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Post subject: My Highway 1 sounds crap next to a Squier VM
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:48 am
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I picked up a Squier VM last week and it truly is awesome I thought it was the amp that made it sound better then the HWY1. I haven't liked the HWY1 Tone for a while and thought it was the amp. But obviously it isn't and i'm going to need to change the pickups to get a better sound. Should I get Seymour Duncan Hot For Jazz, Quarter Pounder's or Dimarzio Ultra Jazz?


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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:05 am
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I like the VM sound, alot...it has more of the 70's J Bass than the Fender J bass - well not including the Geddy, or the 70's Jazz bass for sale now.

Try adjusting the pickup itself before getting new pups. I like how the HWY 1 sounds, maybe it's just the setting of the pups itself. Try raising or lowering them. Is the intonation correct on it? Sounds like you want it to have the 70's growl, which you can get from the HWY 1. The ones I've played at the store plugged in has that sound. Good luck!!

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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:02 pm
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
I like the VM sound, alot...it has more of the 70's J Bass than the Fender J bass - well not including the Geddy, or the 70's Jazz bass for sale now.

Try adjusting the pickup itself before getting new pups. I like how the HWY 1 sounds, maybe it's just the setting of the pups itself. Try raising or lowering them. Is the intonation correct on it? Sounds like you want it to have the 70's growl, which you can get from the HWY 1. The ones I've played at the store plugged in has that sound. Good luck!!


Well, it does have 70's styling, but it still has the regular bridge pickup placement.

I agree about the pickup height. I like to raise my pickups to get more grind/growl from them. It's worth trying that before swapping pickups.

I've never tried the duncan hot pickups, and the quarter pounders I think would be a step in the wrong direction. Well, first of all, what do you want in your tone?


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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:33 pm
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anubis16 wrote:
PowerJazzBass wrote:
I like the VM sound, alot...it has more of the 70's J Bass than the Fender J bass - well not including the Geddy, or the 70's Jazz bass for sale now.

Try adjusting the pickup itself before getting new pups. I like how the HWY 1 sounds, maybe it's just the setting of the pups itself. Try raising or lowering them. Is the intonation correct on it? Sounds like you want it to have the 70's growl, which you can get from the HWY 1. The ones I've played at the store plugged in has that sound. Good luck!!


Well, it does have 70's styling, but it still has the regular bridge pickup placement.

I agree about the pickup height. I like to raise my pickups to get more grind/growl from them. It's worth trying that before swapping pickups.

I've never tried the duncan hot pickups, and the quarter pounders I think would be a step in the wrong direction. Well, first of all, what do you want in your tone?

I want my Jazz to just have that unmistakable growl that can only come from a Jazz Bass.


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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:07 pm
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anubis16 wrote:
PowerJazzBass wrote:
I like the VM sound, alot...it has more of the 70's J Bass than the Fender J bass - well not including the Geddy, or the 70's Jazz bass for sale now.

Try adjusting the pickup itself before getting new pups. I like how the HWY 1 sounds, maybe it's just the setting of the pups itself. Try raising or lowering them. Is the intonation correct on it? Sounds like you want it to have the 70's growl, which you can get from the HWY 1. The ones I've played at the store plugged in has that sound. Good luck!!


Well, it does have 70's styling, but it still has the regular bridge pickup placement.

I agree about the pickup height. I like to raise my pickups to get more grind/growl from them. It's worth trying that before swapping pickups.

I've never tried the duncan hot pickups, and the quarter pounders I think would be a step in the wrong direction. Well, first of all, what do you want in your tone?


Anubis16, wouldn't the Antiquities give more of the J Bass growl than the Pounders?

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
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'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:19 pm
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
anubis16 wrote:
PowerJazzBass wrote:
I like the VM sound, alot...it has more of the 70's J Bass than the Fender J bass - well not including the Geddy, or the 70's Jazz bass for sale now.

Try adjusting the pickup itself before getting new pups. I like how the HWY 1 sounds, maybe it's just the setting of the pups itself. Try raising or lowering them. Is the intonation correct on it? Sounds like you want it to have the 70's growl, which you can get from the HWY 1. The ones I've played at the store plugged in has that sound. Good luck!!


Well, it does have 70's styling, but it still has the regular bridge pickup placement.

I agree about the pickup height. I like to raise my pickups to get more grind/growl from them. It's worth trying that before swapping pickups.

I've never tried the duncan hot pickups, and the quarter pounders I think would be a step in the wrong direction. Well, first of all, what do you want in your tone?


Anubis16, wouldn't the Antiquities give more of the J Bass growl than the Pounders?


ooooooooh yeah.

I'm not terribly familiar with antiquity Is, but antiquity IIs are essentially overwound vintage pickups, which are really similar to the Custom 60's I have in my bass, and they growl like no other.

The quarter pounders have scooped mids, and thus have very little growl (which is why I'm not too fond of them)


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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:12 pm
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anubis16 wrote:

ooooooooh yeah.

I'm not terribly familiar with antiquity Is, but antiquity IIs are essentially overwound vintage pickups, which are really similar to the Custom 60's I have in my bass, and they growl like no other.

The quarter pounders have scooped mids, and thus have very little growl (which is why I'm not too fond of them)


I think pounders are more for hard rock/metal, that's why I kinda like the pump from 'em, almost like the EMG's I have, more mid to highs.

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
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'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:27 am
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
anubis16 wrote:

ooooooooh yeah.

I'm not terribly familiar with antiquity Is, but antiquity IIs are essentially overwound vintage pickups, which are really similar to the Custom 60's I have in my bass, and they growl like no other.

The quarter pounders have scooped mids, and thus have very little growl (which is why I'm not too fond of them)


I think pounders are more for hard rock/metal, that's why I kinda like the pump from 'em, almost like the EMG's I have, more mid to highs.

Have EMG's in my Squier Affinity and I absolutely hate them will never use EMG pickups again.


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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:56 pm
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[/quote]
Have EMG's in my Squier Affinity and I absolutely hate them will never use EMG pickups again.[/quote]

EMG's have a very distinct sound to them. You can't expect an EMG J coil to sound like a J bass. EMG's are notorious for having a very hi-fi sound, in other words it has a relatively flat EQ response. I find them good for certain basses with interesting acoustic qualities, such as interesting body woods or some other feature. Since EMG's are very hi-fi, it really brings out that acoustic quality more than other pickups.

That's why many people aren't happy with EMG's in a regular alder body bolt on maple neck fender instrument.

PJB, what EMG's do you have in your bass? Are they active or passive?


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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:34 pm
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EMG does sound a little hifi..

if you have a VM with a maple body and maple neck it may sound bright with Dimarzio's ultra Jazz or with Seymour's QP.

Antiquities 1 give you that middy tone and round top while Antiquity 2 gives you tons of bottom end and smoother highs like that of Custom 60's

you may also consider fralins, Nordstrand NJ4 or Aeros just try em out until you get the tone that you're after


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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:14 pm
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anubis16 wrote:

PJB, what EMG's do you have in your bass? Are they active or passive?


I have EMG active, P/J set up. I love it. Works well with the NYHC/Metal sound I need. I can get heavy with the eq set up, but still jazzy if need be while playing solo in a room with the same rig, dif't eq setting of course.

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'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:46 pm
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Dimarzio Model 'J' Pickups will BLOW YOU AWAY...!

Very high output and they're humbuckers as well...!












[/b]

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