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Time for a rewind? (Jazz Bass Pickups)

Alexis Duntov

Alexis Duntov

Feb 16, 2013
1,442
1,967
Brooklyn, NY
#1
So I have this '74 Jazz bass that I love for it's feel and tone, especially the bridge pickup. But it's thin in the mix and I rarely play it outside of the house because I almost always have trouble hearing myself with this bass either in rehearsal or on gigs. I've tried changing settings on my amp but it just doesn't get me where I need to be sonically. Notwithstanding the nuances of the Jazz bass and how it can be sometimes hard to hear in a mix with a lot of other instruments (and not wanting to get into a P v. J discussion because I'm aware of the differences), I'm wondering whether a rewind of the pickups might mitigate some of the trouble cutting through. Add to that, I just tested a newer Jazz bass at home (2013 MIJ '66 RI) and the output is much stronger. Both basses currently have brand new strings on them. Both set up by me with relatively low action. Do pickups deliver less output over time? Should I first consider having the original pups rewound? I like the tone of the '74 better and I'm wondering whether rewinding the pups will boost the output while more or less maintaining the tone. I know there's a bit of an apples to oranges element to this question because (from what I have read) the 70's pickup spacing can be deliver a "thinner" sound. I've also read that Lindy Fralin can rewind the original pickups to spec for relatively cheap. So I'm wondering if that is the first place to start. Thanks.
 
#4
There's a world of possibilities in saving those pickups, (to keep the 1974 value), possibly even the pots and wiring as intact as possible, and putting in a new setup, without damaging the bass in any way, there's so many really good J pickups available, parts for the whole control section are around $20 new (for good stuff), and decent new pickups from about $130 on up a set..just a thought.
 
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#5
Growlmonkee said:
There's a world of possibilities in saving those pickups, (to keep the 1974 value), possibly even the pots and wiring as intact as possible, and putting in a new setup, without damaging the bass in any way, there's so many really good J pickups available, parts for the whole control section are around $20 new (for good stuff), and decent new pickups from about $130 on up a set..just a thought.
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Ah you know I didn't realize that rewinding the pickups could leave them in a less than "intact" way. So maybe the best bet is to just drop in a new set. As for the "1974 value" this bass has already been refinished, which is why I was able to afford it.
 
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#6
Growlmonkee said:
There's a world of possibilities in saving those pickups, (to keep the 1974 value), possibly even the pots and wiring as intact as possible, and putting in a new setup, without damaging the bass in any way, there's so many really good J pickups available, parts for the whole control section are around $20 new (for good stuff), and decent new pickups from about $130 on up a set..just a thought.
Click to expand...
I would also suggest this, for the simpler reason, that it is totally reversible.
What if you get the pickup re-wound and realize that you liked it better before???? The only reason to rewind a vintage pickup is if the wire is broken and it's DOA.
Buy new pick-ups and put the originals in a box on a shelf for safe-keeping.
You can probably even switch the covers so the new pickups look original.
 
#7
MVE said:
I would also suggest this, for the simpler reason, that it is totally reversible.
What if you get the pickup re-wound and realize that you liked it better before???? The only reason to rewind a vintage pickup is if the wire is broken and it's DOA.
Buy new pick-ups and put the originals in a box on a shelf for safe-keeping.
You can probably even switch the covers so the new pickups look original.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. I was under the impression that rewinding pickups somehow restored them to what they sounded like when they were new. Seems like new pickups are the way to go. Any you like in particular? I had a set of Aguilar hum-canceling ones once but didn't love the tone.
 
#8
Alexis Duntov said:
Makes sense. I was under the impression that rewinding pickups somehow restored them to what they sounded like when they were new. Seems like new pickups are the way to go. Any you like in particular? I had a set of Aguilar hum-canceling ones once but didn't love the tone.
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I've got SD antiquity IIs in my fretless J and have no complaints about the tone. Though they are true single coils and are noisy, but no more so than the stock pups in your 70's Jazz.
I have read the Fender CS pups are great and a little less money.
My PJ has Bart's, and that bridge pup is great for the MM scooped tone.
It all depends on what you are going after really.
But if you didn't like the Aguilar hum cancelling pups, you should probably man up and stick to true single coils.

Edit: that was a joke btw. I don't really think that hum cancelling jazz pickups are somehow less manly. ;)
 

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