowd into the vocals. If you want to be the idiot who keeps folks from being able to hear front men like Eddy Vedder, then treble away! lol
Okay, so what I'm getting at is if you're looking for good advice, what kind of music are you playing right now, and what is the lineup of musicians?
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I have a 90's Fender P Bass Special California Series (passive) that I think could sound way better...the single J sounds really thin and the P's aren't that impressive either. Plus something seems not to be right with it...as I increase the J volume, it's almost as if something is going out of phase...I have double and triple checked the wiring of this bass and it is all correct...it just acts weird.
I have a 90's Fender P Bass Special California Series (passive) that I think could sound way better...the single J sounds really thin and the P's aren't that impressive either. Plus something seems not to be right with it...as I increase the J volume, it's almost as if something is going out of phase...I have double and triple checked the wiring of this bass and it is all correct...it just acts weird.
Just a thought: the bass is old, you used to like the tone, and now you don't. ...Maybe it just needs a rewire. Do a copper foil shielding job, replace the jack and the pots, and you might be off to the races.
My 3 suggestions for pickup swaps:
My reference for P-bass, is the pre-CBS vintage tone (I used to own a '64 P-bass). That means fairly open and bright on top, and a little light on the low E. Doesn't sound great solo'd, but sits in a mix beautifully with a touch of EQ.
My fave for the vintage thing, is the OEM Fender pickups in the American '62 Vintage. Bonus: used ones are cheap as spit on fleaBay.
I find Nordy's to be pretty close to the vintage wind, but rounder, and more even on the low end. Like a vintage P-bass that's already been EQ'd. His Jazz pickups are very nice, too.
If the vintage thing doesn't work for you, how about SD Quarter Pounders and a Badass bridge for the classic hot rod tone?
My 3 suggestions for pickup swaps:
My reference for P-bass, is the pre-CBS vintage tone (I used to own a '64 P-bass). That means fairly open and bright on top, and a little light on the low E. Doesn't sound great solo'd, but sits in a mix beautifully with a touch of EQ.
My fave for the vintage thing, is the OEM Fender pickups in the American '62 Vintage. Bonus: used ones are cheap as spit on fleaBay.
I find Nordy's to be pretty close to the vintage wind, but rounder, and more even on the low end. Like a vintage P-bass that's already been EQ'd. His Jazz pickups are very nice, too.
If the vintage thing doesn't work for you, how about SD Quarter Pounders and a Badass bridge for the classic hot rod tone?
I agree with ishouldbeking that you'd want a noiseless J pickup, and so far the DiMarzio Area J has gotten positive reviews for providing noiseless vintage tone. Add a Duncan SPB-1 or Fender Original, and you'd have a good vintage-voiced set for about $120 -- the cost of a single boutique P pickup. If you don't mind spending more, I highly recommend Lindy Fralin's P/J set with the noiseless Split-Jazz at the bridge. I have his P pickup in my P, and the Split-Jazz in my J, and they are phenomenal pickups.
I have a Bartolini CBC J pickup and a Dimarzio Ultra P in my 4 stringer, and they sound very good together. The Bart is very punchy and vintage-update sounding and the Ultra P gets the classic P tone very well, with a little extra highs and low mids than the classic P. I believe I spent less that $150 on both, bu that was a few years ago.
one thing too that i usually recommend folks keep in mind... with a PJ, what you're really getting is a Precision with some added flexibility, as opposed to a precision AND a jazz in one bass. i've seen tons of folks whine and complain that their single bridge jazz pup won't get them true jazz bass tone... and its obvious why. what i've always found to be the best approach is to focus on getting the ideal precision pickup for you, and then to focus on what the bridge pickup can dial in to that precision sound.
My vote would be for Dimarzio PJ set. Plus a Basslines Blackout active 2band eq to replace the passive tone.
