pnefc42 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 Evening all Am after a bit of advice from anyone in the know Have been happily playing my custom built GB IV since taking delivery of it from Bernie 10 years ago so have been completely happy tone wise! Anyway it's due a major service so is on its way back to Brighton for some long overdue TLC...... Not wanting to be without a jazz type bass in the interim I picked up a used Squier Classic vibe 60s bass at the weekend as a 'stopgap' & have to admit to being quite taken with it. It's well put together and plays very nicely indeed. The only department where it's lacking at all (and this isn't a criticism as for the price it's a great bass) is the output (tone wise it lacks a little 'punch' & the bringe p-up when soloed sounds a little thin) As I really rather like the bass I'm wondering about swapping out the p-ups for something with a bit more poke. Can anyone with experience of doing something similar suggest any possible options? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 I was looking around at Jazz pups whilst waiting for my CV Jazz to turn up, and really liked the sound of the Fender Custom Shop 60s out of the various comparisons on YouTube etc. But when the bass turned up I was perfectly happy with it stock! The bridge pickup is weedy by itself yes, but they always are to me, it's a sound I never use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 How about Gemini Pickups ? I put a pair of their Dawn Lightnings in my home-built bass and they're excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza14 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I own a Squier VM Jazz bass and after using the 'stock' pickups (the Seymour Designed ones) for a few years i decided to try something else and settled on a pair of Wilkinson pickups. I had a 'Vintage' jazz bass and the hardware and pickups were/are Wilkinson and those pickups were fantastic. The difference wasn't massive until played with the band and the change is evident. More volume and a little more bite and brightness. You can pick them up on e-bay for around £40 if memory serves. A good, not-too-expensive, option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I found the stock pups a bit lacking in something, probably bite and growl IIR (it was a long time ago). I replaced them with a set of Wizard 74's and never looked back. They seemed to give the bass a bit more mid punch and clarity, without sounding hot and gritty. Had the bass about 7 years now and cant really fault it, although i dont use it these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I don't have the Squier CV Jazz. But I did replace the pickups in my Roadworn Jazz, for a pair of old secondhand DiMarzio pickups - I got them cheap, after placing a wanted ad on a local facebook group The pickups are amazing. They have a lot of punch, yet still sound vintage Good luck in your search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 DiMarzio Area J. They are humbuckers but still sound very 'Jazz'. I liked them a lot because I tend to use the bridge pickup a lot in a Jazz, and this one sounded pleasantly meaty compared to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pintspiller Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 I have not changed the pups in my VM, despite narrowing it down to SCN and Quarter Pounders as contenders. I do not feel the pups are that bad, and may actually just insulate cavities with copper tape instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Anyone tried these? ... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ironstone-Jazz-Bass-Alnico-V-5-Electric-Guitar-Pickups-for-Fender-Jazz-Bass-/182145217930?var=&hash=item2a68b3758a:m:mQI0imlth99mrH9zh3a9GSQ"]http://www.ebay.co.u...h99mrH9zh3a9GSQ[/url] I would like to swap out my DiMarzios for some vintage style. Edited July 18, 2016 by bh2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Di Marzio model J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I've just swapped out the standard fit Sandberg single coils in my Cali 2 TT for EMG JVX (with some trepidation initially) and am now a total convert. Plenty of everything imho. The bass whisperer does a good review too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='cocco' timestamp='1468823314' post='3093482'] Di Marzio model J [/quote] I've been a bit non plussed with mine, although active they're stunning. Going back to passive though as I'm getting too many repair bills for my rigs. The east is too hot I figure. Vintage style and stack knobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='bh2' timestamp='1468851524' post='3093761'] I've been a bit non plussed with mine, although active they're stunning. Going back to passive though as I'm getting too many repair bills for my rigs. [b]The east is too hot I figure.[/b] Vintage style and stack knobs. [/quote] But it has trim pots inside so that you can adjust the output. Is that not doing the trick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) No... I tend to try to play as loud as the drums.. enough said. My Ashdown will burn and my Ampeg will just die. I am barred now from PMT in Oxford. Passive is fine on my Precisions... the DM's don't cut it though. Edited July 18, 2016 by bh2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 I have Bartolinis in my MIM Jazz and they're lovely. Vintage and punchy with a bit of growl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I recently bought a Jazz Bass body from Ebay which had Wilkinson pickups fitted. I wasn't interested in the pickups and planned to replace them with some Fender USA pickups, or whatever, but after fitting a neck to the body, I was really pleasantly surprised. I've owned a lot of Jazz basses but IMO, these these pickups sound superior to any others I've had the experience of using (USA & Japanese). Such a lovely punchy sound, with some sweet (not harsh) highs. I've played them through a John East J retro and just a normal passive loom and they sound great active or passive. They are Alnico with waxed cotton wires. They cost about £40 for the pair. Real classy, classic sounding pickups which won't break the bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Ah... may look into those Wilkos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Try DiMarzio Model J's wired internally in parallel. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I used to use DiMarzio Ultra Js in a US Jazz bass, they were great and noiseless, a real upgrade over the generic US level p/ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiltmilk_2000 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 I have a set of 60s bare knuckle pups in one of my jazz basses and love their tone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westenra Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1469439824' post='3098220'] I used to use DiMarzio Ultra Js in a US Jazz bass, they were great and noiseless, a real upgrade over the generic US level p/ups. [/quote] What did you replace them with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 [quote name='Westenra' timestamp='1469460887' post='3098482'] What did you replace them with? [/quote]I replaced the standard Fender ones with the DiMarzio Ultra Js and sold the bass on with those fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 My DMjs are going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Bear in mind Fender Jazz pickups used to be different sizes, but I believe Squier and some copies no longer follow this and make both pickups the same size: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1469886395' post='3101789'] Bear in mind Fender Jazz pickups used to be different sizes, but I believe Squier and some copies no longer follow this and make both pickups the same size: [/quote] You need to check in each case. Many Squiers have different size pickups, while some indeed have both the same size as the neck one... can't generalise, so you need to measure to be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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