It’s high time to compile the best passive Jazz Bass pickups. In this short guide, we have meticulously handpicked the top six J bass pickups so you can easily upgrade the pickups and revive the sound that arrived in your Squier or Fender.
Jazz pickups have a bigger single-coil, and most of them improve or re-invent the Jazz Bass sound. So if you are looking for something with more thump and bang, with lesser noise, higher-tech, improved punch, sustain and clarity, read this guide carefully and make an informed decision.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the best-rated Jazz Bass replacement pickups.
Best Replacement Pickups for Fender Jazz Bass
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz Bass Set (Editor’s Choice)
Seymour Duncan’s quarter-pound Jazz Bass set is one of the famous bass models created to take the bass to new tonal heights. The pickup set has great attack, hot output, and a massive attitude.
This neck and bridge pickup set has the intense coil winding that delivers an even and full response with sonic richness and great sustain. In addition, the neck pickup is reverse wind reverse polarity which makes it hum canceling when used with the bridge pickup.
The quarter-pound Jazz Bass set features alnico 5-rod magnets and offers an attitude you expect from a Jazz Bass.
These pickups are drop-in neck position replacements for American standard Jazz Bass. It comes with a black cover and wax potted for squeal-free operation.
The Quarter Pound Jazz Bass pickups are versatile and provide higher output. These work perfectly with vintage tones too. Overall, these pickups are the perfect upgrade for Fender Jazz Bass, and you will like them for sure.
Pros
- High output
- Easy to install
- High gain
Cons
- None
DiMarzio DP149 Ultra Jazz Bass Pickup Set (Close Runner-Up)
Di Marzio’s ultra Jazz Bass pickup is a perfect pickup set that upgrades J-style bass. These pickups fulfill the requirements of j style bass fans and have distinct midrange richness with more percussive highs and wider frequency for deeper lows.
This Ultra Jazz Bass pickup by Di Marzio delivers low noise performance. These hum-canceling pickups have a traditional appearance but with dynamic frequency response and range. In addition, the hybrid magnetic structure works for modern and vintage sounds.
Designed from the combination of ceramic and Alnico 5 magnets, it features a passive pickup design and a unique hybrid magnetic structure to create high resistance. These are exciting options with high output for Jazz Bass.
The pickup has massive percussive highs and clean lows. These are quick with any playing style and respond instantly to pick style or finger playing. The qualities are beautifully combined and result in musical output.
Pros
- Sound great
- Well balanced
- High output pickup
Cons
- Some customers faced Installation issue
Fender Custom Shop ’60s Jazz Bass Pickups
Fender Custom Shop ’60s Jazz Bass pickups deliver balanced midrange and high output. These pickups are fantastic and are overwound for great punch, bass, midrange, and output.
The Custom Shop series adds premium and modern twists to vintage designs. It delivers more punch with clear low-end sounds. The balanced bass gives way to highs and offers more bite than stock pickups. The tone is harmonious, rich with lots of mid-range definitions.
The Jazz Bass pickups are passive, so you need not worry about the battery. They have been constructed using Alnico 5 magnets with flush mount pole pieces for balanced response and tone. They boost bass frequencies and are slightly subtle down the middle and high frequencies. So if you are fond of the classic growl of 60’s Fender Jazz Bass, then you can go with these pickups for sure.
Pros
- Excellent replacement pickups for Fender Jazz Bass
- Easy installation
- Pickup height adjustment tubing
Cons
- None
K&K Bass Max Dual Pickup System
K&K is a small pickup manufacturing company that began in Germany in 1984. The Bass Max dual pickup system is a passive pickup.
There is a 22mm sensor fitted inside the bridge. It is dual side pickup, and thus the transducer easily picks the string and body vibration, which results in balanced tonal output.
The pickup creates a broad range of middle frequencies, so it is perfect for arco and pizzicato playing styles plus, you do not have to adjust your amp when you switch between playing styles. It features an input jack that perfectly fits inside the bridge and is known for producing high output. The wrapped cable eliminates disturbance, and this pickup works well with small bass combo amps.
The Bass Max transducer uses two piezo magnets layered together in a sandwich design. One magnet faces up and the other down, making the wedge-mount easy. The pickup is sturdy enough and has a balanced high output signal over the entire tone range.
Pros
- High Output
- Balanced transmission
- Rich harmony
Cons
- None
Fender Generation 4 Noiseless Jazz Bass Pickups
You can achieve the sonic equivalent of authentic vintage-style Fender tone with Generation 4 Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups. These pickups offer noise-free performance, and a clear and crisp tone is prevalent in Fenders DNA. In addition, the Gen 4 Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups take you to the new world of sonic excellence with their clearly defined high-end, tight low-end, and punchy mids.
These passive pickups are made from Alnico 5 magnets. The neck pickup measures the resistance of 11K, while the bridge pickup has 12.5K resistance. It is a perfect upgrade for Fender Jazz Bass, and you can definitely try them to enjoy the great sound of Fender-made Alnico pickups.
The Fender Gen 4 Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups are a new addition to the Fender’s Jazz Bass pickups. These are the latest update to the Fender’s noiseless technology. Fender is working on the creating noise-canceling pickups, and this fourth-generation assures it to provide better performance than other pickups. These single-coil pickups are made to replace stock Fender Jazz Bass pickups.
Pros
- Great hum-canceling
- Sounds great
- High clarity and punch
Cons
- None
Bartolini Original Bass Series 4-String J Bass Pickups
The Bartolini Original Bass Series Dual In-line pickups are made from two types of carbon steel. They feature ceramic ferrite magnets with opposite polarities for the treble and bass sides of the pickups.
The name itself defines its design, so two magnets are vertically aligned and cancel out electromagnetic hum. A special sealing method is used, and epoxy covers the pickups and shields the magnets from any sound that exists only when magnets are touched.
These pickups are the perfect replacement for stock Fender Jazz Bass pickups. The product is well made after extensive research, so your guitar can sound the best. The strong lows, deep tone, and low mid-tone make it popular among musicians. You will love this pickup for its ultimate performance.
After years of research in acoustic and speaker systems, Bartolini pickups started designing and manufacturing guitar pickups in the 1970s. He was keen to pursue hum-canceling design and thus created numerous innovative designs. These pickups are hand-made and made in the Bartolini factory situated in San Luis Obispo, California. Bartolini pickups are the perfect replacement for stock pickups in a Fender Jazz Bass.
Pros
- Sound fantastic
- Crystal clear
- Wonderful fretless tone
- Ultimate jazz pickup
Cons
- These do not offer faster attacks, higher volume or brightness
Passive Pickups vs. Active Pickups for Fender Jazz Bass
It’s essential to know the difference between a passive and active base before understanding what they are. Usually important for the pickups and the preamp or electronics that work along with the pickup.
While a passive bass is normal with the single tone control, an active bass is an addition to the preamp powered by the battery.
Passive Basses
The electrical current from pickups passes through volume control, single tone control, and out to an amp through the lead on a passive bass. Here the tone control is a resistor that acts on the current. The tone control cannot boost anything but can only cut. So you need extra power to boost.
Active Basses
On active bass, the electrical signal comes out of the pickup and reaches the powered pre-amp. Thus you have all kinds of tone controls because more electricity is supplied from the battery. Unlike passive bass, you can boost any frequency.
Active Pickups vs. Passive Pickups
We cannot say that one is better than the other because it all depends on what you need from your guitar. For example, passive pickups are great when you want bass and play with no whistles and bells.
Active pickups have less output that you need to boost via a battery. This results in more Hi-Fi tone and low noise.
Pros of Passive Pickups
These pickups do not need external power source to function. With passive pickups, you are not susceptible to issues and need not to be conscious on stage. Passive pickups have different tonal qualities and are more articulate and open-sounding.
These allow greater music expression. They have livelier and brighter vibe and creates weak electrical signal making the role of amplifier more important. The amplifier boost sounds and gives better projection. In addition, passive pickup makes tone more expressive.
Pros of Active Pickups
As far as the pros of choosing active pickups are concerned, it is all about your choice. With active pickups, you can easily adjust your tone without going over to the amp. Tone setting at source helps if you directly go to the mixer pre-eq.
Added output level and the preamp buffering are other advantages of active pickups. This helps in sound retaining on long cables, and you get more signals to play with varieties of amp input. The additional output level can be a drawback for some people as the extra level can affect pedals. Some pedals do not play perfectly with active basses.
So, the Best Replacement Pickups for J-Bass Are…
We hope that your doubts are cleared from this guide. Each pickup in this list can revive the guitar sound, whether pricey or cheaper, and there is no wrong or right choice. You can pick the one of your choices, but the journey to the fantastic tone is not easy.
Playing style and attack, along with the right gear, significantly impact the tone. As you develop as an experienced bass player, you will achieve your perfect sound because it comes with practice.
Our favorite is Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Jazz Bass Set pickup as this is versatile, delivers even response and sonic richness. It’s the best passive pickup for J Bass guitar available on the market at the moment.