Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution 5-String Review: Active EMG Power

The Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution is a step up from the standard Mighty Jazz. Same Japanese factory, same build philosophy — but the Dark Evolution swaps in active EMG pickups, black hardware and an open-pore matte finish, a darker package that changes both how it looks and how it sounds.

I already reviewed the standard Mighty Jazz 5-string. This one is different enough to warrant its own look.

Rating: 5/5

Verdict: The FGN Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution (JMJ5-ASH-DE-M) is a Made-in-Japan 5-string with an ash body, a maple neck, active EMG J5 and MM5-TW pickups and an open-pore matte black finish. Build quality is exceptional, the pickups are very quiet and the 34″ low B is defined and usable. It is ideal for players who use the low B a lot and want the Mighty Jazz with active pickups and a darker look.

What “Dark Evolution” Means

Despite the name, there’s no roasted maple here. FGN’s spec sheet for the JMJ5-ASH-DE-M lists an ash body, a U-shape maple neck and a maple fingerboard — the same woods as the standard JMJ5-ASH-M. What changes is the rest: EMG pickups instead of Seymour Duncans, 24 frets instead of 22, an open-pore matte finish, black hardware and black GOTOH tuners on a matching headstock.

Same 34-inch scale, same FGN FGBB-405 bridge with 19 mm string spacing, same Circle Fretting System.

The dark aesthetic is also genuinely striking. This bass looks serious.

5-String Jazz Bass Format

The Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution follows the Jazz Bass body format, but not the classic pickup layout: an EMG J5 at the neck and an EMG MM5-TW humbucker at the bridge, with two volume controls and one tone. The push-pull on the tone knob is a mode switch — the MM5-TW can run as a humbucker or as a single coil.

I mentioned in the standard Mighty Jazz review that the low B is decent on 34-inch scale. That holds here too. The Dark Evolution doesn’t change the scale length, so the B string character is similar — usable and defined, not flabby, but not as tight as a 35-inch scale instrument.

The neck does seem to contribute to slightly better string definition across all strings. Whether that’s the neck itself or the active EMGs is hard to isolate, but the overall feel is solid.

The Pickups

The standard Mighty Jazz 5 I reviewed uses Seymour Duncans. The Dark Evolution uses active EMGs instead — an EMG J5 at the neck and an EMG MM5-TW at the bridge. They’re very quiet, with a clear and balanced tone that covers the full spectrum without favouring the extremes.

FGN itself calls the combination powerful but very low noise. Soloing either pickup gives you a clear, distinct voice — neck for warmth, bridge for bite. The blend between them is where most of the useful tones live.

Who Should Buy This Over the Standard Mighty Jazz

If you want active pickups with a very low noise floor — the EMGs are the main reason to pick the Dark Evolution.

If you want a bridge pickup you can flip between humbucker and single-coil modes — the MM5-TW and the push-pull tone knob give you that.

If you want the standard Mighty Jazz character with a darker look and slightly warmer tone — the Dark Evolution delivers that. It’s not a dramatically different instrument, but the refinements are meaningful.

For players who prefer the Seymour Duncan sound and don’t want to think about a battery — the standard Mighty Jazz is the better fit.

Build Quality

Fujigen. The build quality is exactly what that implies at this point — exceptional. Fret ends are dressed properly, the nut is cut correctly, the finish is clean and consistent. The maple neck has a smooth, comfortable feel under the hand.

Hardware is solid. Tuners hold pitch precisely. Bridge is well-machined. String spacing at the bridge is comfortable for 5-string playing — not cramped, not spread so wide that technique suffers.

FAQ

Does the Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution have a roasted maple neck?

No. FGN’s spec sheet lists a U-shape maple neck with a maple fingerboard and an ash body — the same woods as the standard Mighty Jazz 5. The dark look comes from the open-pore matte black finish and the black hardware.

Is the Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution better than the standard Mighty Jazz?

It’s different rather than better in an absolute sense. The Dark Evolution has active EMG pickups, 24 frets and a matte black finish; the standard model has Seymour Duncans and 22 frets. Whether the switch is worth it depends on whether you want an active, low-noise sound.

How is the low B string on the Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution?

Solid for a 34-inch scale 5-string. Defined and usable for most styles. Players who need maximum low B tightness for heavy styles should consider a 35-inch scale instrument, but for most music the Dark Evolution’s B string is more than adequate.

Are the pickups on the Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution active?

Yes. It uses EMG active pickups — an EMG J5 at the neck and an EMG MM5-TW at the bridge. The push-pull on the tone control is a mode switch, and the MM5-TW can run as a humbucker or as a single coil.

Is the Fujigen Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution good for slap bass?

Yes. The Jazz Bass format suits slap well — bright bridge pickup, good upper-register access, and 24 frets. The Dark Evolution’s slightly warmer character doesn’t significantly affect slap playability.

Related Posts

• Fujigen Mighty Jazz 5-String Review — Standard Version
• Fujigen FGN Bass Review
• Fujigen Mighty Power Precision Bass Review
• Yamaha BB734A vs Fujigen Mighty Jazz

The Mighty Jazz Dark Evolution 5-string is for the player who’s already past asking whether they need a five-string and has started asking which one is worth their money. Fujigen’s answer involves a darker tonal character than their standard Mighty Jazz — the name is accurate. The upper midrange is smoother, the fundamental is more pronounced.

Five-string jazz bass instruments often struggle with the B string. The low B needs to feel like part of the instrument, not an afterthought bolted onto a four-string design. Fujigen’s neck construction gives the B string definition without tightness. You can play fast passages on the low B without the note blurring.

For players who use the low B as a primary playing string rather than just an occasional extension, this distinction matters enormously.