mcnach

Well, the Seymour Duncan SJB-2 pickups arrived today... and as soon as I got home, I installed them. First impressions are very positive. I don't know how the Hammers would have been "unsuitable" but these do the trick. The bridge pickup is great. Very nice tone. It's powerful, full bodied... since this is what I use most of the time, I think I did well. The neck pickup I'm not as keen on. It is good, absolutely, but a bit on the dark side. Both pickups on also lose a bit of the "traditional" Jazz sound, compared to the Gotoh I had previously on this bass. It still sounds good, but not as good as I thought they'd be when I listened to the bridge pickup alone: that one is just right. Well I have to try it in a band context now, but it seems good.

And today the Squier got a pair of Seymour Duncan SJB-2... worth for the bridge pickup alone, enormous!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1342090832' post='1729319'] You could drive to Dalgety Bay and get a nice black Jazz... [/quote] and I was there only a few days ago! That black Jazz... would look even better if the fingerboard was darker. Oh, what a coincidence! I have some dark wood stain in my drawer too!

[quote name='Ant' timestamp='1342032145' post='1728525'] ive got hammers in my shuker bass, totally amazing, awesome gnarly midrange growl and beef, very articulate as well. ive got a series/parallel switch and they sound awesome in series [/quote] That's more or less what I expected... from the description, but Andy totally put me off buying them (shrug). Ever used tapewounds on that bass?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341913990' post='1725935'] Really? Interesting.... in what way were you underwhelmed? [/quote] it's hard to explain in words. They seemed "polite". They were not horrible, but they sounded "polite". I bought a Seymour Duncan SMB4A after that one, and it was like day and night, nice "thump", lots of body, nice midrange without being overpowering... But each pickup is different, so you can't judge all GFS by a single model (either good or bad). However I have not yet been disappointed by a SD pickup, either in guitars or bass. Hence my choice now.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341906949' post='1725784'] I haven't tried their J pickups, but if they are as good as their Ps you might want to have a look here... [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-JB-Pro-Jazz-Bass-Style-Alnico-Pickups_p_318.html"]http://www.guitarfet...kups_p_318.html[/url] [/quote] I tried their Stingray style pickups a couple of years ago, and I was not very impressed by that, so I haven't gone back to GFS.

Karl just bought my Digitech Bass Squeeze compressor pedal. We have exchanged a few messages back and forth, the transaction and communication has been a real pleasure. I hope you enjoy your pedal.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341828700' post='1724562'] My cheap J copy sounds great with Hammers in. Crisp and crunchy, but still sounding full and rich. Tone is very subjective and difficult to describe in words, but I'm happy! The original pickups certainly weren't short on output - in fact they were very hot indeed and rather microphonic! I didn't replace them to get a boost in signal, but just to make things more balanced and "musical". I bought the Hammers second-hand on here for £60 - which is a good price - but even brand new they are reasonably priced. To the OP: Next time I'm up in Edinburgh (about three weeks time) I'll bring the bass and you can have a try. [/quote] Nice one, I'd definitely be interested if you are around with your bass I have however just ordered a set of Seymour Duncan SJB-2. Never tried those, but seem high output and midrange rich... and look like normal Jazz pickups (which is a plus too... not a big fan of the big polepiece look of the SJB-3 or the hexagonal polepieces in DiMarzio Model J)... we will see. I had a last minute offer for a gig last night, and I played the red Jazz for 2h. Love it, but I am looking forward having a bit more "ooomph" there on the midrange.

Another gig tonight, and I used the Squier Jazz again. Loving it!

Hmmm, I emailed Andy, and he replied that he doesn't think his pickups work very well with nylon tapewounds... But didn't say in what way they don't work well. So I'm left with whether to just try for myself (Hammers or 84s?) or go for tried and tested Basslines... decisions.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1339764442' post='1693949'] An EHX Small Stone is under £50 [/quote] This would be my choice. They are very nice and warm sounding. I have the "Nano" version and I love it. I have nothing against Joyo, I have their Ultimate Drive and I like it... but for phaser, the nano Small Stone is the one for me, and cheap too.

Nice! If it weren't a sunburst, I'd find it hard not to drive to Glasgow today.

I'm looking for a set of pickups for my red Squier Jazz. I currently have a set of some alnico Gotoh pickups that are not bad sounding at all. But I find them a bit lacking in output, and with the nylon tapewound strings I use on this bass I am aiming for that dark midrange grunt on the bridge pickup... which these get close to, but not quite, they sound too "vintagey". It's just a cheap bass but I am liking it more and more. I gigged with it last night and it's definitely not going to be the last... so I'm looking for a way to improve a bit what I have here. Looking at the Wizard pickups, which get great reviews here, I noticed the "Hammers" have a description that seems fitting... anybody has tried them?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1341648483' post='1722186'] Can I be the one with the big moustache? [/quote] I think it would suit you I had moustache and beard once, but I also loved egg mayonnaise sandwiches... horrible combination. I prefer a fuzz-free face these days

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1341642408' post='1722141'] I'm hoping that it's down to the strings not suiting the bass so I've ordered a different brand in a heavier gauge. What do other Ray players on the forum use on their basses? [/quote] Generally D'Addario XL170 45-105 these days, but I have used DR Hi-Beams 45-105 also, which I like a lot. REgarding the pickup, it is angled towards the G... but the whole thing is not too close to the strings. Experiment a bit, I'm sure you will find that a few minor adjustments help a lot.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1341595958' post='1721658'] Funnily enough I have just done a string change on my blue one ready for tonights gig, I tried holding a string near the pickup and the myth about the pole pieces is totally busted, even when the string is level with the pickup where its never going to be the magnets still have a lot of pull! They overlap from pole piece to pole piece would make it neither here nor there, I'd say you could put the strings between the pieces and hear little to no difference [/quote] Our own Mythbusters team: 1 - Myth: 0

And after reading this trhead... I've decided tonight's gig will be done with my Korean Squier jazz. The original pickups were a bit disappointing but the bass feels great, so I put some better pickups on it and I really like it.

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1341506380' post='1720249'] Tried to buy the vm squire from gumtree... The guy wont post it cos gumtree is for local selling only?? [/quote] yes, generally people expect local deals, in person etc. But if you are persuasive enough you may convince some to post...

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1341513346' post='1720411'] Opened the link and got a Trojan warning.....hmmm! [/quote] it's just a gumtree link, hmmm...

[quote name='OutSpoon' timestamp='1341490955' post='1719907'] So - I have a '78 Fender Jazz, well, it's a '78 neck on an 83 body and an 83 fingerboard (I think) - with Nordy pickups and a Schaller bridge; so already a bit all over the place - but what would make it 'perfect' I think would be block inlays. I know a luthier local to me who already did a great job putting new inlays into an old Ibanez that I had, so thinking to trust him with the Fender. I didn't pay big $$ for the Fender but wondering if it would increase, decrease or destroy the value of it... What do you all think? Keep it original(ish) or continue the journey it has had, and make it personal... [attachment=112250:IMG_1804.jpg] [/quote] I personally love the neck like that... but if I wanted blocks I'd probably try to get a neck with blocks, and see if I am happy with that, before doing the surgery on this neck.