I'm no stranger to these pickups, having put them into a swamp-ash-bodied G&L JB2, a dozen years ago. The pickups essentially provide the classic J-bass sound, with a bit more of everything that makes that sound so essential. The recent purchase was for another G&L, an empress (palowina)-bodied lightweight take on a mid-60's Fender model. I had kept that bass stock for 7 years, as it had the sound of 1964, but finally decided that it needed more. The Ultra-Jazz pickups are what the doctor ordered. They deliver a higher output, with no single-coil noise. What's not to love about that? There's other DiMarzio models (I have reviewed the Relentless set here at FBT) for those wanting more low mid punch. The Ultras will appeal to the slappers, with their scooped mids. Those of us with more than one or two in our arsenal might find ourselves needing this sound, although I do prefer more low mids for most of what I do. I can still dial those in at other points in my signal chain, if I wish. I have been slightly disappointed in the Ultras, when having them in an alder-bodied instrument, but that's probably more of a me thing. Your J-bass will still be a J-bass, with the Ultras. If that's what is most important to you, then you'll know what to do.

The DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups sound like a regular jazz pickup turned up to 11. Everything great about jazz bass tone, the Ultra Jazz provides in abundance. A little bit taller than standard Jazz pickups, so use a thinner foam underneath. Other than that, these dropped in perfectly to my MIM jazz bass. The results were great, with strong clear tone and no single coil noise.