Split Coil Jazz Bass Opinions appreciated

UmamiBass

UmamiBass

Apr 14, 2014
195
195
4,836
Columbus, OH
#1
Hey all,

I know there are a lot of jazz bass threads out there asking for this and that, but I was hoping some of you might have some experience with a few pickups specifically?

I just bought a Fender Custom Shop Custom Classic Jazz Bass 4 string. It has the stock vintage noiseless pickups and a Pensa preamp in it from the last owner. The pickups actually sound pretty good with the Pensa preamp. I've not liked these in the past, but they're cutting it for right now.

I'm pretty addicted to modding my instruments though, and have generally used Nordstrand pickups and preamps in the past, but was thinking about trying some new options. I'm still not sure what direction I want to go with the preamp on this bass eventually, but I'd love some feedback on different noiseless pickups out there.

I've tried to do my research on Talkbass on these, but haven't been able to find much. The pickups I'm considering at the Lindy Fralin split jazz, Duncan Apollo Jazz Bass pickups, Aero splits, EMG JV52, and Curtis Novak splits. Do any of you have experience with any of these? I've tried both Nordstrand splits in past builds, and am not interested in DiMarzios at this time. Thank you all!!
 
#2
If you want a somewhat raw, classic J-bass tone, IMO the Fralins are outstanding. I've been using them since 2005 in a passive Fender, and they've always sounded great, whether live or recording. I've used three other noiseless J-bass sets -- Bardens (five-string), DiMarzio Area J, and Nordstrand NJ5FS -- and to me the Fralins sound the most like true single coils, and are my favorites of the bunch. The DiMarzios are surprisingly close though, and the Bardens are different beasts that do their thing quite well.

I also have a set of Lace Man O' War, which are true single coils that use Lace's Sensor shielding technology for very low noise. They're awesome, with thicker tone than most J-bass pickups, and less high end "sparkle." They make my G&L JB sit in a band mix almost like a P-bass, and are totally old school even though they aren't classic J. Last year I played in a power trio cover band, and the other players LOVED the tone of these pickups.
 
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#3
Only have experience with Dimarzio Ultra J in my previous 2007 MIM Jazz.
Lot ppl claim this pup sound scoop, but i been use the MID-rangy DR LoRider Stainless round with it and really enjoy the tone. If prefer more warmer tone , DR Nickel Lorider and Elixir Nanoweb Nickel is great match too.
 
#5
I have experience with the Apollo Jazz, and to me, they are the best at quiet, classic Jazz bass tones.
 
#6
Nedmundo said:
If you want a somewhat raw, classic J-bass tone, IMO the Fralins are outstanding. I've been using them since 2005 in a passive Fender, and they've always sounded great, whether live or recording. I've used three other noiseless J-bass sets -- Bardens (five-string), DiMarzio Area J, and Nordstrand NJ5FS -- and to me the Fralins sound the most like true single coils, and are my favorites of the bunch. The DiMarzios are surprisingly close though, and the Bardens are different beasts that do their thing quite well.

I also have a set of Lace Man O' War, which are true single coils that use Lace's Sensor shielding technology for very low noise. They're awesome, with thicker tone than most J-bass pickups, and less high end "sparkle." They make my G&L JB sit in a band mix almost like a P-bass, and are totally old school even though they aren't classic J. Last year I played in a power trio cover band, and the other players LOVED the tone of these pickups.
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Thanks so much for the response! I have some Fralin single coils I'm going to put in there to test that used to be in a Mike Lull I own. I'll see if that gets me kinda close and think about ordering those.

Did you find them really tamed compared to real singles? I've only really played Nordstrand pickups of this type, and while they don't sound quite as open, the slight roll of of the highs was not a problem due to the lower impedance of the signal with a preamp, which gives you some high end back.

I tried the Fralin splits in NYC in one of the basses at Rudy's music, and thought they sounded good. A lot of people say Fralins don't have a tight bottom end. Thoughts?
 
#7
Zoobiedood said:
I have experience with the Apollo Jazz, and to me, they are the best at quiet, classic Jazz bass tones.
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Thanks a lot for the response! Do you feel like these pickups sound compressed or really tamed compared to any single coils you have had experience with? I've not played Duncan jazz bass pickups besides some quarter ppounders a long time ago. I've liked the antiquities though, from demos I've heard. Anything you might compare these to? Their online demo has pretty much a grindy rock bass tone played on a Squire. I wasn't a huge fan from that video alone, because I like a tone that's more vintage meets modern. Thoughts?
 
#8
I don't think the Fralin splits are compressed. They might lose a little of that single coil "bark," but they're very close IMO. Splits generally lose some high end "air" or "sparkle," but I don't think the Fralins lose much relative to singles, and I roll off the treble a bit anyway. Plus, you're right that an active system would give some of that back.

I do understand why people say Fralins have a "loose" bottom end. It's more growly than tight and smooth, and I love it. At high volumes, they sound amazing. I'd say the Nordstrands I used had tighter lows, and a more modern treble voicing. They also sounded great at high volume, but I preferred the Fralins.
 
#9
UmamiBass said:
Thanks a lot for the response! Do you feel like these pickups sound compressed or really tamed compared to any single coils you have had experience with? I've not played Duncan jazz bass pickups besides some quarter ppounders a long time ago. I've liked the antiquities though, from demos I've heard. Anything you might compare these to? Their online demo has pretty much a grindy rock bass tone played on a Squire. I wasn't a huge fan from that video alone, because I like a tone that's more vintage meets modern. Thoughts?
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To my ears, the Apollos are certainly more vintage than modern. The only thing modern about them to my ears, is that they are quiet, so if you want to put them through any overdrive, they won't amplify any noise. They might have a *hint* of more mids than a vintage pickup, but nothing like, say the Quarter Pounds.
 
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#13
Thread revival: so what pickups did you end up trying? How did they work out? I’ve been thinking of trying split coils in a jazz to see how close to a P I can get. Although I own a P, I’m tempted to sell it if I can get split coils that will get me close to that midrange P sound. Or I could just try wiring my single coils in series. Any thougts on what would get closer?
 
#14
I am not aware of any split J pickups that can get close to a P sound. You can certainly get a thicker sound with the coils in series, which is sort of closer, but still not exactly right.
 
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#16
Nedmundo said:
I don't think the Fralin splits are compressed. They might lose a little of that single coil "bark," but they're very close IMO. Splits generally lose some high end "air" or "sparkle," but I don't think the Fralins lose much relative to singles, and I roll off the treble a bit anyway. Plus, you're right that an active system would give some of that back.

I do understand why people say Fralins have a "loose" bottom end. It's more growly than tight and smooth, and I love it. At high volumes, they sound amazing. I'd say the Nordstrands I used had tighter lows, and a more modern treble voicing. They also sounded great at high volume, but I preferred the Fralins.
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Back from the dead.

I've been using standard wound single coil Fralin pups in my jazz bass for years. I love their sound but I tend to roll down my bridge pickup to points between 50% to 0, causing humming noises that annoy.

I've been weighing switching to Fralin split coil jazz pups. I've been hoping to find/hear a good demo video or recording comparing the single's vs the splits but I've not found what I'm looking for.

Fralin's site says standard wind for 60s vintage tone while the tonal bar graph they use to show high, mid, low and output levels indicates slightly -0.5 highs, +0.5 mids and +0.5 output; more like their precision pups.

That makes me wonder whether Fralin's split jazz pups with -5% wind might sound a little closer to their single coils with standard wind.

I just want the sound I have now without the extra noise. I know, I know... people in hell want ice water.


++++ for jazz basses, Fralin, Bowie and Entwistle.

I recently discovered retired D.A.M. Trio bass player George Murray lives nearby--pretty far out.
 
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