Third Pickup in Jazz Bass

[Jimbowhit7]

So I have a partscaster jazz bass that I'm considering installing a third pickup in the neck position, as close to the neck as possible to get more low end in my signal. The DiMarzio Model One/Will Power seems to be popular for a lot of good reasons, and I'm also interested in putting a TV Jones Thundertron at the neck, or maybe a Gibson Thunderbird or Ripper pickup. The jazz pickups in the bass are Dimarzio Model Js, they sound good and have fairly hot output so whatever I choose I want to be something that wouldn't be overpowered by then. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Edit: for clarification as far as the tones I'm gunning for, I'm using La Bella flats on this bass so warm, thumpy low end is my focus.

 

[howlin]

Best low end sound I ever heard from a Jazz bass was one with P pickup in the neck position. It didn’t hurt that it was played thru a Macintosh power amp & a Bag End cabinet either. The sound was low, clear & rattled teeth…

 

[Jimbowhit7]

Best low end sound I ever heard from a Jazz bass was one with P pickup in the neck position. It didn’t hurt that it was played thru a Macintosh power amp & a Bag End cabinet either. The sound was low, clear & rattled teeth…

That sounds pretty sweet. So a P-bass pickup right at the neck, plus the two J pickups?

 

[walterw]

I'm considering installing a third pickup in the neck position, as close to the neck as possible to get more low end in my signal.

it won’t really do that

more low end comes from a bigger more powerful amp

a “far neck” pickup is a neat sound, kind of tubby like early beatles or whatever but it’s not the way to get more actual low end

 

[Jimbowhit7]

it won’t really do that

more low end comes from a bigger more powerful amp

a “far neck” pickup is a neat sound, kind of tubby like early beatles or whatever but it’s not the way to get more actual low end

That "tubby" sound is more what I meant. My jazz bass has a more mid-forward sound with the Model J pickups, so I'm looking to add a neck pickup to blend in some of that muddy, "tubby" sound, or to just solo that pickup when I want that sound.

 

[ctmullins]

I am a big fan of three-pickup basses. I’ve built three myself so far, and will likely do another soon!

For a pickup right up at the neck, I like to use a moderate-output single coil (or at least a narrow aperture). The position alone will guarantee plenty of low end, and using a bright pickup will retain enough high end to remain articulate. Using something like a Model One is kinda like covering your ketchup with catsup - ew.

If I were you, I would just add a third Model J. Try it wired in parallel perhaps.

 

[Jimbowhit7]

I am a big fan of three-pickup basses. I’ve built three myself so far, and will likely do another soon!

For a pickup right up at the neck, I like to use a moderate-output single coil (or at least a narrow aperture). The position alone will guarantee plenty of low end, and using a bright pickup will retain enough high end to remain articulate. Using something like a Model One is kinda like covering your ketchup with catsup - ew.

If I were you, I would just add a third Model J. Try it wired in parallel perhaps.

I'll give it some thought - I'm wanting to try a different pickup than a jazz pickups just to have something totally different tonally, but that's definitely not a bad idea. Right now I've just got a lot of ideas swirling around my head. I've listened to clips of a Thundertron in the neck position with tape wounds and it sounded pretty thick, some bassists like Billy Sheehan have used the Model One at the neck with good results, but he also splits his pickup signals like a Ric.

I'm leaning toward a Thundertron or Thunderblade, but I'm still not sure. Whenever I commit and make the mod to my bass I'll be sure to post clips and pictures on this thread.

 

[paskisti]

If I remember correctly Jason Newsted had J P J configuration in one of his Alembics but I don't know which combination he actually used.

 

[iiipopes]

Stu Cook did that with his Precision bass, using a Rickenbacker Toaster pickup.

 

[pbass2]

Man, the Model J is a pretty beefy/bassy J pickup--I used mine just soloing the neck for reggae and dub a ton. But I think for what you're talkin' about a mudbucker up there would be pretty cool. What about a tele bucker?: Fender Telecaster Bass Humbucker pickup 1970's | Reverb

 

[Jimbowhit7]

Man, the Model J is a pretty beefy/bassy J pickup--I used mine just soloing the neck for reggae and dub a ton. But I think for what you're talkin' about a mudbucker up there would be pretty cool. What about a tele bucker?: Fender Telecaster Bass Humbucker pickup 1970's | Reverb

I actually was just looking at Wide Range humbuckers, that's another good idea. Thanks!

 

[darwin-bass]

You'll have more string excursion near the neck. Not sure if that means you'd want a pickup with a wider pickup window so the strings don't move in and out of the window? Something with a full bar magnet or maybe a Wilde J PU with many pole pieces?

 

[walterw]

My jazz bass has a more mid-forward sound with the Model J pickups, so I'm looking to add a neck pickup to blend in some of that muddy, "tubby" sound, or to just solo that pickup when I want that sound.

Then I second what @ctmullins said, your best bet is another model J

that way you can jump to your extra pickup without having to run back and change all your amp settings

 

[skygzr]

I’ve posted this a number of times. It’s got three on/off switches so you can use them in any combination. Neck pickup is nice and warm. Custom pickguard from Pickguardian.

 

[micguy]

Not often
View attachment 4806623

it won’t really do that

more low end comes from a bigger more powerful amp

a “far neck” pickup is a neat sound, kind of tubby like early beatles or whatever but it’s not the way to get more actual low end

Ahem. I have to completely disagree. As you move a pickup towards the neck, a lot of things happen (theres a complicated comb filter there), but by far the most obvious thing that happens is you gain low end.

Now, if you want to do something a bit different, you can use the neck pickup as a "woofer". I have done this, and it works really well - especially on a fretless, but I digress. You put the neck pickup in series with the others, and slap a capacitor (start with a .3 uF or so, and move up or down in value to find what you like) across it - that takes away the mids and highs, and you have now added just low end to your bass. You can use a pot (you'll need a lower value pot, like a 25K audio taper) to shunt the pickup's level, if you want to control how much low end it adds.

 

[paskisti]

I’ve posted this a number of times. It’s got three on/off switches so you can use them in any combination. Neck pickup is nice and warm. Custom pickguard from Pickguardian.

View attachment 4813263

Two knobs are volume and tone? And your pickups are either full or zero and there is nothing between them?

Looks nice and there must be a lot more variation in sound than with standard jazz configuration.

 

[skygzr]

Two knobs are volume and tone? And your pickups are either full or zero and there is nothing between them?

Looks nice and there must be a lot more variation in sound than with standard jazz configuration.

Yes master volume and master tone. I prefer it to the typical VVT.

 

[LHbassist]

Skygzr did it right. Butting a pickup against the neck, won't give you more lows. It'll just be a muddy, deep and tubby sounding pickup- or one that will overdrive an amp- if that's what you want. I have installed third jazz pickups, just like the bass in the pic. It works great on a P-J bass, too. Ask Stu Hamm.
The neck pickup, and the bridge pickup on that Jazz- sound great together. Kinda like a Ripper... or other basses with similar pickup spacing. The neck pickup in that position, is actually usable, too
As far as lows go- a good jazz bass with standard single coils, produces really good, smooth lows already.

 

[lunarpollen]

My choice of pickup for this concept:
H22 Goldfoil

 

[BlueTalon]

My guitar player says this is the best sounding bass he's ever heard, FWIW.