Who Does'nt like DP149's? Why?

[madjazzbass]

O.K. Who out there in Low End Land DOES'NT like the DiMarzio DP149 Ultra Jazz Pickups? & Why? Because after searching for (No, I have'nt tried EVERY jazz Bass pup) for some time, I have'nt found/heard a replacement set that sounds better. So, IF you've tried these pup's but you prefer...?Whatever pups you prefer, Let me know why you prefer them over the DP149 Ultra Jazz pups; what is it about "your" prefered pickup that made you choose THAT particular pickup over the DiMarzios? I REALLY wanna know, because I'd like to try them out for myself; I could be missing out...? Let me know, Thanks

 

[NKBassman]

I had an Ultra Jazz bridge pickup paired up with a Model P in my Frank Bello PJ, but swapped out the UJ for a Model J instead. It blended better with the Model P, and I liked it better on its own too. A little beefier sound, more aggressive, more character, less overly clean sounding. Plus the Model J has adjustable pole pieces, which the Ultra Jazz does not.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

The scoop in the UJs is what polarizes a lot of the opinions on them. For slap or people who like that scooped tone they are great, but a lot of cats might get frustrated trying to cut through the mix with that kind of a scoop built into their pickups. The Model Js in series are definitely a force to be reckoned with...especially if you have an Audere preamp in your jazz bass

 

[eff-clef]

I put them in a nice Jazz standard(Mex) thinking it would improve the sound. The only thing it did well(for me) was make it buzz free. I found it to be too mid shy and the output was kind of mid-low. Another thing was the output of the E and G strings were noticeably louder than the A and D strings. I took them out and put back the stock PUPS, and Viola! There was the Jazz Bass sound(with more even string output) and punchy. I guess the grass is greener....

 

[madjazzbass]

I had an Ultra Jazz bridge pickup paired up with a Model P in my Frank Bello PJ, but swapped out the UJ for a Model J instead. It blended better with the Model P, and I liked it better on its own too. A little beefier sound, more aggressive, more character, less overly clean sounding. Plus the Model J has adjustable pole pieces, which the Ultra Jazz does not.

O.K., I hear you; that's what I wanna hear; Another person that actually heard/played them, and Why they didn't work for them, Thanks.

 

[madjazzbass]

I put them in a nice Jazz standard(Mex) thinking it would improve the sound. The only thing it did well(for me) was make it buzz free. I found it to be too mid shy and the output was kind of mid-low. Another thing was the output of the E and G strings were noticeably louder than the A and D strings. I took them out and put back the stock PUPS, and Viola! There was the Jazz Bass sound(with more even string output) and punchy. I guess the grass is greener....

Hmmmm? I didn't experience ANY of those "issues", Like I said I think they're Awesome, but yeah, I guess the grass is greener, Haaaaaaaa!!

 

[madjazzbass]

The scoop in the UJs is what polarizes a lot of the opinions on them. For slap or people who like that scooped tone they are great, but a lot of cats might get frustrated trying to cut through the mix with that kind of a scoop built into their pickups. The Model Js in series are definitely a force to be reckoned with...especially if you have an Audere preamp in your jazz bass

O.K., I heard that; but does the Model J have good bottom end like the UJ's? That's one of the things that I love about them, AND, I think they have Plenty of "output"/loudness.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

O.K., I heard that; but does the Model J have good bottom end like the UJ's? That's one of the things that I love about them, AND, I think they have Plenty of "output"/loudness.

Wired in series, you get a bigger low and lo-mid bump to the sound. On a 4-string it's very "useable" low end, it's not so low and woofy that your amp struggles, they seem to have balanced it out very well. The adjustable pole pieces also help to even things out if you take the time to adjust them.

I reviewed the Audere Z-mode preamp that I put in my Squier with the Model Js a while back. Since the Z-mode switch changes the impedance of the pickups, low impedance made them sound MASSIVE. I may shoot a video sometime when I'm not afraid of being thrown out of my apartment lol. Model Js have lots of low end and growl when you wire them in series. If you want the best of both worlds, you can always wire them to push/pull pots for series/parallel switching or just use the Audere for even more flexibility. Can you tell I love that Audere? lol

 

[madjazzbass]

Wired in series, you get a bigger low and lo-mid bump to the sound. On a 4-string it's very "useable" low end, it's not so low and woofy that your amp struggles, they seem to have balanced it out very well. The adjustable pole pieces also help to even things out if you take the time to adjust them.

I reviewed the Audere Z-mode preamp that I put in my Squier with the Model Js a while back. Since the Z-mode switch changes the impedance of the pickups, low impedance made them sound MASSIVE. I may shoot a video sometime when I'm not afraid of being thrown out of my apartment lol. Model Js have lots of low end and growl when you wire them in series. If you want the best of both worlds, you can always wire them to push/pull pots for series/parallel switching or just use the Audere for even more flexibility. Can you tell I love that Audere? lol

Yeah, I can tell, Haaaaaaaa!! I figured I'd be getting all kinds of Bassist PRAISING the UJ's cause I do; but I may wanna check out the Model J as well. I DEFINITELY don't wanna lose anything (bottom/growl/warmth) that I have now with the UJ's.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Yeah, I can tell, Haaaaaaaa!! I figured I'd be getting all kinds of Bassist PRAISING the UJ's cause I do; but I may wanna check out the Model J as well. I DEFINITELY don't wanna lose anything (bottom/growl/warmth) that I have now with the UJ's.

Well there's nothing inherently wrong with them, they just have a very particular voicing that might not work in as many situations as a more generic-style jazz pickup. For a funk band with tons of slapping, a Korn cover band, or a solo bass project they would probably fit the bill just fine. In a band situation though (studio and live), if I wanted to get scooped outta the mix I'd just join a death metal band

 

[madjazzbass]

I put them in a nice Jazz standard(Mex) thinking it would improve the sound. The only thing it did well(for me) was make it buzz free. I found it to be too mid shy and the output was kind of mid-low. Another thing was the output of the E and G strings were noticeably louder than the A and D strings. I took them out and put back the stock PUPS, and Viola! There was the Jazz Bass sound(with more even string output) and punchy. I guess the grass is greener....

Wow Dude! You prefer the sound of the stock MIM pickups over the DP149 ULTRA Jazz pups?!! What year is that Bass? Cause ALL of my stock MIM pickups Suck... IMHO anyway, Haaaaaaaa!!

 

[madjazzbass]

Well there's nothing inherently wrong with them, they just have a very particular voicing that might not work in as many situations as a more generic-style jazz pickup. For a funk band with tons of slapping, a Korn cover band, or a solo bass project they would probably fit the bill just fine. In a band situation though (studio and live), if I wanted to get scooped outta the mix I'd just join a death metal band

Haaaaaaaa!!! Funny you should say that; I used to play in a Death Metal Band Years ago and I used my Black Jazz Bass that NOW has the DiMarzio UJ pups in it, but back then I was using it with the stock pups, I thought it sounded great back then... I think it sounds better now though.

 

[madjazzbass]

I had an Ultra Jazz bridge pickup paired up with a Model P in my Frank Bello PJ, but swapped out the UJ for a Model J instead. It blended better with the Model P, and I liked it better on its own too. A little beefier sound, more aggressive, more character, less overly clean sounding. Plus the Model J has adjustable pole pieces, which the Ultra Jazz does not.

You describe the Model J as having a "beefier" sound, being "more aggressive" and having "more character" than the Ultra Jazz's!! WOW! and then you said the UJ's were "overly clean sounding" Hmmmm?? I REALLY have to hear these Model J pups asap!! Thanks for the input/reply.

 

[eff-clef]

Wow Dude! You prefer the sound of the stock MIM pickups over the DP149 ULTRA Jazz pups?!! What year is that Bass? Cause ALL of my stock MIM pickups Suck... IMHO anyway, Haaaaaaaa!!

To continue that story, I wound up trading that bass(plus cash) for a G&L JB-2(Tribute series). To me , it sounds better, and it has a better build quality. In retrospect, I should have gotten the Model J's for my Jazz bass.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I can't say I don't like the Ultra Jazz pickups, as I've never tried a set, but I prefer a mid-heavy pickup. I've spent a lot of time playing a Jazz bass with
Model-J pickups.

IMO the Model-J's have a thicker tone that makes a Jazz Bass sound a bit more "P-Bass", with added definition. They have more output and a bolder, fatter tone compared to stock Jazz pickups.

Pretty much a Rockin' set of pickups in my book, but my guess is the Ultra Jazz set could cop the Geddy-Tone easier than the Model-J set.

I don't think a person looking for the vintage Jazz Bass tone would be very happy with the Model-J's, my guess would be you'll prefer your Ultra Jazz set over them.

 

[madjazzbass]

I can't say I don't like the Ultra Jazz pickups, as I've never tried a set, but I prefer a mid-heavy pickup. I've spent a lot of time playing a Jazz bass with
Model-J pickups.

IMO the Model-J's have a thicker tone that makes a Jazz Bass sound a bit more "P-Bass", with added definition. They have more output and a bolder, fatter tone compared to stock Jazz pickups.

Pretty much a Rockin' set of pickups in my book, but my guess is the Ultra Jazz set could cop the Geddy-Tone easier than the Model-J set.

I don't think a person looking for the vintage Jazz Bass tone would be very happy with the Model-J's, my guess would be you'll prefer your Ultra Jazz set over them.

Hey, I Love the Fender Jazz Bass of course, Hell, I own four of them plus a Squire VM and an SX Vintage series Jazz; But, my question is to ALL other Jazz Bass players is, Who/What known Jazz Bassist HAS that "vintage jazz bass tone"? Is it Jaco? Is it Geddy? It's NOT Marcus, although he has an awesome tone/sound. I honestly don't know what EXACTLY the Vintage Jazz Bass Tone is UNLESS it's that warm, punchy, midrange growl that cuts through without being too "boomy" on the low end and not too "glassy" sounding at the top end; if that's it in a nutshell, then Yes, I guess I am looking for that Vintage Jazz Bass tone.

 

[NKBassman]

You describe the Model J as having a "beefier" sound, being "more aggressive" and having "more character" than the Ultra Jazz's!! WOW! and then you said the UJ's were "overly clean sounding" Hmmmm?? I REALLY have to hear these Model J pups asap!! Thanks for the input/reply.

Remember I only tried the Ultra Jazz bridge pickup, never a set. I also never ever use the bridge-pickup-only sound on my Jazz bass, always both pups or neck only, so that may not have helped matters.

But in my opinion the Ultra Jazz were designed to sound clean and modern. The Model Js were probably some of the earliest Fender replacement pickups for people looking to get "more of everything" out of their jazz bass: hotter output, more mids, more aggressive sound. Note the Area Jazz pickups are their "vintage voice" replacements.

 

[NKBassman]

I should add I also have a set of Model Js in my Geddy Lee Jazz, and I no longer have the Bello PJ I mentioned earlier.

I also use a Model P in my MIM Precision. It is definitely one of my favorite pickups, though I certainly haven't tried them all.

 

[madjazzbass]

I should add I also have a set of Model Js in my Geddy Lee Jazz, and I no longer have the Bello PJ I mentioned earlier.

I also use a Model P in my MIM Precision. It is definitely one of my favorite pickups, though I certainly haven't tried them all.

Yeah, like you and everyone else, I can only judge the sound of the pickups by listening to/playing them. That's why I can stand behind the Ultra Jazz set (my New set just came in the mail today), because I have a set of them and I love the way they make my MIM sound, that's why I didn't hesitate to buy another pair/set. I'm still curious to know what those model J's sound like because according to the DiMarzio website, the Ultra Jazz's specs are rated WAAAY Better than the Model J set. So even though I'm curious about the Model J, I'm not THAT curious, just from looking at the specs of each pickup.

 

[NKBassman]

I'm still curious to know what those model J's sound like because according to the DiMarzio website, the Ultra Jazz's specs are rated WAAAY Better than the Model J set. So even though I'm curious about the Model J, I'm not THAT curious, just from looking at the specs of each pickup.

Define "better".