OT - Finally new PU's on my J Bass

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:02 am

Tried to post this the other day, then my wireless card went *poof*...just got it working again.

The PU's that I got from eBay are...well, basically ****. Biggest issue was there were 2 neck PU's, not a N/B set. But they aren't the stacked humbuckers I wanted. Oh well...live and learn.

So I bought the Duncan STK-J's Monday, and put them in Tuesday. The grounding harness was more a PITA than I thought it'd be, but I got it back together 1st try, sounds great. Have to tweak the PU heights a bit, perhaps...but it's nice to have 3 things I was looking for:

1) Noise free attenuation of a selected PU (any J Bass owner should know what I'm talking about)

2) Improved power - not quite what the Laredo puts out, but very close. The old stock PU's that came with this bass were WEAK

3) Quiet when my fingers hit the PU cover. The stocks would make a very loud microphonic click when I'd hit them playing...

Just move, you say? Well, the neck PU on a Jazz is about where I play my Ricks...in between the 2 Rick PU's. Hard habit to break after 25 years...

****Addendum****

Used them at practice Wednesday night; they are everything I expected. We have a gig tomorrow, 3 sets, 40 tunes I think. I've pegged 5 as fretless tunes. The Laredo is still going to be #1

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:12 am

Cool.. any pics? I wanna see the J. Heheh.

Cool that the Laredo is still #1... but it's also cool that your even bothering to bring out the J anyway.

I know what you mean with where you play. I play directly over the neck pickup on my 4001.. I think I'd be somewhere in front of the neck pup on a J. It'd prolly be how Geddy plays his J now.

Are those J bodies awkward? I've only played a J bass maybe 3 times.. and I can't remember.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:24 am

I put Dimarzio's in my Jazz. They sound great. Verry Marcus Miller (hell of a lot more like MM than the Fender MM basses.) However, I still wind up gigging with my Rics.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:42 am

I've got DiMarzios in my Jazz too. Beefed the tone up a lot IMHO.

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:19 pm

I put DiMarzio fast-trac I's on my Mustang (guitar) years ago. The stock PU's were either too weak to begin with, or just had lost power over the years. Made a good guitar great.

IIRC, I had to have a little more depth routed out of the 'Stang. From what I read, the DiMarzio's would have needed that on the J Bass. I just wanted drop ins.

I really want to get good at the fretless again, not sure that I mentioned the J has no wire on the neck.

It used to be my main bass, and at that time I was really good with the fretless. Now I'm OK, but I need to watch my LH too much.

As for pics...I'll try to figure if my daughters new camera links to the computer easily...it's not really new, her older sister broke the youngers and thus forfeited hers. Worse comes to worse I'll use the guitarists at tomorrows gig and somehow get the files.

Somewhere I think I posted my 3 basses (the J, the Laredo, and the 4001), but damed if I remeber the thread...here's an old pic of the J before the PU transplant

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:28 pm

Ooohh it's purdy! I prefer maple fretboards on Fender basses, but I don't think a fretless can have a maple fretboard. Looks good and prolly sounds even better now!

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:11 pm

Oh yes, there are maple fretlesses. The rosewood is more common. I think an early 80's maple fl P just sold on the bay for about $500, maybe less.

It's a nice bass. Not a classic, but with the upgraded electronics it's a fine instrument. Thanks for the compliment, Nate!

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:52 pm

Oh yeah.. I remember seeing a maple fretless P on the bay.. duhhh. It'd be my dream P bass.. black with black guard and maple fretboard... except my dream on would have frets. I don't like P basses, but If I had to have one, that's what I'd get.

Ever think about one of those Bad *** 2 bridges for that thing? I just think the giant piece of chrome on it would look amazing.. it'd prolly increase the sustain too.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:14 pm

I put EMG's in my Jazz Bass. I also put a Badass II bridge on it too. They both work great IMHO.

jojo99 · Post by **jojo99** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:24 pm

Randy, do you have an onboard preamp with your EMGs?
I have the EMG preamp with EMG J pickups, and I just don't like the sound much. I was wondering how these pickups would sound being run passive.
Anyone use flatwounds with EMGs?

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:09 pm

Ed,
I wish I would have thought of that when I went pup shopping last year.I went for a set of customshop fender's.They certianly brought my '76 out of the shadows and sound great with roto-flats but they still have a noise issue.As far as EMG goes I have used them on a frankenjazz since about 1988 or so and really have no problem with them.I think they are EMG Selects.Nice.Now, If I can find a decient replacement for my bridge pickup on the fretless Ric.I'll be happy.When I bought it there was/is what I have been told is an old Guild pup there.It sounds like **** however there were no mod's done to get it there as far as I can see.
I'll wait.Hope the JB (ducks) feel's and sound good for ya.
Bill

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:46 am

19 years ago I installed a 4001 bridge high-gain pickup on a slightly modified P-Bass fitted with Pyramid strings. The result was scary to say the least.

thinneckrick · Post by **thinneckrick** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:56 am

I Think jazz basses are probably the most comfy of all basses to play . The tone is always pleasing as well

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 8:02 am

I've completely hotrodded my Jazz - Schaller tuners, Badass bridge and a pair of Bartolinis. I have a cheap-o Carvin 60W combo amp I play it through and it really sounds great.