I’ve been playing a bit of bass recently using my Squier 70s vintage modified jazz bass in a 3 piece blues/jazz guitar/bass/drums band. I’m really enjoying it, but in the process have been coming aware of the shortcomings of my bass (as well as of my playing :-) ). The bass feels fine to play, but sounds a bit muddy/muffled/indistinct on the bottom two strings. It could also use some more “punch”. I’m using good amplification (a 250 watt solid state amp into a Barefaced one-10), so I’m assuming it’s the pickups rather than the amp/cab.
I’m wondering:
- if others have come to similar conclusions about the pickups on these basses, and, if so
- what pickups do folks here recommend as upgrades?
Comments
This photograph may help you to identify which you have.
https://i.imgur.com/wbodhbh.jpg?2
From this description, I suspect that you have the Fender "in house" pickups.
I do like the bass so I'm happy to be reasonably spendy with replacements if it's worthwhile in terms of sound (is there any benefit in also changing the pots and wiring, BTW)? Any recommendations??
The resistance tapers on higher quality pots will help with balancing the pickup volumes to get the characteristic "notch filtered" sound.
Which exact variant do you have? The natural finish one in my photograph above has a body made from "soft maple". Some of the later, more colourful, "Seventies" variants use agathis. This may have some bearing on the pickup choice.
DiMarzio makes some J-type pickups that are loud, noise-cancelling and possess a distinctive "growl" that would suit Rock music.
Bartolini pickups have a flavour of their own. Again, some models are noise-cancelling and have increased low frequency output.
Aguilar, Norstrand and Delano all do some nice pickups. They should be at the prices.
I am yet to be disappointed by any Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickup - guitar or bass.
If you fancy going active, designs with rod magnet polepieces will sound more like a Fender bass. The transient attack just works better. EMG-JV and Duncan/Basslines AJJ-2 Lightnin' Rods pickups are like this.
My personal favourites are the old Seymour Duncan Active EQ series pickups with the little DIP switches built into the top of their plastic covers. (Long since discontinued!) These would provide a variety of bass guitar tones in the J Bass chassis.
If you fancy going out on a bit of a limb, Ash of Oil City Pickups makes something he calls the Overkill model - designed to impart some of the sound of a well-known, eccentric, Californian manufacturer who is keen on litigation to protect its designs.
Finally, to keep Bridgehouse from grumbling, I feel obliged to mention this guy and his products.
I've done this on a 2001 Squier Jazz and a 2018 Squier VM SS Jag and it worked well, although neither sound as good as my Flea Jazz with the as fitted replica 64 pickups.
On a 2014 Squier VM Precision Bass, I found the passive EMG-GZR PJ pair work well. EMG offers a passive J pair that should work equally well on a Jazz Bass of equivalent quality.