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Post subject: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 1:47 pm
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Hi All,
Has anyone tried the Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups?
I have a 1998 mim jazz that sounds terrible & want to change the pups..

I also have a 2008 mim jazz that sounds ok (flatwounds) but still don't get that tight fender sound of old..

Would the Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups be an improvement over the mim pups either the 1998 or 2008?

I'm on a budget which is why I am looking at the Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups approx $85.00 on most web sites.

thanks for the input. :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:47 pm
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Yes, they would be a big improvement. I checked the Fender site and other sites and what they are calling "Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups" are the same as "Fender Vintage Jazz Bass Pickups" on my American Special Jazz. I can tell you these are sweet pickups with Alnico Magnets and coil resistance readings that are in that vintage range that made them popular. The biggest difference with the 60's pickups vs. today's is the fact you had to pick a bass or guitar (Gibson or Fender) that had that sweet tone as they varied due to being hand made and hand wound. Todays pickups are to factory spec.'s using much more modern repeatable methods. To give you and Idea of where I am coming from I had a new 2004 MIA Fender Jazz bass and the pickups were somewhat lifeless sounding until I put some Linday Fralins on it. This woke that bass up. By contrast my 2011 Fender American Special with Vintage Alnico Jazz Pickups just sounds sweet to me. I will not be changing these out unless they go bad for some reason. I love these pickups. I grew up in the 1960's on that sound.

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1979 Takamine F-349
2010 Mitchell Acoustic Electric
2008 GK 700RBII amp and Avatar B115H cab
1999 Fender Ultimate Chorus amp


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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:53 pm
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I dont know what "original" means,If you mean the ones that come stock on a new american standard jazzbass ? if so then YES,they will absolutely sound better than the MIM ones that came stock that year,in that general time frame they were known for needing a pick-up replacement to spruce the sound up a bit.
If your feeling adventurous give the 62 re-issue custom shop jazzbass pickups a try,they are'nt but a few bucks more and I believe they sound great,I have them on my 60th anni. jazzbass with the S-1 switch and 100% happy with them,they are the opitomy of how a original jazzbass SHOULD sound,do some research for yourself and always go by YOUR taste,ALWAYS. :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:10 pm
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lawsuitbass wrote:
I dont know what "original" means,If you mean the ones that come stock on a new american standard jazzbass ? if so then YES,they will absolutely sound better than the MIM ones that came stock that year,in that general time frame they were known for needing a pick-up replacement to spruce the sound up a bit.
If your feeling adventurous give the 62 re-issue custom shop jazzbass pickups a try,they are'nt but a few bucks more and I believe they sound great,I have them on my 60th anni. jazzbass with the S-1 switch and 100% happy with them,they are the opitomy of how a original jazzbass SHOULD sound,do some research for yourself and always go by YOUR taste,ALWAYS. :mrgreen:



They show to be like the pickups in the 60's but slightly overwound. They are a little more expensive than the "Original" (vintage) pickups but I bet they sound incredibly good. Over wound tends to lend a more punchy sound along with increase volume. I would equate them compared to the originals like the Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder vs. it's original standard wound (like the 60's) . If I ever did decide to change the pickups those would be my 1st choice but I am very happy with my tone at this point. I think Alnico magnet pickups are a little less grainy and sweeter sounding than ceramic magnet versions (just my opinion)

http://www.buzzardsbass.com/electronics/pickups/fender.html

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2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass
1979 Takamine F-349
2010 Mitchell Acoustic Electric
2008 GK 700RBII amp and Avatar B115H cab
1999 Fender Ultimate Chorus amp


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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:35 pm
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There may be an issue when trying to install these pickups in your older MIM Jazz Bass. I believe the re-issue pickups (like the originals) are physically a different size -- the bridge pickup is wider than the neck pickup. You may have to enlarge the bridge rout in your MIM's body to accommodate the new pickup. The size differential is slight -- 2 or 3 millimeters IIRC.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:58 pm
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It is my understanding pre 2000 MIM Jazz basses pickups are the same length while 2000 and up have a larger bridge pickup and neck pickup is the same on both.

Here are two videos comparing the 62 re-issue and the American Special like I own.

62 Re-Issue American Jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTLE9VuR ... ideo_title

American Special Jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I9bcPuf ... ideo_title

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2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass
1979 Takamine F-349
2010 Mitchell Acoustic Electric
2008 GK 700RBII amp and Avatar B115H cab
1999 Fender Ultimate Chorus amp


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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:11 pm
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If the links I posted do not work then go to this webpage and in the 2nd post you will see two links together and one by itself above those. Click each of the two that are together.

Even though I own the American Special Jazz I think (at least by these videos) the 62 Jazz pickups win out.
Hope this helps you

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=53014

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2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass
1979 Takamine F-349
2010 Mitchell Acoustic Electric
2008 GK 700RBII amp and Avatar B115H cab
1999 Fender Ultimate Chorus amp


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Post subject: Re: Fender Original Jazz Bass Pickups question?
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:32 am
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I don't know about the original. But I like all kind.


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