Pickup Change: Yosemite PJ Pickup Set vs Pure Vintage/Custom Shop

chambraypapi

chambraypapi

Nov 7, 2023
28
100
416
Las Vegas
#1
Hey all,

I've become more and more unhappy with the EMG GZR pups in my MIM PJ bass. Nothing against the performance of the GZRs, I just want a different sound. The GZRs seem like their output is too high and can sound a little thin, and I want more of that warm vintage p-bass tone.

If I did a swap with the Yosemite PJ Pickup Set, it seems like it would be the easiest option since it's a PJ for a PJ, but would I be better of opting for a set of the Pure Vintage 62 or Custom Shop 62s, and re-installing my stock noiseless J pickup? I almost never use my J pickup, so I'd be happier having that money go entirely to the P sound.

Would there be any issue mixing those P pickups with my old J pickup? I'd also be using that opportunity to properly shield my cavity.
 
#2
Don't know about Yosemites in a PJ arrangement, but I retrofitted a Squier Jazz with a pair of J Yosemites.

Output wise, they're a bit warm, and if I had to describe the tone, it's a moderately high output modern tone, reminiscent of EMG or Bartolini instead of a thumpier, old school tone.

I would be sure to buy whatever you get as you did with the Geezers: A matched set. With these the output of the J has been selected to keep up with the P pickup. Often just buying a P and a J at random often winds up with the J at a big disadvantage gain-wise to the P. Mixing with original J may be rolling the dice.

In the Geezers, EMG wisely chose to make the J pickup a stacked humbucker to keep up with the P pickups output wise, no problem blending the two. This is why I always urge buying PJ sets, they already did the homework for you.
 
#4
I am the one who don't like GZR PJ sound ! Solo P are ok, but when they blend together, meh sound and quacky-thin .

If you prefer more traditional PJ voice, hightly recommend Fralin std P + +10% split J.

If you play in loud rock band with aggressive pick , Dimarzio DP126PJ set.

If you sure you want the Fender CS62 P pup, can't go wrong with Dimarzio Ultra J bridge pup match ! The slap tone so nice.

If you want middle of the road, traditional P , modern soapar pickups blend tone (slightly right turn to neck pup from pot center detent ), growl and snappy fully blend tone and massive Jaco sound. Try mine PJ setup.....

11k-12k Alnico V P pup + Model J bridge pup with V/B/T control. Yosemite P pup are 12K, you can try it with Model J if P pup sound ok to you.

PJ VBTno ground blend.jpg


I setup mine with V/B without the tone control along with 500K volume / MN250K blend pot. EB Coblat flat loaded.

Hope help
 
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#5
I highly recommend the Fender Pure Vintage 63 precision pickup paired with the the Pure Vintage 64 Jazz Bridge. It is what is in my 2014 hot rod 60's p bass and they are amazing pickups. One of the few P/J sets where I really liked the blended tone. They mix really well together.
 
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#6
Both the PV62 (assuming it's the same as the "Original 62") and the CS62 are thinner sounding than the GZR to my ears. I'm not sure you would be happy with either.

The GZR is actually leaning towards a warm/fat/overwound tone IMO. Are you sure it's not the behavior of the tone control you're unhappy with, rather than the GZR pickup itself? For some reason EMG use a .022 uF tone cap with the solderless kit. With a .022 uF tone cap you will never be able to roll off the tone to a classic, fat/warm, vintage P-bass tone.

Of course this won't matter if you don't roll off the tone or if you didn't use the solderless kit. But if you DO roll off the tone, and you DID use the solderless kit and you think the GZR sounds too thin... My advice would be to rip out the rubbish solderless kit and re-wire the GZR with a .047 uF or higher tone cap, depending on taste. The GZR is a great sounding pickup that's (IMO) ruined by EMGs stupid decision to use a .022 uF tone cap with the solderless kit. That's a VERY poor choice for a pickup that's heavily marketed as "vintage".

If you still want a new pickup, maybe the PV63? That one is FAR too dark sounding and bloated in the lows for MY taste but if you want a considerably darker/warmer than average sounding P-bass pickup you might like it. Lots of people do, I'm just not one of them.;)
 
#7
chambraypapi said:
Hey all,

I've become more and more unhappy with the EMG GZR pups in my MIM PJ bass. Nothing against the performance of the GZRs, I just want a different sound. The GZRs seem like their output is too high and can sound a little thin, and I want more of that warm vintage p-bass tone.

If I did a swap with the Yosemite PJ Pickup Set, it seems like it would be the easiest option since it's a PJ for a PJ, but would I be better of opting for a set of the Pure Vintage 62 or Custom Shop 62s, and re-installing my stock noiseless J pickup? I almost never use my J pickup, so I'd be happier having that money go entirely to the P sound.

Would there be any issue mixing those P pickups with my old J pickup? I'd also be using that opportunity to properly shield my cavity.
Click to expand...
If you've got a Geezer in there right now, and you don't like it, you aren't going to like any fender split. And, the Yosemite pickups suck anyway.

Check out the Bartolini original P. That one is more what you're describing. A vintage Split is very mid heavy. That's why it sounds thin to you.
 
#8
JeezyMcNuggles said:
If you've got a Geezer in there right now, and you don't like it, you aren't going to like any fender split. And, the Yosemite pickups suck anyway.

Check out the Bartolini original P. That one is more what you're describing. A vintage Split is very mid heavy. That's why it sounds thin to you.
Click to expand...

But he wants a warm vintage tone. Bartolinis are way overpriced IMO.

The original 62 can be very warm or fairly aggressive (there are better pickups for aggressive, though), depending on where and how you plug the strings and where you set the tone pot.
 
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#9
JeezyMcNuggles said:
If you've got a Geezer in there right now, and you don't like it, you aren't going to like any fender split. And, the Yosemite pickups suck anyway.

Check out the Bartolini original P. That one is more what you're describing. A vintage Split is very mid heavy. That's why it sounds thin to you.
Click to expand...

"Suck" is not the same as "I dont like".

I, amongst many others, like the pickups. Yosemites are good to go in my book. If you want more or less mids, there is at least one nob on the amp that can be moved to gain the desired tone.

Free advice. You are welcome.
 
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#10
Minimalist said:
But he wants a warm vintage tone. Bartolinis are way overpriced IMO.

The original 62 can be very warm or fairly aggressive (there are better pickups for aggressive, though), depending on where and how you plug the strings and where you set the tone pot.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with what you're saying but the Original 62 is actually slightly thinner/more aggressive sounding than the GZR. So although I personally love the Original it's probably not the right choice for the OP.

Like I said before, the GZR may come across as somewhat thin/bright sounding when rolling off the tone, but that's because of the .022 uF tone cap in the solderless kit. The pickup itself isn't unusually thin/bright sounding at all. In fact, I would say it's leaning slightly towards a warm/overwound P-bass tone but still well within the "vintage voiced" spectrum. Good pickup, strange choice of tone cap. The GZR will NAIL the "rolled off" vintage P-bass tone when used with a higher value tone cap.
 
#11
For a fatter, warmer tone with plenty of growl, I'd recommend Pure Vintage 60 P pickup. I installed one in a Squier P, and it turned it into a tone monster.
 
#13
Minimalist said:
But he wants a warm vintage tone. Bartolinis are way overpriced IMO.

The original 62 can be very warm or fairly aggressive (there are better pickups for aggressive, though), depending on where and how you plug the strings and where you set the tone pot.
Click to expand...
A "vintage" voiced split is what he has already. He doesn't like it. If he spends twice the money on a fender CS, he'll get the same tone, with less output. He doesn't like the tone. He wants a warm, smooth tone, with less output. One that has less mids, so it sounds thicker.
 
#14
chambraypapi said:
Hey all,

I've become more and more unhappy with the EMG GZR pups in my MIM PJ bass. Nothing against the performance of the GZRs, I just want a different sound. The GZRs seem like their output is too high and can sound a little thin, and I want more of that warm vintage p-bass tone.

If I did a swap with the Yosemite PJ Pickup Set, it seems like it would be the easiest option since it's a PJ for a PJ, but would I be better of opting for a set of the Pure Vintage 62 or Custom Shop 62s, and re-installing my stock noiseless J pickup? I almost never use my J pickup, so I'd be happier having that money go entirely to the P sound.

Would there be any issue mixing those P pickups with my old J pickup? I'd also be using that opportunity to properly shield my cavity.
Click to expand...

I live in a cave. What are Yosemite PUs?
 
#15
JeezyMcNuggles said:
A "vintage" voiced split is what he has already. He doesn't like it. If he spends twice the money on a fender CS, he'll get the same tone, with less output. He doesn't like the tone. He wants a warm, smooth tone, with less output. One that has less mids, so it sounds thicker.
Click to expand...

If the GZR (I admit, I don't know them) and the Original 62 are similar, and you cannot get a warm, full vintage sound out of those, your problem is not the pickup.
 
#16
Thanks for the replies, all, before I rip the EMGs out, I'm going to try another amp just to check. I primarily use a Rumble 100, and the mids always feel overpowering to me (for ex: playing an A or B on the E string feels like someone punching me in the ear). I hear the 100 has some problems with too much output, so I'm checking if that might be the cause first.

I want that low, warm, motown tone, and I don't feel like I'm getting that with my current setup. I'm still fairly new to bass, so I hope I'm explaining everything correctly!
 
#18
I’m not sure what the *right* pickup combo is, but I had a Limited Edition “Magnificent 7” American Standard PJ a while back, which had a CS62 split coil and a CS60s J. The CS60s J pickup was much lower output, so I can’t really recommend it - using it in a mix was a good way to bury yourself.

One of my current heavy rotation basses is a Charvel Pro Mod San Dimas PJ V, with a Charvel split coil and a Dimarzio J - not sure which model of J, but you can google it - very nicely balanced output.
 
#19
chambraypapi said:
Thanks for the replies, all, before I rip the EMGs out, I'm going to try another amp just to check. I primarily use a Rumble 100, and the mids always feel overpowering to me (for ex: playing an A or B on the E string feels like someone punching me in the ear). I hear the 100 has some problems with too much output, so I'm checking if that might be the cause first.

I want that low, warm, motown tone, and I don't feel like I'm getting that with my current setup. I'm still fairly new to bass, so I hope I'm explaining everything correctly!
Click to expand...
Bartolini original P. For sures
 
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