Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all,

All right, this is my first non-Rickenbacker technical question, I think...

I need to replace the OEM vintage type jazz bass bridge pickup on my Geddy Lee J-Bass. I can either buy the OEM vintage style Fender p/u for $70, or buy the "Basslines" brand replacement for $57.95. Has anyone compared these two?

Here's the link for the Basslines pickup: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=300318


Any replies would be appreciated, thanks!

I'd go with the Seymour duncan, they make great JB pickups. I have a Classic Stack in my '97 California Precision Special along with a Vintage P pickup from SD. Another source who has a fantastic reputation is Lindy Fralin.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I looked at Lindy Fralin for $80: http://www.fralinpickups.com/bass.asp

Here's Basslines again: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=300318

What is the difference between Lindy Fralin at $80, the OEM Fender replacement at $70, and the
Basslines(this is a Seymour Duncan made pickup) replacement at $58?: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=300318

I was pretty happy with the original bridge pickup sound on my Geddy Lee J bass, so I don't really want to mess with the sound. I am also not a regular bassist. I just want it to sound right and be fully functional.

Any clarification would be appreciated. Thanks!

For what it's worth, if you troll eBay for a while, you can get great deals on pickups still in their original packaging. You can get a pair of Fender Original J-bass pickups (I believe this is what comes stock on Geddys) for less than $70, and I managed to find a pair of Fender Custom Shop 60s pups for around $80. If you only need one, I'm sure you could sell the other half of the set and get a good chunk of your money back.

I have custom shop 60s in my Geddy-like bass (Geddy Lee sig. neck on a Warmoth chambered maple body), and I felt like they were pretty similar to the fender originals, just a little ... more. Not really hotter, but the sound was just a little further in that old-school direction, and still more than capable of the signature Geddy growl.

Ah, that's a good idea. Thanks ! I'll check it out! Any other opinions on the Duncan Basslines vs. Fralin, vs. stock Fender would still be appreciated. Thanks again.

Joe Barden also makes great replacement pups for the jazz bass.
http://www.joebarden.com/main.php

Nice to see J-Bass-style pickups having polepieces that match fretboard radius for a change...

rickcrazy wrote:Nice to see J-Bass-style pickups having polepieces that match fretboard radius for a change...

+1000!

I can strongly recommend the Bartolinis JW4 (J-bass single coil with WW kind of magnet structure) , even playes with passive electronics, they are brilliant with all vintage vibe!

Ouch! they don't produce them anymore!? Maybe it is called 94J...?

FWIW,

I've had both Duncan Basslines and Lindy Fralin's.

I had a MIM Fender Jazz. I didn't like the stock pups. They weren't the vintage USA's, they sounded thin. I installed a set of Duncan Basslines in it and WOW, it was a fantastic sounding bass. VERY VINTAGE. I sold the bass due to issues that couldn't be resolved with the neck. I STILL want a RI 62 or 75 Jazz, either MIJ or MIA.

I also have a CHEAP and I mean C H E A P ($75.00 delivered) Wasburn Lyon LB40. Actually, I like it so much, a backup is en route!
ANYWAY, I put a set of Lindy Fralin's in it. They were wound +5% for that little extra MID bite. They are AMAZING. TOTAL VINTAGE JBASS sound with a little kick.

I've tried Barts too, and I didn't like them half as much as the Lindy's.

A fellow forumite, I THINK it was Bob Scott, said he "nailed that classic vintage Jazz sound" with the Lindy's". SIMILAR to these....see link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Lindy-Fralin-P- ... dZViewItem

I think I paid about $180.00 for the set brand new.

Hope it helps with your decision, but I don't think you can go wrong with the Lindy's or the Basslilnes. The Basslines were a bit DEEPER. I just wanted a little more MID bite which is why I ordered the +5% overwound Lindy's.
http://www.fralinpickups.com/choose.asp

So, there you have it! All you need to know to replace those Fender pickups; I'd recommend replacing both at the same time, not just the bridge PU.

Thanks for all the info everyone!!!