Seymour Duncan Classic Stack Jazz Bass STK-J1n and STKJ1-b

The impedance is quite high as these are stacks (humbuckers) rather than single coils. The rating for these is on the Seymour Duncan website anyway. These are slightly different - the bridge PU being a couple of mm larger than the neck. They look very similar to the Mexican PUs they replaced, but closer inspection will show they are much better made and finished. They have the usual Seymour Basslines logo. Pretty much a direct replacement for USA and newer Mexican buid jazzes.

They are installed on a Mexico built Jazz that I bought in 2002 - it's a newer one with different size PUs. Both neck and bridge were replaced as the originals seemed much less than they could have been. Having just changed some guitar PUs for SD APS-1s I though a PU change would be a good idea on this bass. Considered actives, but I have an Ibanez RDS 600 that does that job - incidently that bas allso has SD PUs in it - a jazz and a MM.

The output level is about the same as the original PUs (which my luthier says aren't much like the USA Jazz PUs that Fender says these are - hwich is why a MIM Jazz sounds different to a USA?). I use this with an Ashdown, a Laney and a big Bass PA system - all OK. The tone is very similare to the originals - not the big change I was expecting - but once I tried them in a live situation I could tell there was a more appreciative difference. These PUs seem to be more harmonic - like I'm playing a 8 string. They really bring out the full tone of the strings without becoming muddy like most humbuckers - if fact they don't sound like humbuckers at all - except they are completely quiet - no hiss and interference. They are neither too bassy or too treble, but you can EQ that in on the amp if needed.

As a teacher I end up playing all styles and this PUs seems to be a good average, high quality sounding one for everything and covers the middle ground very well. But it's not a high treble or low bass emphasising PU if that's what you are looking for. And I'm not sure if you have a USA Jazz that you'll hear a lot of difference in sound. I was using a MIM Jazz so I heard some positive changes, but the clarity and lack of backgrong noise is a big gain. These PUs do sound much better when playing live - they just seem to jump forwards in the mix compared to the old ones in the MIM.

I think I'd get these again, but I'd try to listen to some of the others live. Personally I found trying and listening to other bass PUs was almost impossible unless you start getting out to gigs and making an ares of yourself with other muicians and trying to get to play their kit. There are no sound clips on the SD website - unlike the guitar PUs - which is a shame. But there are lots of AB tests (subjective?) from posters at Talkbass. I wanted something that was better than the MIM ones and more like stock PUs on the USA, but HBs rather than singles. These did the job very well. There were some nice DiMarzio's I considered the DP123's - but these are more 'standard'and I like them as they are less intrusive playing with other musicians than some PU's that sort of muscle their way to the front of the mix.

Pickup features: humbucking but similar in tone to a vinage Fender Jazz Bass pickup
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: P-bass copy with added J bridge pickup
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG Select
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan Vintage P-Bass
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): rock, folk-rock
Reason for pickup change: EMG Select single coil pickups hummed

Perceived output level: average or a little weaker
Tone: lots of growl, a bit thin
Sonic evaluation: I don't have a use for this pickup on its own--it's not bassy enough.
I blend it in with a P-Bass pickup to add some of that midrange growl and treble clarity.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I haven't tried it in the neck position, only the bridge. It does what it claims to there.

Comments: I like having the classic tones available on one bass, though lately I've been favoring another instrument with a Bartolini P-J set on it
(more versatile and clearer).

Pickup features: Noise free replacement for Fender J pickups
Impedance or other specs: Neck - 11.37k DC resistance
8.0kHz resonant peak
Bridge - 20.5k DC resistance
7.0kHz resonant peak

Model of guitar or bass: Fender fretted '78 Jazz Bass
Position: Neck and Bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fender Jazz pickups
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: ????
Your musical style(s): Diverse
Reason for pickup change:
Original pickups on newly acquired '78 Jazz Bass were microphonic.

Perceived output level:
Signal output is about the same as standard Fender Jazz pickups, noise output
from a single pickup is is a very great deal less than standard single Fender
Jazz pickup!
Tone:
They sound remarkably like standard Fender J pickups, perhaps slightly less
mids and slightly more highs, but hard to pick exactly.
Sonic evaluation:
Retains classic Fender Jazz Bass sound, sans the otherwise obligatory buzz. Allows flexible use
of a Jazz bass as a true two pickup instrument.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:
N/A

Comments: I wanted a noise free Jazz Bass "classic" sound (complete with the existing, well known
J bass pickup colourations), these pickups delivered exactly what I was after.