Bassman1974 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Bretheren, My Fender American Standard 4 string Jazz is extremely dark sounding and I just can't brighten it at all. Spec: Fender 9050 flatwounds - I won't change these as they're all I use POI Cap Solderless Controls - I informed the builder I was after warm vintage tones and he recommended the POI Tonerider Classic Pickups As a comparison, I have a Fender 70's Vintera Jazz which is far less bassy sounding. Spec: Fender 9050's Orange Cap Solderless Controls Standard Vintera Pickups A few questions: *Should I consider fitting Orange Cap controls to the AM to brighten it a bit? *If not, what are a good set of brighter passive pickups? I'm liking the brightness of the Dimarzio Ultra Jazz set after watching a few vids. Any experience with these using flats? Cheers, George Quote
Lozz196 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 What year is the Jazz? The series it`s part of can make a fair bit of difference. If the Jazzes follow Precisions in similarity: 2008-12 - very scooped 2013 - 16 - warm, rich bottom end, a tad scooped, and sound very much like Toneriders Quote
Bassman1974 Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 28 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: What year is the Jazz? The series it`s part of can make a fair bit of difference. If the Jazzes follow Precisions in similarity: 2008-12 - very scooped 2013 - 16 - warm, rich bottom end, a tad scooped, and sound very much like Toneriders It's a bit of a both. 2015 neck with a 2008 body. The 2008 neck was never right, so it was replaced. Quote
Lozz196 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 Right, so assuming those pickups follow the same route as the Precision then they’re scooping mids, so it’s these you’re needing to add in. In your position I’d look at the Fender Pure Vintage 74 Jazz pickups, I had a set in a Squier 77 Jazz and they really improved it. 1 Quote
Bassman1974 Posted January 6 Author Posted January 6 Many thanks for the recommendation Lozz, I'm having some discussions with a chap from Toltec pickups about a bright overwound set that he's had success with in the past. If that draws a blank, I'll be on to those 74's ! Thanks again Quote
Sean Posted January 6 Posted January 6 3 hours ago, Bassman1974 said: Many thanks for the recommendation Lozz, I'm having some discussions with a chap from Toltec pickups about a bright overwound set that he's had success with in the past. If that draws a blank, I'll be on to those 74's ! Thanks again I've only had excellent experiences with Lee Laverack, he's magic at understanding pickup requirements. I have a set of bright overwound J pickups here that are fantastic. Quote
Bassman1974 Posted January 6 Author Posted January 6 1 minute ago, Sean said: I've only had excellent experiences with Lee Laverack, he's magic at understanding pickup requirements. I have a set of bright overwound J pickups here that are fantastic. Thanks Sean. How do you find the mids with them? My Jazz is so annoyingly boomy with the Toneriders that I just don't play it at all ! Quote
Sean Posted January 6 Posted January 6 1 minute ago, Bassman1974 said: Thanks Sean. How do you find the mids with them? My Jazz is so annoyingly boomy with the Toneriders that I just don't play it at all ! They're punchy and cut through a mix. A pair of Js is scooped by nature but these are bright and sparkly. I was so happy with them that I got Lee to make me a pair of splittable J humbuckers for another bass so that I could effectively have the same j pair available on a push-pull pot. He also did me P+J set that is brighter and less nasal than typical. They have longer bobbins. I've had three sets of pickupsfrom him and he's nailed what I wanted each time. He changes the recipe to capture what you need. Quote
Bassman1974 Posted 9 hours ago Author Posted 9 hours ago On 06/01/2026 at 14:01, Sean said: They're punchy and cut through a mix. A pair of Js is scooped by nature but these are bright and sparkly. I was so happy with them that I got Lee to make me a pair of splittable J humbuckers for another bass so that I could effectively have the same j pair available on a push-pull pot. He also did me P+J set that is brighter and less nasal than typical. They have longer bobbins. I've had three sets of pickupsfrom him and he's nailed what I wanted each time. He changes the recipe to capture what you need. Just received and fitted the pickups from Lee.. What a difference. The boominess has completely gone, and I'm getting wonderful clarity and brightness now. I resisted the temptation to fit a new set of Chromes, as I wanted to use my old Fender 9050's to make a direct pickup comparison. I like these so much, that I might get another set made for the Vintera. 3 Quote
LawrenceH Posted 4 hours ago Posted 4 hours ago Be interested to hear these. I've just picked up a bass with the '74s in and I love the bright mid-hi clank, but so far find them a bit lacking on the low E. Does the overwound nature give them a bit of heft down at the bottom? Quote
Bassman1974 Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago 2 hours ago, LawrenceH said: Be interested to hear these. I've just picked up a bass with the '74s in and I love the bright mid-hi clank, but so far find them a bit lacking on the low E. Does the overwound nature give them a bit of heft down at the bottom? I never noticed that the E was in anyway lacking when I played it last night. I felt like the tone was very even across the fretboard. In all honesty, I get a little lost with lows / mids / scooping and all that business. I just know when it sounds good, or bad ! Best thing I could advise is to talk to Lee, and he'll make them to your exacting specifications. https://www.laverackguitars.com/toltec-pickups 1 Quote
Bassman1974 Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago 1 minute ago, LawrenceH said: Blimey those prices look alarmingly reasonable I wish I'd fitted these years ago. They're that good. Amazing how such a simple change can transform an instrument. 1 Quote
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