Fender Cobalt Chrome - Jazz Bass Pickup DEMO

[@tanglefoot618]

Update comment: Several months of play later, I wish my demo was better! I really love the sound of these pickups, there is more articulation in the notes than I have ever had. The adjustable pole pieces allow for more string-by-string balance than the fixed ones. One major flaw…I had a grounding issue with the chrome plated covers because the way Fender attempted to ground them was unreliable. Buzzes, pops, cracks galore. I added an additional ground wire, anchored to one set screw on each pickup and they are clean as a whistle. I did contact Fender and even offered a more reliable design for that specific issue... Frankly, that’s a quality control problem that shouldn’t exist at this price point. Are they worth the money? As much as love them, they are too high. $50-60 less would match the market better.

[@VeitLehmann]

What stands out for me first is more bottom-end, while keeping the attack in the upper frequencies, or maybe even improving it. I like it! Would have been cool to hear the neck/bridge pickup soloed, and with tone blend halfway/fully closed. The P version didn't handle closed tone very well in another demo by Sonojono. Thanks for the demo and congrats on the upgrade!

[@laurenbrowdy4552]

Great comparison video. Thank you!

[@truthxbl]

Definitely more growl and control on the low E. Interesting!

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

In the recording of the 60's pickups I hear crackles. I think that is because of a cold solder joint. You should solder hot with a nice small tip to make sure the solder flows. I bet one of the leads in the pickup (that small ring where that small wire of the pickup goes through) had a cold solder joint too. If you would flow that the old set would probably come to life. I think in your lead to the amp there has to be a cable break or allso a cold solder joint in one of the jacks.

[@MainelyW212]

I wish they sold them individually. I want to add one to my Squier Vintage Modified P-Bass…. a-la Tony Franklin….

[@carlton1390]

Nice demo! These pickups seem to give more definition and punch. They sound somewhere in between ceramic pickups like Dimarzio Model J and traditional Fender Jazz Bass pickups

[@denattheoakleyoutpost6740]

The Cobalts sounded quieter to me than the other pickups. Was this the case? Is the tone more defined but quieter?

[@tanglefoot618]

That might have just been a by-product of the editing process, simply me not getting the levels quite the same between the two videos. I have noticed no loss of output when playing them.

[@jojoba619]

They do sound good in the mix. Don’t sound that great on their own. But, when it comes to recording bass these seem to do the trick.

[@rdvgrd6]

Sounds like a jazz bass.

[@subschool5]

lol lloyd christmas

[@totomoyap8648]

Sound different compare to Fender official youtube demo.

[@As5Hat]

I rly don't get the flats appeal. They just found like mud to me, but I'm in the opposite end of the style and fine spectrum playing Wooten and marcus with Tom Brantley geddy Lee pups and custom optima golds (85-65-45-35). Gonna switch to 90-70-50/45-40 golds soon im thinking. All that to say, which isn't relevant at all, the l price of those cobalts is total crap for the very slight difference I heard, but I'm rly averse to vintage style pups and especially flats in particular. That's the thing about bass tho, always chasing that tone in our head that we like for our own subjective preferences. I do love playing a contrabass tho, prob the only scenario where flats feel and sound good to me, again, subjectively. Surprised fender didn't release a gimicky gold version of these to charge an extra 100$ lol. I'm not even gonna talk about their recent gold foil disaster of a 'jazz bass'. Christ on a t-Rex whoever greenlit that shit should kicked in the arse lol

[@tanglefoot618]

Starting with the strings, I‘ve been playing flats for a long time mostly for the comfort and ease of playing. What I will say is that I put half-round strings on the custom bass I built and really liked the feel and the wider range on the tone knob, so I’m considering moving that direction. As far as the pickups, I agree that the price is too high. It was a bit of an impulse and I was also unhappy with the fact that one of my custom shop pickups had failed - for reasons unknown - and I just wanted to chase something new. That said, I incidentally failed to plug in my direct out during my most recent gig - and my first gig playing them live - and my amp was able to cut and carry the low end to the point where I didn’t realize I wasn’t in the subwoofers/monitors until the end of the set. Was it the pickups making the difference or did I just hit a sweet spot with the amp? I’m not sure, but there was more punch/cut than I had been accustomed to prior to installing these. Take that for whatever it’s worth, I guess.

[@jasongallman2032]

Overpriced horseshit