Jaguar Pickups - info please

[ellengtrgrl]

Hi Guys, it's been a while since I've been here. I finally have a little extra cash coming my way (courtesy of my state and federal income tax refunds), and I'm pondering pulling the trigger on a Jaguar. I still have a soft spot for them, due to the Olympic White, Japanese reissue, I played in a band back in 1990 - especially since I now know (thanks to you guys), that the saw toothed pickup shields were more than likely the cause of its microphonics. Also, the mighty tasty sounding tones gotten out of the 66, in Mike's YouTube demo, have re-lit the fire for another Jag. This time, if I get one, I'll put 12s or 13s on it, so it has the stiffer feel I prefer on 25.5" scale guitars, and my 26.5" Schecter 7-string. But I have some questions/concerns about the pickups. If somebody has the info, could they answer them?

1. Within the past few months, I read that the Jag's pickups are basically Strat pickups. Is this so? And if so, have they been re-voiced for the Jaguar? I'm not a big fan of the way Strats sound. Admittedly, a guitar's physical build has a lot to do with its sound, but so do the pickups.

2. The Classic Player Jaguar - I've read comments on the web, saying that the Classic Player single coil pickups, are basically mutant P90s. Is this so? I like P90s, but I'm kind of P90ed out.

3. The Japanese Reissue Jaguars - last year, I had a chance to pick up a '86 Japanese Reissue Jaguar, that I could afford. I didn't, due to the fact that it sounded kind of shrill (my old '90 Olympic White Japanese Jaguar Reissue, never sounded that shrill). Is is possible that this was due to the same type of Japanese pickup bugaboo, that players cite for why Japanese Jazzmasters sound so shrill? If so, would just a pickup change do the trick to cure the shrillness?

Thanks guys,
Ellen

[Fran]

1. Within in the past few months, I read that the Jag's pickups are basically Strat pickups. Is this so? And if so, have they been re-voiced for the Jaguar? I'm not a big fan of the way Strats sound. Admittedly, a guitar's physical build has a lot to do with its sound, but so do the pickups.

2. The Classic Player Jaguar - I've read comments on the web, saying that the Classic Player single coil pickups, are basically mutant P90s. Is this so? I like P90s, but I'm kind of P90ed out.

3. The Japanese Reissue Jaguars - last year, I had a chance to pick up a '86 Japanese Reissue Jaguar, that I could afford. I didn't, due to the fact that it sounded kind of shrill (my old '90 Olympic White Japanese Jaguar Reissue, never sounded that shrill). Is is possible that this was due to the same type of Japanese pikcup bugaboo, that players cite for why Japanese Jazzmasters sound so shrill? If so, would just a pickup change do the trick to cure the shrillness?

Thanks guys,
Ellen

1/ They are almost identical to Strat pickups but the 'claw', neck scale and hardware (bridge and tail piece) contribute to a different sound.

2/ I've never heard that comparison and after playing Mikes CP i'd disagree with it. They are more similar to Duncan SJag pickups imo.

3/ it could have been the amp you was using. Jags can sound shrill, you have to balance things up with your EQ and tone pot. CIJ Jaguars are well worth the money but the majority of users end up changing the bridge pickup.

Hope that helps.

[ellengtrgrl]

Thanks! You see, I'm debating getting my hands on this '95 Japanese reissue on evilBay



It looks just like my old Jag I had 20 years ago. it's also good to hear that the Classic Players aren't doing the P90 thing. It puts them back under consideration by me.

[Ankhanu]

The Japanese Jag pickups are a bit thinner than the American ones, I've heard, and the MIJ '66 Classic I just picked up seems fairly thin... but it sounds damn nice at the same time. While I love how it sounds, it certainly won't completely replace my Aerodyne Telecaster; I'll still need it for a nice smooth warm tone.

The Jag pickups don't have the same sort of issue the Japanese Jazzmaster pickups do... the reissued Jazzmaster pickups were wound tall, like a standard Fender single coil, rather than wide like the original Jazzmaster pickups. This changed the sound character of the pickup, making it brighter than the old ones. While the Jag pickups are different than the originals, they're not as incredibly different from the old ones compared to the Jazzmaster change.

Really, if you like the way the Jags feel, don't worry too much about the pickups; electronics are easily changed, but the way a guitar plays can't be so easily changed.

[Fran]

+1.
Definitely check the CP Jags out, they really are good and they have addressed a few design issues too. Still, if that Olly White Jag is the right price.. go for it!

[ekwatts]

If I could afford one of the CP Jags, I'd be jumping for joy on the face of a small child. Tun-o-matic bridge! On a Jag! A brand new Jag! It's almost as if somebody had just come up with this idea in 2008!

[Fran]

They've also moved the tailpiece forward to increase the break angle and the pickups are simply better than the CIJ models. Not positive but i think the neck has a flatter radius too.

[Noirie.]

Not positive but i think the neck has a flatter radius too.

Yep its a 9.5" radius, which didn't feel too alien compared to my CIJ Jaguar. Oh and the neck is definitely thicker than a CIJ's neck.

[Fran]

Wheres my fucking Chorus pedal?

[Noirie.]

Wheres my fucking Chorus pedal?

Have the bridge saddles landed yet? I was waiting for you to give me the heads up to send it along.

[Fran]

Wheres my fucking Chorus pedal?

Have the bridge saddles landed yet? I was waiting for you to give me the heads up to send it along.

No but the money is'nt in my bank acount anymore
I'll let you know.

[ellengtrgrl]

Hmmmmm, it sounds like the CP Jag is quite the sleeper. It just may become my #1 contender. Thanks for the info guys!

Edit: What are your feelings on the Limited Reissue '66s that Fender is selling this year? Are they just added bling, or are there sonic, and playing differences, compared to your basic run-of-the-mill Jag?

[Ankhanu]

My Jag is that '66 Classic, in 3TS. I love it... but, really, it's the only Jag I've had, so I can't really comment versus other Jags. I find it feels/plays wonderfully, the clean tone is bright and articulate, but the output isn't very hot. So, other than the low output, the sound is pretty good, though with the bridge pickup alone it can be a little too thin/bright, unless you EQ properly. I have played the Classic Player HH, acoustically, and I think I prefer how the '66 Classic feels over it... but there wasn't a huge difference, really.

For features, they're pretty much standard, 7.5" radius, standard switching and scale length, standard trem placement... just unlike most of the RIs it has blocks, rather than dots.

[ellengtrgrl]

Thanks for the info. It's kind of as I suspected.

[DGNR8]

Who can deny the pull of those MOP inlays?

[ellengtrgrl]

Yeah, they do look pretty cool. I had a chance to pick up a sunburst '67 Jag with block inlays, for $380, when I was in college back in 1986. To this day, I could just about kick myself for not doing so. But, I was so tight for money, it would have meant not being able to afford eathing anything other than peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodle soup, for the next few months.

[Mike]

I think the B&B '66 reissues are very nice looking but overpriced. You're paying a lot for a CIJ Jaguar with a nice looking neck.

The CP Jaguars I think are way more reasonably priced (over here at least) for what they are. The pickups aren't really P90ish to me, as Fran said, they're hot single coils, like Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pounders. They're not to everyone's taste - some people might find them middy, or too hot. I think they're great for what they do best - spank and rocky tones. They definitely push an amp more than my '66's original pickups do; they're obviously a lot lower output - a modern equivalent would probably be Seymour Duncan Antiquities.

The CP neck is definitely chunkier than CIJ neck (which is more like a Vintage example, although Bound vintage necks are chunkier). I like necks on the chunkier side - so both the CP and the '66 feel good to me.

[Ankhanu]

I think the B&B '66 reissues are very nice looking but overpriced. You're paying a lot for a CIJ Jaguar with a nice looking neck.

My '66 Classic was actually the cheapest Jag I've ever seen (other than one or two on eBay through the years), at $770+tx. I think they dropped the price for a Boxing Week sale and didn't increase the price again after the sale was over. Good buy.

[Mike]

That is a fine price. They are considerably more over here; £799 to the CP's £550.

[laterallateral]

I think the whole P90-ish thing comes from a mixup with the CP Jazzmaster who's pickups, I will attest are unmistakenly P90-like in character.
If what Mike says about the CP Jaguar's pickups sounding like Antiquities is true, I would save myself a lot of hurt and take a good long gander at the CP line because my experience with Antiquities and Jaguars has been nothing but positive.