Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

[toneseeker74]

Anyone try these out? They come standard in the American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass. Fender web site also shows them available as aftermarket upgrade, but I have only found one vendor...and only bridge models are in stock.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

I tried these pickups briefly at my local Fender dealership. I was A/B-ing a brand new AVRI '64 Jazz Bass against the NOS AVRI '62 that I eventually purchased.

I would not care to say exactly how much of the difference that I perceived between the two instruments could be attributed solely to the pickups. I will say, however, that the pickups in the AVRI '75 Jazz Bass are noticeably different and rank among my very favourites.

In some respects, these supposedly vintage-accurate '62/'64 pickup specs are meaningless. Unless the magnets, wire thickness, number of turns or winding tension changed from one period to another, there will be very little in it. Pickup manufacture was not massively consistent back in the day and individual examples will have age differently over time.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

Thanks, Funkfingers.

I ordered a set of Custom Shop 60's, but they had factory defects. Now I'm wondering if it is worth it to get a replacement set of CS 60's or something else. How would you say the '75 reissue pickups differ from the CS 60's? I tend to hear more mids but a little less pronounced bass in the 60's.

I'm pondering Aguilar's J4-60's or J4-70's also.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

Allowing for the fact that the AVRI '75 pickups live in ash/maple/BadAss surroundings, I find them brighter, punchier and more "aggressive". Nastier but in a good way.

In an alder/maple/rosewood instrument, the AVRI '62 pickups have that sound that seems to fit pretty much every musical style that you can name EXPECT hard/bright snappy funk.

It should be remembered that the bridge pickup positioning changed under CBS ownership. This contributed some sonic differences of its own.

One final question. What instrument are you thinking to install your new pickups on?

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

2006 Fender MIM Standard Jazz Bass. Body is probably alder. Finerboard is rosewood. Pickup spacing appears to be 60's...a touch over 3-5/8" from neck pickup polepieces to bridge pickup polepieces.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Anyone try Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass pickups?

The current version of your bass guitar features the AVRI '62 pickups as standard. A friend of mine has one and loves it. Fender AVRI '62 pickups or the SD Antiquity II pair should deliver.