Jaydee Basses

[BassByBeck]

I have a 1985 Jaydee Supernatural II and im wondering how the newer Jaydee basses compare to the older ones? 

Does anyone have experience with both?

[Sparky Mark]

You could email Andrew (John's son) at Jaydee Custom Guitars and ask how specs may have changed?

[Mrbigstuff]

Marcus at Bassdirect did a video on mark king basses which used a few Jaydees from different eras. Might be worth giving them a call, they have them in from time to time.

[Bass Direct]

3 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Marcus at Bassdirect did a video on mark king basses which used a few Jaydees from different eras. Might be worth giving them a call, they have them in from time to time.

Give me a call anytime to discuss Jaydee, love them!

[matbard]

Hello all,

 

I've recently (last saturday...) seen Mark King in Pisa - Italy, and noticed he uses two Supernaturals onstage a red one and a brown one. Having a 1980 Alembic Series I, I'm guessing how the tone of those is comparing to my ol' pal...

 

[Bassfinder]

8 minutes ago, matbard said:

Hello all,

 

I've recently (last saturday...) seen Mark King in Pisa - Italy, and noticed he uses two Supernaturals onstage a red one and a brown one. Having a 1980 Alembic Series I, I'm guessing how the tone of those is comparing to my ol' pal...

 

Very different, split coils compared to single coils for a start 🤟🏻

 

Alembic’s have a cleaner tone in general, while the Jaydee’s out the box have more of a mid range character

 

the best way is to get your bass side by side with one and make the comparison 

[matbard]

Hi,

I've seen only a Supernatural in my life... And only recently have I been able to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning an Alembic... So it's quite hard here in Italy to have them side by side

[Misdee]

Jaydee basses might be shaped similarly to Alembics but in terms of sound they are very different. I seem to remember reading a long time ago that Jaydee pickups are essentially P Bass style split humbuckers in a rectangular case.  The Jaydee preamp with bass, mid and treble cut and boost is a million miles away from the Alembic filter system. 

 

That said, I remember back in the mid 1980's when Jaydee basses first arrived in the USA that Rick Turner, chief designer of the original Alembic basses and as such eminently qualified to make a judgement, reviewed a Jaydee Supernatural bass in Guitar Player Magazine. He commented on the similarities between Alembic basses and the Jaydee especially in terms of the distinct "pop" of overtones you got on both basses because of their extended frequency range. So maybe they are a bit similar in certain respects.