Session 5 : Lindy Fralin vs DiMarzio J

Tests
- pickups Lindy Fralin Single Coil
- pickups DiMarzio J

All these pickups were built in my custom 1972 Fender jazz bass.
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Audio files

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My opinions
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Configuration 1 : Lindy Fralin Single Coil

I found the sound of these pickups very similar to the sound of the Sadowsky Single Coil pickups but with a more stronger bridge pickups. I got a very clean, well defined and well balanced sound. I think that these pickups reproduced the very true sound of my bass. But again I found the sound too gentle compared to my "dirty " Dimarzio J that add these middle bass frequencies that I like. As concerning the Sadowsky Single coil pickups, I found the sound a little bit harsh (too much treble).

After reading some reviews I decided myself to replace my 500k pots with 250k pots as recommended by Lindy Fralin (standard Fender basses have 250k pots). I got a much more balanced sound (no harshness anymore) with 250k pots (just listen to the sound files !). Pickup's sound and personalities vary greatly form each other and it is a good thing to know that if you want to get more or less treble you can use respectively 500k or 250k pots (pickups manufacturers usually recommend pots values but the need of more or less treble can vary from a bass to another and is greatly a matter of taste). I prefered the sound of the Lindy Fralin with the 250k pots. I especially liked the slap sound of the Lindy Fralin with 250k pots (that I prefered to the slap sound of the DiMarzio J).

The far most easiest and cheapest way I found to buy Lindy Fralin pickups in Europa : www.custom-sounds.com

N.B. : You can compare the Sadowsky Single Coil pickups with the Sadowsky Humcancelling and the DiMarzio Ultra Jazz in session 2 .

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Configuration 2 : DiMarzio J

Nothing more to add about the DiMarzio J pickups except that they remain my definite favorite (against Sadowsky and Lindy Fralin pickups) for a finger playing style. Learn more about DiMarzio J in other test sessions.

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Picture 1 : My custom 72's jazzbass whith DiMarzio J pickups