Delano JMVC 4 FE/M2

These are a set of Fender Jazz style direct replacement pickups. They are Passive Split Coil Humbuckers that are visually stunning due to the four 9.5 mm pole pieces. Fully potted so no threat of micro phonics. The wires were nicely finished and the ends neatly trimmed and pre-tinned ready for soldering. Excellent all round build quality.

I have a DiMarzio Ultra Jazz Pickup set which I lifted out of my Dean Razor Deluxe to go into my new Fender American Standard Jazz fitted with the Audere preamp (subject of a future review). Having swapped out the stock Fender PUs and installed them in my Dean that I realised that the Fender PUs totally lacked dynamic range compared to my previously installed DMs. What???s a poor musician to do? I read a lot about these and other PUs on the Delano website and the very few user reviews covering the Delano???s. They are used in Human Base, Marleaux and Sandberg basses to name a few quality Euro Luthiers. It seemed like a good choice so I took the plunge and ordered a set ??? they are not cheap. A few days later they promptly arrived and 20 minutes later the PUs were installed, bass tuned up ready for the test.

I could not wait to hear what these pickups were going to sound like. I really was expecting these to trump the DMs all around purely based on the fact that they cost twice as much. The first impression is that the outputs from these PUs are HOT, almost out of control hot. I actually had to back my volume and cut the active tone from where I am accustomed in order to avoid the possibility of distortion (In my practice headphones, not full on amp but I know 'my' sound). This isn???t necessarily a bad thing, more getting used to a different sound canvas. The on board preamp is a Glockenklang and it offers the facility to go passive and retain the ability to roll off the tone in passive mode. In this mode the output was moderately tamed. The tone from the PU is ballsy and full bodied. The front to back output balance is good with no noise when either pickup runs solo. I tend to be more of a Jazz/Latin, Funk and Reggae player so I was not sure that these pickups were the right choice for my ears. Like the Fender I was not getting the dynamic range that I was accustomed to from my DMs, although it was better/wider than the stock Fender PUs. I need to be able to go low down dub style to glistening glassy highs for soloing and slapping. The sounds were good, very solid and somewhat 'in your face'. I would say that these particular Delanos are more suited to hard and heavy Rock bass. These PUs are uber-punchy and take no prisoners. The attack is very fast and if you are a finger player you may find yourself frustrated at not being able to use subtle expression. If I was playing bass in a heavy rock band I would be in heaven ??? put through an Ampeg SVT with an 8x10 cab, I think you would blow the back out of the venue, leaving your fellow band members strewn all over the stage begging for mercy! Never mind any other air moving bass effects that are suited to rock. I am giving it a respectable 8 because the sound was not really what I was looking for.

Although I realized that I may not have made the best buying choice for my playing style I will keep the Delanos for a future project, as they are very high build quality and maybe I can put together a ???Warmoth special???. In the meantime I will obtain another set of Ultra J???s to bring my Dean bass back to my preferred sonic characteristics. The Dean is my main recording bass. The combination of the 'Glock' and the Ultra J's provide a very wide dynamic range and the playability (I think I got lucky) and ultra light weight of this particular bass means I will not suffer fatigue in a prolonged session. I have been playing longer than I care to admit and have a number of basses all of wihich are of a good quality and are set up well for me. If you are an out and out Rock bassist, the Delanos may well be what you need as I think a rock bassist would definitely love-em! They certainly kick out a mean full bodied tone.