Looking for some Jazz Bass pickup recommendations

Svartmetall

Hi, guys - I have a lovely old Tokai JB from about 1983 which has an amazing unplugged tone, but the pickups seem weak and are I suspect the instrument's Achilles heel. I'd like to put in some pickups that really do the thing justice but am not very conversant with bass pickups on the whole; I want to stay with passives, so what would people recommend (bearing in mind that I'm on pennies above minimum wage, so the sort of hand-wound-by-elves-on-the-slopes-of-Mount-Fuji-on-the-Spring-equinox ultra boutique stuff won't be affordable for me) as pickups to get the most out of a Jazz Bass? 

Funkfingers

DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pair for fingerstyle Rock playing. Area J pair for more traditional sounds.

Don't be afraid to try active pickups and/or control electronics. Duncan Lightnin' Rods sound and feel pretty darned close to passives. 

EMG makes several J variants. Counter-intuitively, the blade polepiece and ceramic magnet -J model sounds more believably "vintage" than the -JV model with exposed alnico rod magnet polepieces.

I am especially fond of the long-discontinued Duncan Active EQ series pickups - the ones with the little DIP switches. 

UnclePsychosis

I put Dimarzio Area J pickups in my jazz and really like them. 

Think they cost me about £100 second hand. 

fretmeister

EMG J set. Lovely things. Designed to be like 1960s pickups without the hum.

Bobby Vega can’t be wrong!

ICBM

Duncan Hot Jazz Stacks. Passive, but fatter sound and no noise.

BigLicks67

I’m also the owner of an 83 Tokai Jazz Bass and I would say there is nothing inherently wrong with those pickups that a good amp or preamp cannot resolve. My advice would be keep your money in your pocket.

Ossyrocks

I have a set of Fender Custom Shop 60’s Jazz pickups for sale, advertised over on BassChat. They are really nice pickups. I’m selling because I sold the bass they were in and bought a vintage Jazz.

Rob

Svartmetall

Thanks for the ideas, guys - will mull this over and have a think. 

steamabacus

With the rise in cost of Duncan, etc. I'd recommend looking at Tonerider. I have no experience of their Jazz pickups but the Tonerider Precision pickup I have in my Squier is excellent. The Tele set I have are great too.

Northwest Guitars is where I bought from - good prices and service.

GuyR

I have a mid 80s Tokai JB and agree re the pickups. The inherent tone unplugged is lovely. I’ve never got round to changing them but they are a weak point IMO. 

There’s usually something worthwhile advertised in accessories on Basschat and it is an excellent and trustworthy community in my experience. Fender CS, Seymour Duncan etc. All would be an upgrade. Second hand means no depreciation and little risk if you don’t like them.

Svartmetall

Wasn't aware of Basschat, so thanks - will investigate. 

nacnudnai

Svartmetall said:

Hi, guys - I have a lovely old Tokai JB from about 1983 which has an amazing unplugged tone, but the pickups seem weak and are I suspect the instrument's Achilles heel. I'd like to put in some pickups that really do the thing justice but am not very conversant with bass pickups on the whole; I want to stay with passives, so what would people recommend (bearing in mind that I'm on pennies above minimum wage, so the sort of hand-wound-by-elves-on-the-slopes-of-Mount-Fuji-on-the-Spring-equinox ultra boutique stuff won't be affordable for me) as pickups to get the most out of a Jazz Bass? 

I may have a set of Area Js lying around if you end up being interested in them - let me know, I wouldn't be after much for them. 

nacnudnai

nacnudnai said:

Svartmetall said:

Hi, guys - I have a lovely old Tokai JB from about 1983 which has an amazing unplugged tone, but the pickups seem weak and are I suspect the instrument's Achilles heel. I'd like to put in some pickups that really do the thing justice but am not very conversant with bass pickups on the whole; I want to stay with passives, so what would people recommend (bearing in mind that I'm on pennies above minimum wage, so the sort of hand-wound-by-elves-on-the-slopes-of-Mount-Fuji-on-the-Spring-equinox ultra boutique stuff won't be affordable for me) as pickups to get the most out of a Jazz Bass? 

I may have a set of Area Js lying around if you end up being interested in them - let me know, I wouldn't be after much for them. 

I do indeed have a set of Area Js lying around. Cases are a little scuffed, so I'd be happy with £75 the set posted.

ChrisCox1994

definitely check out eternal guitar and pickups, Dave hand winds some of the best pups ive tried, ive got a pair of his fat vintage style J bass ones in my 80s fender 62 reissue that had the same weaknesses as your tokai probably does

https://www.eternal-guitars.com/product-page/jb-64-jazz-bass-pickup

ewal

I've got an early 80's Tokai Jazz Sound  too which I want to breath a bit of life in to. Might try new pickups so I'll be interested how you get on. I'm going to put some new strings on first though. I can't remember the last time I change them - possibly some time in the 90's!!!

Funkfingers

ewal said:
I can't remember the last time I change them - possibly some time in the 90's!!!

Squanderbug!

prowla

I put a set of Fender Geddys on a Jazz parts build of mine and I don't think I'll be changing them.

ewal

I'm thinking again about a pickup upgrade for my Tokai JB. I'm intrigued by the Mojo Bones Jazz Bass pickups, Mojo having such a a good reputation. I wonder how his budget range stacks up? It's likely to be very good and at that price - very tempting.

https://www.mojopickups.co.uk/product/the-bones-jazzbass/

ewal

Curiosity got the better of me Mojo Bones ordered.

Svartmetall

ewal said:

Curiosity got the better of me Mojo Bones ordered.

Damn, I'd forgotten about this...let us know how they are

ewal

So I fitted the Mojo Bones yesterday evening. No surprises - they are very good - exactly the JB sound I had in my head.

I've got a push/ pull pot fitted to switch between parallel and series, so lots of different tonal options.