Which PUPs for my P-J build?

[Twigman]

OK so I have pulled the trigger on some of the parts for my long longed for P-J.....but am undecided which PUPs to go for.

Having played the same bass ( a 62JV-P ) for the last 28 years my experience of PUPs is extremely limited.

I'm after a J-P because I want some bright mids in my tone but I also want the deep growl and a deep mellow tone too.....

Is there any way to hear specific pickups for side by side comparison testing online?

No - thought not........

So should I just go on reputation?

How would you, in my position, decide which PUps to go for?

[Noisyjon]

I have a P/J bass and am un-happy with the current pups so have been on a mission to find a more suitable set.
My conclusion is that I'm going to leave the Fender vintage P pickup in and upon professional advice I'm looking to get a Nordstrand split jazz pickup for the J position.
They (Nordy) do a vintage one and a higher output version of the split coil Jazz units so I just need to decide which one!

There are many units out there and some other sets that come highly recommended are from Wizard or Lindy Fralin.

Good luck!

[Twigman]

Yeah been looking at the Wizard P/J Combo(Big).....but not having knowingly heard them, how can I be sure they are right for me?

[Muzz]

I've got the Big Combo in a P/J, and I love them - so much so I put a set in a Warwick Fortress, too. They're much higher output than standard, but still sound old-school. I'd suggest that for the money they're worth trying, and even if you didn't like them, you'd soon shift them on here second-hand. The J (84) is particularly good.

[krazy_olie]

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1320848969' post='1432216']
Yeah been looking at the Wizard P/J Combo(Big).....but not having knowingly heard them, how can I be sure they are right for me?
[/quote]

I inherited a Wizard P/J set on my Aerodyne, supposedly an overwound 62 J and a thumper P. I find this to be a very nice combination indeed, really thick P bass with a vintage, slightly aggressive sounding J, combine them and you have a very cool sound which sounds a bit like a Jazz but with some proper oomph. Andy is a top bloke, if you speak to him he will probably be able to work out what pick-ups you need and make them up for you.

Edited November 9, 2011 by krazy_olie

[EBS_freak]

Best sounding pickups (run passively) I've ever heard. [url="http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=bass"]http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=bass[/url]

[Mog]

DiMarzio. (jaysus I'm beginning to sound like a broken record)

[TRBboy]

I've got Dimarzio Model P/J in my RBX and they are AWESOME! Loads of guts and power but plenty of definition and clarity too, but they definitely still sound like a P and J pickup to me and don't lack character. The J is a split coil design so humcancelling and they sound wicked. I was planning to put a preamp in the bass, but I installed these babies and decided it didn't need it. They're really good value for money IMHO too.

Oh yeah, and you can wire them to switch between series/parallel if you want too.

[Lozz196]

In an Aerodyne Jazz I had, with P/J config, I put a Seymour Duncan Hot Stack in the bridge. It was hum-cancelling, and seemed to keep the tone of the original pickup, but just "more" of it. Same pickup config Duff McKagan uses, btw.

[Shaggy]

You'll of course get as many answers as there are BC-ers. I've had 2 sets of P/J's; Seymour Duncan Vintage P with SD Antiquity II J (on a fretless P) and passive Bartolinis. Thje SD's of course had the more vintage tone, but for sheer clarity, punch, and growl the Barts are absolutely superb.
Also had DiMarzio P / P on a BC Rich CS NT Eagle - I still rate the Barts as top.

As said, unless you're buying ultra-boutique you'll alkways get your money back on here if you try and don't like