Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 I have a Douglas five string bass with active jazz pickups . this is the first time I'm dealing with these kind of pickups . I ordered a set of Duncan Active for 5 string Jazz Bass AJB-5 that are going to replace the ones I have now ... after making the mistake of buying these then reading the dimensions i found that the Duncan's that i got are a bit shorter in length and I will have to cut into the wood where the set screws will be .. i cant seem to find active j pickups that are 4 inch's long.. if someone knows where to find some I will be grateful to know but otherwise I am going to be chopping wood . ...first time i have done something like this .... I also don't see how to adjust these pickups ..Can someone let me know if i can and how .. I'll be thankful for that as well and any other suggestions are welcome ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 sounds like a job for a good Luthier , can you return the pickups you bought ? Do you mean how to adjust those pickups that are in your bass now ? Good looking bass btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 Well first of all, your bass is backwards. Work on that before you start swapping out pickups. Anyways, I have an SX 5 string Jazz that absolutely could not be played without swapping out the pickups...because they put a set of 4-string pickups in it, factory. The problem this caused was the same thing you're up against: the MIM Fender pickups I swapped for were not only too wide for the slots, the screw tabs were wider than the factory routs. I had to break out the Dremel and widen the slots, move the screwtab routs, and router out the pickguard. The results are not pretty. I don't know if there are any direct-replacement pickups out there for your bass. The issue with the Chinese instruments is that, I think, they use oddball pickups from goofball manufacturers, and set their routs according to those specs, so when you try to buy pickups that are direct replacements for common sets on common instruments, they wont fit. I would continue to look, but don't exhaust yourself. You may have to get jiggy with your Dremel. C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 I have found pickups that could replace these without any wood work but they are passive . the pickups in my bass are about 4" long and center to center for set screws are are about 1.75 give or take a alittle . I can find many common replacements if i was dealing with passive pickups but that's not the case here ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 sounds like a job for a good Luthier , can you return the pickups you bought ? Do you mean how to adjust those pickups that are in your bass now ? Good looking bass btw to little to late on returning them ... as for adjustment I mean for these and for whats to come . they look as if you just screw them down . theres no spring or nothing that helps raise them . But when I first got this bass the pickups appeared to be a little to close so I tryed to tighten the screws down to lower the pickups and all i did was drill out the top pretty much . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 See... the pickups I have bought and have to modify my bass for .these are the demintions And the pickups that would fit without any modification to bass but are passive .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 is there a way i can use the pots and such i have thats set up for active pickups and make them work for passive pickups? if I can do that I think I will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 is there a way i can use the pots and such i have thats set up for active pickups and make them work for passive pickups? if I can do that I think I will. I may be off-base here, but I think you can use passive pickups with active electronics. In fact, I think that's how my Spector is set up, with the EMG-HZ's in it. What's wrong with the stock pickups, by the way? C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 well when playing ,the notes are not very well pronounced and seem to get a lot of overtones ... And I had a Ibanez five string with Passive Barts and active preamp equalizer .. So I believe its possible but I was wondering if the active electronics i have in the bass that exists which are the all to abundantly found on Ebay Alfa 2 band eq. can be used with say the Duncan Quarter Pound for 5-string Jazz Bass SJ5-3 pickups . these are passive and can fit directly in my bass without any mods and if so how do I do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 The pickups may have foam under them or springs or surgical tubing under the screws , if you can't get them where you want them , you may need to pop them out and trim or add to , to get them where you want them . If the screws are stripping out , you can put in a tiny piece of wood , like a tooth pick to help the screw bite in . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 thanks fretless ...that's helpful advice and will keep in mind . what I meant by strip though was the head of the screw . when I tried to lower the pickups which are sitting about a thin 1/8 from the string when depressed at last fret , I stripped any grip i had on the screw so when I have to take them out it will be tricky .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted October 5, 2008 Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 thanks fretless ...that's helpful advice and will keep in mind . what I meant by strip though was the head of the screw . when I tried to lower the pickups which are sitting about a thin 1/8 from the string when depressed at last fret , I stripped any grip i had on the screw so when I have to take them out it will be tricky .. oh the screw itself , just snag some new ones from Stew mac or all parts , even warmoth sells them . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2008 You don't have or need active pickups. Use passives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 You don't have or need active pickups. Use passives. elaborate please... I don't understand what you mean ,I don't have active pickups . are you saying that I have passive pickups in right now ? because the spec's the this bass says it has active pickups ... and what are the advantages of passive over active and will those Duncan Quarter Pound for 5-string Jazz Bass SJ5-3 pickups wire to the controls with out any problems ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2008 and will those Duncan Quarter Pound for 5-string Jazz Bass SJ5-3 pickups wire to the controls with out any problems ? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2008 Yes.They're wrong.If you put active pickups in, you will need to have room for an additional battery.Yes. interesting ... do you have this bass? is that how you know ? I just need to know before i go and spend some more money.. thanks by the way for your help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 5, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 5, 2008 interesting ... do you have this bass? is that how you know ? I just need to know before i go and spend some more money.. thanks by the way for your help... I don't have that bass. I am making an educated assumption based on the bass having an active preamp (which it does) and a single 9 volt battery (which it does), the rarity of active pickups, the frequency of people mistakenly calling passive pickups used in conjunction with preamps "active pickups," the price point of the bass and my experience with basses in that price range. Open the control cavity and find out how many wires are coming from each pickup and where they go or take a few pictures of the control cavity and post them. Because I think it is bull{censored} to offer advice if you don't know what you're talking about, if I am wrong about your pickups, I'll personally buy you the pickups you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2008 I checked and there are two wires from each pickup and they both go to the balance control . the hot and ground which leads me to believe your right and I agree about giving advise and I very much appreciate all your help . if i can pick your brain a little more . do you know if those Duncan Quarter Pound SJ5-3 pickups are a good upgrade to this bass . The reason i lean to these pickups is because the store I bought the wrong actives from just let knew that i can exchange and those SJ5-3 and a set of Dimarzios are the options i have for an exchange .. Thanks again for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 6, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 6, 2008 if i can pick your brain a little more . do you know if those Duncan Quarter Pound SJ5-3 pickups are a good upgrade to this bass . The reason i lean to these pickups is because the store I bought the wrong actives from just let knew that i can exchange and those SJ5-3 and a set of Dimarzios are the options i have for an exchange .. Thanks again for your help I have not played those particular pickups. (Coincidentally, the only 5 string Seymour Duncan pickups I've used are a set of active pickups.) Both Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio make nice pickups. Pickups from either manufacturer would be an "upgrade" but maybe not be exactly what you want. The SJ5-3 will be slightly mid-scooped/bass heavy compared to a traditional jazz bass pickup tone. You'd have to tell me which DiMarzio you'd get for me to say anything about the tone. What exactly do you want? Here's my unrequested advice, again keeping in mind I haven't played that particular bass, I expect the preamp to be a weak point. I would suggest trying the set of pickups you decide to use wired in a passive configuration first before deciding whether to add a preamp. In other words, no matter what you do, scrap the preamp that's in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2008 The DIMARZIO DP549 Ultra Jazz 5 Set Bass Pickups are the ones I'm thinking of and as far as wiring passively . can I do that using the existing pots? The type of sound I'm going for is more clarity and pronounced notes without overtones . more punch type sound . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 6, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 6, 2008 The type of sound I'm going for is more clarity and pronounced notes without overtones . more punch type sound . Have you played a bass with the sound you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sparks27 Posted October 6, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2008 I have only owned two basses . the ibanez btb455 and this Douglas . I didnt really care for the way the Ibanez sounded and it was a right handed bass thus limited my playing . I love the way this Douglas sits and feels and it helps being a left handed bass . In fact its sounds pretty good too. I just wish it had more definition and the low B sounds pretty awful with the stock pup's and i feel like i cant quite dial in the mids like i want . why do you ask.. Am I looking for the impossible or am i not making much since . And thanks for what pots and jack to look for that was going to be my next question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted October 6, 2008 Moderators Share Posted October 6, 2008 And thanks for what pots and jack to look for that was going to be my next question. You may need long shafted pots to reach through the top of the bass and you need a barrel shafted jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jim-Bass Posted October 6, 2008 Members Share Posted October 6, 2008 Firstly, Lefties Rule, remember that. I have nothing else to add - electronics and woodwork is not my area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.