Yeah they are both the same idea really, a split coil pickup in a J housing. Not exactly like a P but same idea, two coils each covering two strings each.
Stacked humbuckers are actual humbuckers in J housings (i.e. two coils, each covering all four strings.)
These (the DP123 and 147) will sound different than that YouTube clip if you install them wired with the xBlend, too.
That’s exactly the question I asked the guy that builds the xBlend.
By the way: his name is Bas Becu. Yeah, “Bas” is really a Dutch name! And Bas is Dutch for Bass … how cool is that??!
Do whatever you want but yeah ^ this.
Return the Harley Benton which is easy for you because you live in Errup.
Buy something you like that has humbuckers in it that was designed and built to have that pickup.
You’re currently buying a bookshelf from IKEA and trying to turn it into a chair.
Just buy the chair.
I just want to point out the DiMarzio DP123 Model J pickups are linear humbuckers, not single coil. Each pickup has two inline coils wired in series.
Yes, I know!
Bas (the xBlend guy) tells me it will still make the sound more fat than it is.
I am undecided - will wait for my HB to arrive check the sound, then upgrade to the DP123, check the sound and then see what else I can do.
I am totally convinced I can get my JJ to sound the way I want it. Call it female intuition, but I’m sure 
And if not, you all can say: told you so!
PS Watch the video!
Yeah, it’s wired like a P, with two coils each covering two strings. It’s basically a P pickup in a J housing.
It’s basically a split coil. Not the same sound at all as a standard humbucker (dual coil).
What you need is a Squier Mikey Way bass, short scaled mustang with a humbucker
Or a Fender Pawn Shop mustang
With a big FAT old humbucker
+1, These are much better plans.
But if you’re set on the HB I am sure you can end up with something you like eventually.
Can’t get it in Germany, unfortunately!
The last price of the Mikey was 375€ here - that would have been perfect!
Make one,
Buy a Squier mustang
Buy a humbucker pickup, route a hole
No, really?
Problem is that I had so many basses here to play now and went to play a few in the stores here … and NONE of them was perfect!
Best sound was a stupid cheap Fenderbender P bass (but it didn’t feel good) and the Sire U5 (which was almost perfect). The Ibanez EHB was a strange mixture between sounding great and sounding sh#t, as well as feeling great (neck) and feeling sh#t (plucking position).
So, if I buy a bass in the US and it s#cks, I’ll have a lot of costs and no benefit. And sending back is no option.
Also I’m poor … otherwise I would have gotten my Avocado bass (Reverend Dub King)…
I really wish I had the tools and the knowhow to build my own bass - that’s next level modding
Can you check the source. If it’s direct then why not. If it’s processed then you are going to have all of their setup to recreate the sound.
The setup is pretty similar to how I like the G&L SB2, no tone but the bridge pickup blend into the neck pickup to create the tone. In this case you can select the master pickup. It’s cool.
Dp123 is already a Humbucker what would you benefit from this preamp. If you are looking for a unique and awesome preamp, especially a drop in preamp, check out John East. It’s pretty awesome, and has awesome reputation.
This one the battery is mounted under the control plate, no extra cavity needed. It has passive tone as well.
I agree with @howard get a better starting platform.
More importantly, if you are upgrading the pickup, then do the pick up first. Live with it for a bit, then if you are still not satisfy with the mod then add the preamp, by that time it would be back in stock. Changing 2 unknown things at the same time will not do you any good. It would be nearly impossible for you to tell which components yield the improvement.
OK, so this is partly my idea for a 2nd cheap Harley Benton MV-4MSB: buy it and just route a hole at the bridge position and put a Humbucker there. maybe put a 2nd Humbucker at the neck position.
The MV-4MSB is Mustang-like and I really don’t care about brand. I
Save your money and buy a short scale Stingray (the Sterling affordable line) from Thomann.
Exactly my plan!
Asking for a friend: what would be the advantage of the J-RETRO 01 DELUXE, compared to the xBlend II?
I find the design of the J-RETRO absolutely gorgeous!!! Can’t tell you how much I like it!
But the xBlend has some stuff I like … and it is hand made by a very likeable Dutch guy. And Dutch always support the Dutch! Bros before … you know the rest!
Do you know what you want? It seems like if you know what you don’t want you can get to what you want. I can hook you up to the Lignum guys. They’ll build you the bass you want. The crazier the better.
What’s your parameter. Can you give me the list.
I’ll give you the example
Short scale 30" neck through
zero fret
stainless steel fret
no tool back plate
slim satin neck
Compound radius fingerboard
Pickup fill in the blank
Preamp Fill in the blank, how crazy do you want to wire your electronic.
single saddle bridge string through design
multi scale?
etc
Unless you have seen and tried the xBlend in person, it’s just marketing. I play the J-retro Deluxe and own Marcus Retro and J-Tone, I know that they are awesome.
On the video you posted I thought I heard hum at the first switch, but anyways you won’t have to worry about it because your plan is to install the humbucker pickup anyways.
I’ll tell you that Harley Benton is not a good candidate. It’s awesome value as is with maybe some TLC if they have some build issues. Modding it is just not a good way to go. A better way is to get @Wombat-metal Mustang and change the pickup to either Chris Novak or Lola and call it a day, week, months if still not satisfy with mod change preamp. You’ll still end up with a visually classic bass and kick ass tone.
Or even better get the SS stingray like @Barney suggest, and pretty much do nothing. The pickup and preamp is already a killer, it’s a passive bass with some wizardry electronics, roasted maple neck. That’s what I’d do, if I don’t already have 3 Short scale stingrays.
We must precise that stacked humbuckers do not sound like justaposed humbuckers. Stacks sound way closer to single coils, but with often less dynamics and harmonics. But for the fat midrange of the humbuckers, you need juxtaposed coils.
The amazing thing is the Sterling will also end up same ballpark price in the end, maube a bit more but not much; sound better, and be far higher quality. You’re already looking at two new pickups and a new ser of electronics for the HB.
Yeah good point and dual rail humbuckers like that are a good plan for that, thanks for pointing that out
