I recently upgraded my second-hand Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass (short scale) with the EMG GZR PJ pickup set, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
Out of the box, I already liked the original P pickup—it had a solid tone that suited the bass well. The J bridge pickup, though, always felt like the weak link. It sounded thin and brittle, and on its own, it produced a noticeable amount of hum—typical for a single-coil. I considered just replacing the J pickup, but finding one that balances well with a P pickup can be tricky. That’s what led me to go all-in and replace both with the EMG GZR PJ set.
The difference is night and day.
The new neck pickup sounds at least as good as the original, maybe even a touch darker—which I actually prefer. It delivers that satisfying, punchy "thump" that you’d expect from a good P pickup, and it’s hard to believe it’s coming from a short-scale bass with such a slim neck.
The bridge pickup, though, is the real game changer. The EMG J pickup is a stacked humbucker, and it completely eliminates the hum I used to get with the stock single-coil. More importantly, it sounds fantastic—more mids and highs than the P, with a nice growl when you dig in, especially right above the pickup. It’s punchy, full, and perfectly balanced with the neck pickup. The bass is now dead silent when idle, which confirms the shielding is solid too.
Installation was a breeze—no soldering at all. Just plug and play. I did have to order new knobs to fit the EMG pots, but that was no big deal.
Tone-wise, I’m loving the flexibility. The P pickup alone is completely usable. Blending both pickups gives me a wide tonal palette just by adjusting the volume knobs. And best of all, the J pickup on its own is now actually usable—just roll off the tone a bit, and you're good to go. That was never the case with the original setup.
In short: this set breathed new life into my Jaguar Bass. Highly recommended if you're looking for a passive PJ upgrade with zero hum and a ton of character.