Uneven low-end output with bridge/neck pickups?; Help!

[starbelly]

Hi all,

I just got a 2011 MIM Fender Jazz bass with a set of DiMarzio Model Js in the bridge and neck (I did not install them). I have begun to notice that there is a notable difference in output between the two pickups. Although I think they're matched in terms of literal output, the neck pickup "feels" louder because I'm getting considerably more low-end response. Interestingly enough, the bridge pickup is placed significantly higher (closer to the strings) than the neck pickup, so I would have initially expected more output form the bridge pickup. My questions are as follows:

-Is this normal? After playing guitars for many years, I know neck pickups tend to be quite a bit warmer than bridge pickups. It's just much more obvious with a bass (perhaps the tonal variety is a good thing?).

-If this is *not* normal, what is the best way to remedy this?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Will_White]

Hi all,

I just got a 2011 MIM Fender Jazz bass with a set of DiMarzio Model Js in the bridge and neck (I did not install them). I have begun to notice that there is a notable difference in output between the two pickups. Although I think they're matched in terms of literal output, the neck pickup "feels" louder because I'm getting considerably more low-end response. Interestingly enough, the bridge pickup is placed significantly higher (closer to the strings) than the neck pickup, so I would have initially expected more output form the bridge pickup. My questions are as follows:

-Is this normal? After playing guitars for many years, I know neck pickups tend to be quite a bit warmer than bridge pickups. It's just much more obvious with a bass (perhaps the tonal variety is a good thing?).

-If this is *not* normal, what is the best way to remedy this?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

That's normal the closer you get to the bridge the more harmonic content and less fundamental you get and there is less vibration so the output is lower, the closer you move to the neck there's more vibration, and more fundamental with the exception of playing high up on the neck were a pickup next to the fretboard could be closer to the endpoint of the string and be brighter then the bridge.

 

[starbelly]

That's normal the closer you get to the bridge the more harmonic content and less fundamental you get and there is less vibration so the output is lower, the closer you move to the neck there's more vibration, and more fundamental with the exception of playing high up on the neck were a pickup next to the fretboard could be closer to the endpoint of the string and be brighter then the bridge.

Perfect! Ph the joys of just starting to play bass, haha.

 

[honeyiscool]

Completely normal and much like guitarists sometimes prefer a much hotter bridge pickup, some players like to have a juiced up bridge pickup for bass as well, so as to overcome some of those issues. An Ultra J at the bridge, for instance, can really do wonders.

 

[starbelly]

Completely normal and much like guitarists sometimes prefer a much hotter bridge pickup, some players like to have a juiced up bridge pickup for bass as well, so as to overcome some of those issues. An Ultra J at the bridge, for instance, can really do wonders.

I see. In this case, it's the neck that seems hotter (at least much bassier).

 

[honeyiscool]

That's what I'm talking about. The same pickup is always louder in the neck. Most classic instruments of the past, like the Les Paul, Strat, or Jazz Bass originally came with the exact same pickup in all positions. These days it's normal for guitarists to use a hotter bridge pickup so that the pickup outputs are more balanced. For some reason, bassists haven't converted that way. I don't know why.

 

[starbelly]

That's what I'm talking about. The same pickup is always louder in the neck. Most classic instruments of the past, like the Les Paul, Strat, or Jazz Bass originally came with the exact same pickup in all positions. These days it's normal for guitarists to use a hotter bridge pickup so that the pickup outputs are more balanced. For some reason, bassists haven't converted that way. I don't know why.

Oh ok, that makes more sense. Initially, I was wanting to get a SD Quarter Pounder, but that would not play well with the DiMarzio J.