Too much bass on J-Retro preamp?

[badboy1984]

My Fender Classic 60 jazz had a J-Retro installed very long time ago before John East stuff became very expensive. I liked it very much when i first had it installed. I haven't play my Jazz for absolute ages because i'm so use to my Precision bass (passive) sound and my AGC 5 string P/J.

I decide to play my Jazz bass in today and set everything flat on both the amp and the j-retro i find it the default tone is very bassy (in a good way) but i just couldn't get use to it, i even have to pull the bass down and boost the mid instead.

Anyone find it the J-Retro to be a very bassy preamp by default? or I just got use to boost the mid and like the mid now?

[Chrismanbass]

i've found the same thing with mine coupled with a pair of bartolini j pups i always run cutting the bass a little bit as it helps me to get a more definite sound

[lapolpora]

The bass control on a J-Retro is boost only. There is a centre detent, but it is just there as a point of reference I think. There's technical info on John East's site that shows this.

Edited April 22, 2013 by lapolpora

[badboy1984]

i know the bass is boost only but i think is me got use to playing with mids then bassy tone. The preamp is still very versatile for my purpose but just need to get use to it again lol.

[Prime_BASS]

Also the natural mid scoop of J bass (with both pups) will make it seem more 'bassy'

[mcnach]

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1366654827' post='2055585'] My Fender Classic 60 jazz had a J-Retro installed very long time ago before John East stuff became very expensive. I liked it very much when i first had it installed. I haven't play my Jazz for absolute ages because i'm so use to my Precision bass (passive) sound and my AGC 5 string P/J. I decide to play my Jazz bass in today and set everything flat on both the amp and the j-retro i find it the default tone is very bassy (in a good way) but i just couldn't get use to it, i even have to pull the bass down and boost the mid instead. Anyone find it the J-Retro to be a very bassy preamp by default? or I just got use to boost the mid and like the mid now? [/quote]

I think the "flat" setting on the J Retro is slightly mid scooped. It can feel bass heavy I suppose depending on the pickups. I tend to use mostly only the bridge pickup, which is fine, but if you use the neck or both pickups on especially, I'd also want to add mids.

[badboy1984]

i use Dimarzio DP123 jazz pickup. They already a bassy pickup. I may want to change it to something else. I use to like bassy tone but now i like more mid tone ......

[mcnach]

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1366755191' post='2057065']
i use Dimarzio DP123 jazz pickup. They already a bassy pickup. I may want to change it to something else. I use to like bassy tone but now i like more mid tone ......
[/quote]

I like a lot the pickups that come on some CIJ Fender Jazzes (many 75RI models, for instance), made in USA ones. I forget the model number. They have a nice midrange content. I recently bought a second pair for £60 I think. Worth keeping an eye out for them, in my opinion.

[badboy1984]

I use to run the Dimarzio DP123 on the jazz bass passive (pre j-retro install). It was good because i like boomer tone at that time, then i install j-retro to give my boom and EQ control. Love the bass at that time but now i find it really bassy and boomer, still love the preamp but i think a pickup change might be way to go. Like you said i'm keeping my eye out on a fender jazz pickup.

[NancyJohnson]

I seem to recall there being trim controls under the plate on the Jazz model, maybe I'm incorrect. You can adjust these with a small flat head screwdriver.
P