EMG J5 and BQC system

A tour of the EMG J5 pickups with the BQC preamp. Installed in a Fender USA Deluxe V Jazz Bass.

[@TonyPuleo1]

Sounds excellent and I think you are the only guy (so far) that went into the EMG midrange control on the J pickups

[@samatza]

Thanks Tony. Yeah, I have the same EQ on my Goodfellow bass and I love the mid option plus I had four holes on the control plate so it seemed like a good idea to go with what I know works for me. Keep well.

[@XxBigguy3xX]

He stares into your soul.

[@raymondruiz1843]

SSS Sound So Sweet

[@samatza]

Thanks Raymond, I do like this system and it's so quiet. Keep well.

[@AlexOnBass]

I don’t even like jazz bases, but that bass sounds really nice

[@gimmeagig]

I have a few basses with EMGs and the BTS system. I love them.

[@samatza]

That's great! Glad to hear you're enjoying your EMGs. I've always found them flexible and reliable and after 20 odd years of use I have to give them top marks, they've always been very helpful. Be well.

[@gimmeagig]

@@samatza I had my first set of EMG P bass pickups back in 1980 and around that same time I also bought a set of J bass pickups. They had just come out and the housing had holes in it like a standard fender pickup, but no pole pieces were visible. So yes, I love them. I have only three basses that don't have EMGs and only because EMG doesn't make pickups for them that would fit. It's my Moon JB5, my Atelier Z Tomohito AOKI 5, and my Xotic Provintage 5. But I got great sounding quiet replacement pickups for them too (Nordstrand, Nordstrand, Aguilar)

[@samatza]

@Ashraful Alam I tried to reply to your question several time but didn't work so I'm putting in a comment here. I have used the J5 + BQC, two J systems for my four string Jazz Basses, passive P pickup for my Fender P bass and 45DC + BQC on my Goodfellow bass.

[@rmccain99]

Thank you.

[@alexandre7185]

Muito bom!👌👏👏👏

[@rmccain99]

Which EMG Jazz bass pickups did you use.

[@samatza]

Hi Richard, I used the J5 set, you can find information here: www.emgpickups.com/bass/j5set.html I'm told by EMG the J5AX set with alnico magnets yields a warmer tone with less highs and more mids, I may be tempted to try those out in this bass.

[@alessandrocruz_]

@@samatza you can't go wrong with the J5AX, I'm using the JAX and they're absolutely fantastic. One piece of advice: To fit a Full 3-Band EMG System inside a JB cavity, without the trade-off of controls being out of the proper order, try the BTC System with the VMC (Variable Mid Control ). That's my recipe, so I could fit my controls properly inside a JB cavity, while keeping the controls right where it should be.

[@phillsoares5929]

Excellent breakdown on this system. I have the same exact bass and this video convinced me to install the BQC system as well as the J5 pickups. Pretty happy with it, but your tone is a bit different. If you don't mind me asking.... Did you make any adjustments using the dip switches on the bass / treble stacked potentiometer?

[@samatza]

Glad you found the video useful Phill. I didn't change the dip switches from standard however you can have a bit of a play with those to adjust the treble shelf frequency. Ash and maple have a pretty bright sound to start with, I found the alder and rosewood combination a little warmer. Enjoy your bass, keep well.

[@rmccain99]

I like the EMG Hz Jazz pickups. I can still use EMG active Eq controls. How good is that?

[@samatza]

That's awesome! I use a passive P pickup in my P bass with passive controls and I'm very happy with that one too. Keep on bassin'!

[@northernmonkii]

I have the J5 pickups already installed on my jazz bass. Does the BQC system run off the same battery or does it require its own battery for power? Great video was verry helpful.

[@samatza]

Hi Tom, on mine I run both off the one battery and it's been fine. You can however run 18V with two batteries and this is recommended if you use a lot of boost. Have a look at at the tips and tricks here from EMG; file:///C:/Users/Theo/AppData/Local/Temp/powertips_tricks_0230-0190c.pdf I hope this helps Tom, keep well.

[@JuanCarlos-gu7gm]

Can you tell me if the aguilar pickup 5j 70 hc are active?

[@samatza]

Hi Juan, as far as I know they are passive pickups with split coils so they are hum cancelling.

[@brianbaker5640]

What is your signal chain for this video from bass to what? Is it all direct or is there amp in microphones involved?

[@samatza]

Hi Brian, as far as I remember it was into the Stagebug DI and into the mixer with EQ set flat. :)

[@keithjackson4990]

@samatza Hello Brother, I love EMG package on your guitar; it sounds great. I have a Mexican Fender Active Deluxe 5 String. Do you know if the EMG J5’s will fit in my pickup spaces? Also my bass has an active/passive toggle switch. Will I still be able to have that switch operational with the EMG BQC system? I want to do the EMG upgrade to my Jazz Bass. Thank you!

[@samatza]

Hi Keith, that's a good question. I've not had one of these basses in my hands so I don't know. The pickup dimension are here: www.emgpickups.com/bass/j5set.html you can measure yours and see if they are the same. My bass has a rectangular route under the pick guard that joins the control cavity, this give it just enough room for the BQC system and even then I had to swap volume and pan as explained in the video because it's a tight fit. The active/passive switch is not possible as the EMG pickups are active and won't work in passive mode, I filled that hole with an LED bezel. You may be able to check on some bass forums if someone has done this upgrade on your model and seek some advice there. Sorry I couldn't help with more information on this, I kind of took a bit of a chance with mine knowing that I could go back to the VVT option that comes with the pickups if the BQC system didn't fit. If your model is the rear routed control cavity with the plastic cover the chances are it will fit as they have more room.

[@strannikr9497]

EMGHZ are passive and work with BQC system. Also EMG tech said they can make the switch for extra 30$. so. volume, volume , BQC and switch. So far I have my Sterling Ray 4 with MMHZ and BQC....sounds super with 9050 Fender flats .

[@JuanCarlos-gu7gm]

Active on passive?

[@samatza]

Hi Juan, the system is active, pickups and preamp.It requires only one 9V battery for both. Keep well.

[@JuanCarlos-gu7gm]

@@samatza thank you friend

[@ashrafulalam3314]

How much improvement with this emg pickups & have it still the fender sound character & growl...?

[@samatza]

Ashraful Alam Hi, it does have that Jazz Bass growl but with cleaner highs. In my opinion the EQ is more useful and no noise which is a big point for me. All my Jazz Basses have the EMG system so you could say I’m a fan, I did try Aguilar but didn’t sound like what I was looking for at all.

[@ashrafulalam3314]

@@samatza have you tried emg JVX jazz set if then what is the difference between JVX set & J Set.....thanks...?

[@samatza]

@@ashrafulalam3314 Hi, I've not tried the JVX set however there is a good review on the Bass Whisperer channel if you want to look it up. Ed Friedland has some great reviews. I hope this helps.

[@ashrafulalam3314]

@@samatza which models of emg pickups have you tried with your basses....?

[@joshuazuniga265]

Hey ma, what knobs are you using?

[@samatza]

Hi Joshua, they're black aluminium knobs available from any good parts retailer. I don't know who makes them, I ordered mine from Best Bass Gear. www.bestbassgear.com/large-black-aluminum-knob.htm

[@2aamir]

hello friend, i liked a lot your video , yeah I bought two emg 45twx and BQS system to install on my bass, but I do not find how to install, can you help with the installation by means of a diagram Please, I need it urgent, I have time without knowing how. Thank you very much.

[@gimmeagig]

No Playing?

[@samatza]

1:58

[@teukurizkynoer8033]

do you use 9v or 18v???

[@samatza]

Hi, I'm using 9V on this particular bass. The battery cavity has room for another battery so I may switch to 18V to see if it makes a difference. I'm happy with the performance of it at 9V though.

[@edennard1]

I don’t think this system needs an 18 volt system.. personally I think it would make it real “ Boomy “

[@MIXMASTERDJCOBRA]

18 volts gives more Voltage to the input stage of the preamp Giving it more headroom or juice for sweeping eq as well as before it overdrives the pre