Needing Recommendations for Bass/Mid heavy Jazz Pickups.

TjMetalhead

TjMetalhead

Oct 19, 2011
686
829
4,571
New Mexico
#1
I've recently purchased a Squier 60's vibe jazz bass (the black one with the tort pickguard) about a month ago. I like the feel of it but I've played it enough that I'm not digging most of the stock hardware and electronics. The stock pickups are nice and all but I'm looking for pups that are warmer, more mid-range, and have more bottom end. Any good recommendations? I've pondered on getting either a set of Seymour Duncan SJB-2's or a set of Bartolini 9SU L/S. I also play with a set of Rotosound 66's so there's quite a bit of top-end growl that I'm already working with. Let me know what you guys think.
 
#2
Do NOT buy new pickups, simply wire the ones you have in series:

>> series wiring with independent volume controls <<
jazzbassserieswiringdiagram-jpg.1983045

BTW, this will only work well for more lows if you generally use both pickups turned up most of the way.
If you want back the highs, you just roll back the volume on the neck pickup.
 
#3
I like the series wiring, but it doesn't work well if you solo either of the pickups regularly. The SJB-2s are a good choice for mids, but keep in mind, those mids come from overwinding the pickups, so the feel changes. A 3 band active preamp is another way to get your mids back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yahboy
#5
I tend to solo the neck or bridge pickup whenever necessary, especially the bridge for needed clarity. Idk if wiring in series will do what I need. I also don't want to put the labor into rewiring the pots, I'm not very good at soldering. I would like to stay in the passive realm so I'll give the Seymour Duncan SJB2 a go.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zoobiedood
#6
TjMetalhead said:
I tend to solo the neck or bridge pickup whenever necessary, especially the bridge for needed clarity. Idk if wiring in series will do what I need. I also don't want to put the labor into rewiring the pots, I'm not very good at soldering. I would like to stay in the passive realm so I'll give the Seymour Duncan SJB2 a go.
Click to expand...

I've used a lot of different Fender Jazz pickups (Pure Vintage, CS, whatever is in a '64 AVRI, Lindy Frailin hum-cancelling, and Di Marzio Ultra Jazz (in a Nash Jazz relic).

Must say the CS and DiMarzio are the best sounding to me, and I really like the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz set the best. They were all fine though, and I thought the pickups that came in the Fender Roadworn I have sounded a lot like the actual beat up Jazzes I played back in the late '60s, lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jallenbass
#7
The DiMarzio Model J pair does what the OP describes in spades. These exact reasons, including being relatively inexpensive, especially compared to "boutique" pickups, is why I went back to them for the J-bass I play in my heavier band, having played them in various basses since they were a new pickup, and my first set in 1981 had "Patent Applied For" stickers on them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lackey, Inara and TjMetalhead
#10
All the choices mentioned above will probably be better than the stock Squire pups. I've tried most of them but I recently started using Nordstrand J Blades Warm and Wooly. And they are just that. More low mids and a little more output. Combine them with a series/parallel switch and you get the best of all worlds. There are plenty of wiring diagrams online but if your not comfortable doing it yourself, get a pre-wired set like the one from Starr Guitars.
B.
 
Last edited:
#11
I have the Model J set in my Warwick Corvette Fretless. They're thick and fat, but still super clear. The tone knob is useful all the way down to 0, along with all positions on the blend knob. Super aggressive harmonics, too.

Not yet mentioned, having adjustable pole pieces is pretty sweet, as well. I didn't think the stock MEC pickups sounded unbalanced from string to string, but you can really get it perfect with the Model Js. I'm going to swap my volume and tone knob for push/pulls to switch each pickup between series and parallel at some point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back