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Best pickups to give a Jazz more presence/authority?


Clarky
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I posted a thread about using a Sansamp to make my Jazz sound more like a Precision - or more precisely to have the capabilities of sounding like a Precision [i]as well as[/i] a Jazz [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=120757&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=120757&hl=[/url]

One reply suggested swapping out the pickups for Dimarzio Model J's which got me thinking. Which passive (I don't want active) pickup gives a Jazz the most Precision-like authority in a (rock band) live setting, based on your experience, while still being able to sound like a Jazz if needed? Dimarzio Model J or Ultrajazz, Wizard Hammer, S-D Quarter Pounder or otehr (Nordstarnd, Kent Armstrong etc)? And why not have a poll since we all love a good poll? :)

Please don't suggest buying a Precision bass or putting a Precision pick-up in my Jazz! Only interested in Jazz pickup choices :)

Edited by Clarky
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I've got a set of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz in my main Jazz Bass and really like them.They sound really good and are dead quiet with them being a split humbucker. They're a bargain aswell.
I also hooked up a series/parallel switch which gives a more Precision-y kind of tone when in series.

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Jazz pickups are in the wrong place for an exact Precision sound, but Lindy Fralin is supposed to be a great vintage Jazz pickup for that pre-CBS tone.

For punk I'd just get a £60 P bass copy and then you can wave it around your head a few times when you get excited without worrying about the depreciation!

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[quote name='chris_b' post='1109512' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:43 PM']For punk I'd just get a £60 P bass copy and then you can wave it around your head a few times when you get excited without worrying about the depreciation![/quote]

A P copy for sixty quid!?! Really? Where on earth could one get such a thing? :)

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[quote name='Clarky' post='1109457' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:05 PM']Please don't suggest buying a Precision bass or putting a Precision pick-up in my Jazz![/quote]
OK - I won't. :)

FWIW, I've got Fralin split-coils in my J, and it's a growly so-and-so when I solo the neck pup.

It doesn't nail the P tone, but that's no surprise.

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As seems to be my role in your life mate, I'm not going to be much help with my advice here! You need a P/J Clarky, seriously, you'll never get a pure P-tone from a J-PUP. The Audere preamp gets close, but never close enough for me. Have you thought about getting your hands on Jesso's stunning JPJ (you might notice your name mentioned in that thread a few days back)? I'm very tempted myself but you know my current situation!

Cheers

C

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[quote name='Clarky' post='1109457' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:05 PM']Please don't suggest buying a Precision bass or putting a Precision pick-up in my Jazz! Only interested in Jazz pickup choices :)[/quote]

Oops, should have read that first, although technically I didn't suggest either of those bass options :)

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There is a major issue here that perhaps I should have mentioned earlier, Chris. Mrs Clarky

She likes my seafoam green Bacchus Jazz more than any bass I have ever owned (and there's been loads!) because of the colour. She has even given it a name which I will not use ("Minty"). I am banned from selling it ever and thus I want to get the most out of it!

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Lindy fralins £274 a set :) Yowza [url="http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=898&category_id=265&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=38"]http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/in...t&Itemid=38[/url]

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[quote name='Clarky' post='1109751' date='Jan 31 2011, 05:36 PM']Lindy fralins £274 a set :) Yowza [url="http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=898&category_id=265&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=38"]http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/in...t&Itemid=38[/url][/quote]
Zoiks! I sniped mine for 70 quid off eBay...

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[quote name='Clarky' post='1109721' date='Jan 31 2011, 05:12 PM']There is a major issue here that perhaps I should have mentioned earlier, Chris. Mrs Clarky

She likes my seafoam green Bacchus Jazz more than any bass I have ever owned (and there's been loads!) because of the colour. She has even given it a name which I will not use ("Minty"). I am banned from selling it ever and thus I want to get the most out of it![/quote]

LOL, fair point ate :)

[quote name='Clarky' post='1109751' date='Jan 31 2011, 05:36 PM']Lindy fralins £274 a set :) Yowza [url="http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=898&category_id=265&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=38"]http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/in...t&Itemid=38[/url][/quote]

They're great PUPs, but if you do buy them you won't know whether they're definitely better on the bass in question until you've installed them mate. I think an Audere and possibly a Sansamp or similar might be a safer and more versatile option?

C

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[quote]I also hooked up a series/parallel switch which gives a more Precision-y kind of tone when in series.[/quote]

+1

I dont know of any J pup that really nails a P sound. Different pup position (J is 2cm closer to neck than a P) and dual coil/series construction of P are big factors. On the other hand, a series switch adds a lot of grunt and IMO will get you close.

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Hey Clarky,

What about the Lace Sensor Aluma-J brutes:
[url="http://www.lacemusic.com/electric_pickups/bass/bass_specs.php"]http://www.lacemusic.com/electric_pickups/.../bass_specs.php[/url]

I reckon a pair of those in black would be a force to be reckoned with! Mad pickup technology too...

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Hi Clarky

Re the Seyour Duncan QPs - I`ve had them before in Precisions, and whilst they are very powerful, they "de-Fender" the sound quite a lot. So if you want to retain the Fender sound, these probably won`t do what yr after.

I did put a Seymour Duncan Hot Stack in the bridge of my old Aerodyne bass, and it did beef up the sound considerably (and stopped the hum). It also kept the same sound as the original J-pickup, just more of it, in depth.

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[quote name='chris_b' post='1109512' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:43 PM']Jazz pickups are in the wrong place for an exact Precision sound, but Lindy Fralin is supposed to be a great vintage Jazz pickup for that pre-CBS tone.[/quote]


This.... so you will have to accept that a close cigar is as good as you can expect.
I'd talk to Armstrong or Wizard.

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[quote name='JTUK' post='1109995' date='Jan 31 2011, 08:07 PM']This.... so you will have to accept that a close cigar is as good as you can expect.
I'd talk to Armstrong or Wizard.[/quote]
While researching this I found an old post from BC's gafbass who said that Wizard were planning a Jazz pickup called 'the gaffer' which was to offer P-like thump .. but that was last Feb (I think) and no sign of it. I am surprised that noone has suggested Wizard Hammers here, given there is usually a lot of Wizard-love on this forum (not literally of course, apart from 51m0n :))

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[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1110027' date='Jan 31 2011, 08:23 PM']Maybe it's because they won't make it sound like a P. :)[/quote]
Fair do's! I thought they were Wizard's equivalent of Hot Stacks, Quarter Pounders etc ... which there are some votes for here!

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