LeftyBassist.com

I have 3 passive "Jazz" basses and 3 sets of pickups... and I want to puts flats on one of the basses.

Which bass should I put flats on, and which pickups with which bass?

Basses:

2002 Lakland Joe Osborn, USA
Alder body, rosewood board

1976 Fender Jazz
Ash body with maple board

198? Fender Jazz MIJ
Basswood body, rosewood board

Pickups:

Lindy Fralins
DiMarzio Ultra Jazz
Fender Vintage "Noiseless"

Thanks!

That's a tough one, what's your main player? I'd be inclined to putting flats on the MIJ Jazz unless you want flats on the bass you play the most (which I'm assuming is the Lakland).

I guess I'd say the Lakland is my main player, but I've realized recently that no one bass stays as my main player for long. I like to mix things up a bit. I have 7 basses and I like to use them all.

But yeah, putting the flats on the MIJ Jazz was my initial preference. Can't go wrong with any choice, though. And I love to tinker and mess around with different combos.

The Fralins are stock in the Lakland. It's a very "polite" tone, even through my SVT II and 410 cab. I'm very curious to hear a more aggressive, or more hi fi pickup in the Lakland.

My vote would be the MIJ for flats as well with Fralins. I assume the MIJ bridge PUP location is similar to a vintage or pre-72 J, so with that PUP placement, rosewood board, and Fralins you should get a nice vintage J thump. Try the Ultra Js in the Lakland or '76 if you want more aggression/bite. I used to have those PUPs in my '72 J and they were great. I've never tried noiseless PUPs, so I can't comment.

Me too I would go with the MIJ because the 76 looks like a killer Marcus Miller bass with some growls to it.

The Lakland would give you a nice tone as well,so the other one would a good choice for flats IMO.

Sylvain

bbl do you have a talkbass account? What is your user name? I am just curious as I have a SVT II (non-pro) and am looking into getting a J at some point in time. Cheers.

bbl,


A priori, it is difficult to tell, personally I would switch strings on all of them and try out. Let me guess though as I am relatively familiar with some of your gear.
- The Lakland will sound nice but the sound will be deep and greasy, you won't cut much through the mix - perfect for Reggae (I have some Lindy's too on my "passified" Fender Am Deluxe and I played reggae with flats for awhile). I totally agree the Lindy's are great but a little too "tamed" and the highs are a little too clean and sharp. I think flats sound better with a pickup that has less winding like a Seymour Antiquity. I don't use flat on this bass anymore

- The MIJ with the pickups I sold you, could be interesting as the highs on those pickups peak around 4.5hz and then cut off (if I recall). It could be a good one

- The 1975 will probably sound great and still cut through the mix but it is too bad to put flats on a 1975 jazz with a maple neck since such a bass is pretty much the ultimate slapper delight. (there is a used righty 1982 Jazz with ash body and maple neck with Labella flats for sale at Guitar Showcase if you want to try and get an idea of the sound)

Now I own 3 different sets of flats and they are all very different.
I have some old Rotosound RS77: they sound incredibly crunchy and thumpy but not as much lows as the other ones. They sound great with a pick. I have some 2 yrs old Chromes 105-50: they sound massive and thumpy with less highs. Perfect for Reggae or rock with a pick. On my Fender P Bass (now equiped with the Fender 62' pickups) I use the TI's which sound deeper and well balance but the lack of tension make them work only for fingerstyle playing. Pick does not work well with the TI's.

I would put the Fralins on the Lakland where they belong and no flats !

Then for the flats I would put it on the Japanese with the noiseless since they can be a bit dull and would fit the "vintage" vibe.

And the DiMarzio on the 76 will bark like no one.

That would be my first try.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Sly