Upgrading 2002 Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass

[The Gear Guru]

Just looking for some opinions about upgrading a 2002 Fender American Deluxe Active Jazz bass. I love the feel of this bass and its nice and lightweight, but i'm wondering if it could sound better with different pickups and a new onboard preamp. The current pickups are 2 Dual-Coil Ceramic Noiseless Jazz Bass Pickups with Nickel Plated Pole Pieces. I was thinking about some Aguilar pickups, more specifically the AG 4J Humcancelling pickups. I've also played and like Fralin pickups... For the preamp I was thinking of adding a Sadowsky on board preamp. Just wondering if these would be significant upgrades/worth it and if anyone has any experience with a similar Fender and/or these upgrades. Thanks!

 

[LoveThatBass]

Nice bass!
I have a set of those Aguilar pickups and love them. Sound good and dead quiet.
Fender does not use the best pre-amps so that may be viable option to replace it. I personally use the Aguilar's passively but have no doubt the would sound great active also.

 

[Slater]

If you can spend the money on the Fralins, they're the tops IMO.

 

[JazzbassArt]

Just looking for some opinions about upgrading a 2002 Fender American Deluxe Active Jazz bass. I love the feel of this bass and its nice and lightweight, but i'm wondering if it could sound better with different pickups and a new onboard preamp. The current pickups are 2 Dual-Coil Ceramic Noiseless Jazz Bass Pickups with Nickel Plated Pole Pieces. I was thinking about some Aguilar pickups, more specifically the AG 4J Humcancelling pickups. I've also played and like Fralin pickups... For the preamp I was thinking of adding a Sadowsky on board preamp. Just wondering if these would be significant upgrades/worth it and if anyone has any experience with a similar Fender and/or these upgrades. Thanks!

I have a 2004 model, that came with SCN's which I liked, but one became microphonic. I decided to try Super 55's, and man, do I like them. Dead quite, and they can be aggressive or round sounding depending on how you blend them. Blend towards the bridge and it snarls! Solo the neck and it's old school tone. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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[The Gear Guru]

Thanks!
I ended up getting a Sadowsky On-Board Pre Amp and a pair of Lindy Fralin's Split Jazz Bass Humcancelling Pick Ups. I'm just waiting to have the Installation work done until I get my P bass back from another luthier who's doing some work on it. Looking forward to getting the J going with these additions! I appreciate the responses!