Any Suggestions on Replacement Jazzmaster pikups?

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:26 pm

The stock AVRI ones are too thin in the lead circut, too muddy in the rythm, and over all sound a little too weak when playing through a pedal.

Anyone have suggestions or experience with finding a set that are smoother, handle gain, less trebbly, and overdrive easier?

I've looked through the Novak & Lollar sites and they have a P-90 style pickup that might work fine for the bridge but I thought I'd see what you guys might say first before taking the plung on a $90-115 pickup.

Probably can only afford a bridge at the moment as I don't use the neck much other than when it's turned on in the middle position to cancell hum.

Jazzmasterfan · Post by **Jazzmasterfan** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:46 pm

I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:50 pm

while not exactly a jazzmaster pickup, i have the s-jag 3 quarter pounder in the bridge of my jag and it's basically what you are describing. hot, mid emphasised and good at gain.

i'd expect the QP for jazzy would be much of the same.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:50 pm

Jazzmasterfan wrote:I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.

Thanks, I'm going to check out the vids.

My issue is I play dirty, driven, and distorded so I need something that can handle those w/o sounds so damn bright and thin. How does your QP stand up when playing overdrive/dirty music?

Jazzmasterfan · Post by **Jazzmasterfan** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:58 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:
Jazzmasterfan wrote:I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.
Thanks, I'm going to check out the vids.

My issue is I play dirty, driven, and distorded so I need something that can handle those w/o sounds so damn bright and thin. How does your QP stand up when playing overdrive/dirty music?

I've only been able to push it distorted through an amp once at a rehearsal (doing it at home isn't an option...neighbours and young kids etc!). I put it through a Line 6 Spider (amp provided at the rehearsal spot) and put it on a clean channel. I used a Boss Metal Zone and it sounded brilliant. I didn't play around with the settings much (they were all fairly neutral) and it sounded absolutely fine...not too thin and not too thick. When I did change the settings it did respond accordingly. To me, the guitar just sounded full, powerful with lots of tone and most of all it didn't sound too thin at all...it sounded just right.

As for the guy on You Tube...make sure you look at all his vids...he does all sorts of styles, uses all sorts of pickups etc.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Jazzmasterfan wrote:
Chicago Mike wrote:
Jazzmasterfan wrote:As for the guy on You Tube...make sure you look at all his vids...he does all sorts of styles, uses all sorts of pickups etc.

Great, I'm gonna check out the videos after work tonight and see what he's working with...appreciate the heads up.

Post by **Doog** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Quarter Pounders are pretty much as humbuckery as Jazzmaster pickups get, definately similar tones and output.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:20 pm

Doog wrote:Quarter Pounders are pretty much as humbuckery as Jazzmaster pickups get, definately similar tones and output.

Nice...I'm definatley thinking a humbucker would suit what I need, so this might be a better option than one of the P-90 styled pickups from Novak or Lollar.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:09 pm

Just saw on craigslist guy in Milwaukee has a set of Antiquity's for $100 (for the set).

Might be worth giving those a shot before plunging into the Quarter Pounder region.

riotshield · Post by **riotshield** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:47 am

I swapped the stock AVRI neck pickup for an antiquity II but to be honest I didnt notice much difference

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:16 am

Jazzmasterfan wrote:I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.

So you're the guy on youtube with the awesome jazzmasters. I love those videos. Now I want a Jazzmaster

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:56 am

the_dude wrote:
Jazzmasterfan wrote:I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.
So you're the guy on youtube with the awesome jazzmasters. I love those videos. Now I want a Jazzmaster

He didnt say that was him...

Jazzmasterfan · Post by **Jazzmasterfan** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:24 pm

DanHeron wrote:
the_dude wrote:
Jazzmasterfan wrote:I speak from experience!

I have a 1995 MIJ Jazzmaster. About six months ago I wondered exactly what you were thinking. I did a load of research and came across a guy on You Tube with shed loads of Jazzmasters with different pickups. I went with Seymour Duncans (check their website out for clips)...SJM2 on the neck and a SJM3 quarter pound on the bridge.

My local shop did the change for me (I'm no good at DIY stuff etc!) and when I picked it up they commented that they'd been playing with it and it blew away one of the brand new Classic Players they had in stock.

Overall, I think the new pickups have much more power, much more tone and can really kick when required.

The Jazzmaster player on You Tube can be found here...check him out he is a pretty good player and as mentioned has loads of Jazzmasters with different pick ups http://www.youtube.com/user/Jazzmaster11

In short, changing pickups to the Seymour Duncans has breathed life into my Jazzmaster and there is no way I would part with it.
So you're the guy on youtube with the awesome jazzmasters. I love those videos. Now I want a Jazzmaster
He didnt say that was him...

It's not me...but it was really useful looking at that guys' videos when I was wondering about the pickups available.

NBarnes21 · Post by **NBarnes21** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:40 pm

I have Novaks in mine and love them. He makes several different types of pickups, I have a JM-V (vintage style) in the neck and a JM-90 (P-90 style) in the bridge. It's a really great combo, I can use the neck for cleaner/ darker tones and kick in the P-90 for distorted leads and whatnot. He also makes a true humbucker that fits in the same JM pickup cover. He hand winds all of them, the vintage ones are to vintage specs, and his customer service is top notch. You can also have him custom wind some to your specs.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:11 pm

NBarnes21 wrote:I have Novaks in mine and love them. He makes several different types of pickups, I have a JM-V (vintage style) in the neck and a JM-90 (P-90 style) in the bridge. It's a really great combo, I can use the neck for cleaner/ darker tones and kick in the P-90 for distorted leads and whatnot. He also makes a true humbucker that fits in the same JM pickup cover. He hand winds all of them, the vintage ones are to vintage specs, and his customer service is top notch. You can also have him custom wind some to your specs.

Yah, they look great but so damn expensive. Guess it's the custom hand winding.

It's looking like QP's as they're the most affordable, hot/midrange I can find at the moment.

NBarnes21 · Post by **NBarnes21** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:14 pm

Chicago Mike wrote:
NBarnes21 wrote:I have Novaks in mine and love them. He makes several different types of pickups, I have a JM-V (vintage style) in the neck and a JM-90 (P-90 style) in the bridge. It's a really great combo, I can use the neck for cleaner/ darker tones and kick in the P-90 for distorted leads and whatnot. He also makes a true humbucker that fits in the same JM pickup cover. He hand winds all of them, the vintage ones are to vintage specs, and his customer service is top notch. You can also have him custom wind some to your specs.
Yah, they look great but so damn expensive. Guess it's the custom hand winding.

It's looking like QP's as they're the most affordable, hot/midrange I can find at the moment.

Yeah, QP's will probably be your best bet for your price range. They sound pretty great distorted.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:48 pm

NBarnes21 wrote:
Chicago Mike wrote:
NBarnes21 wrote:I have Novaks in mine and love them. He makes several different types of pickups, I have a JM-V (vintage style) in the neck and a JM-90 (P-90 style) in the bridge. It's a really great combo, I can use the neck for cleaner/ darker tones and kick in the P-90 for distorted leads and whatnot. He also makes a true humbucker that fits in the same JM pickup cover. He hand winds all of them, the vintage ones are to vintage specs, and his customer service is top notch. You can also have him custom wind some to your specs.
Yah, they look great but so damn expensive. Guess it's the custom hand winding.

It's looking like QP's as they're the most affordable, hot/midrange I can find at the moment.
Yeah, QP's will probably be your best bet for your price range. They sound pretty great distorted.

Ah...I got rid of it yesterday for a '52 Tele Reissue. Just got annoyed/pissed at the show form the the really thin or really thick sounds I was getting. I dig the Tele a lot though, it's a killer so far.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:59 pm

My heart just audibly broke...

a jazzmaster traded for a tele?

To each his own.

Chicago Mike · Post by **Chicago Mike** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:08 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:My heart just audibly broke...

a jazzmaster traded for a tele?

To each his own.

Yah, I had one a long time ago and loved it. Had to sell it and then finally got my tax money and bought the new one and it didn't sound a thing like the original JM. It really bummed me out and I never reached for it over my Mustang which I'm starting to not like playing out as often b/c it's taking a beating. The paint is now coming off all over it and I don't want it battered anymore than it is at the moment.

Maybe someday I'll try again if I could find a cheap CP or Japanese JM.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:21 pm

Jazzmasterfan wrote:
DanHeron wrote:
the_dude wrote: So you're the guy on youtube with the awesome jazzmasters. I love those videos. Now I want a Jazzmaster
He didnt say that was him...
It's not me...but it was really useful looking at that guys' videos when I was wondering about the pickups available.

*Takes foot out of mouth*