Blacktop JM mod questions.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

Heyo everyone, it was my 23rd birthday last week and I finally pulled the trigger on a black Blacktop JM. I am in need of some assistance.

First: I'd like the overall look to be black-and-cream. Will be spraypainting the pickguard black and would like to get cream pickup covers. Would one like this fit the stock neck pickup?

http://www.allparts.com/Soapbar-Pickup- ... 46-028.htm

Second question regards the humbucker-- if I'm into 90s sounds like My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr and Siamese-Dream era Smashing Pumpkins, are their any recommendations? At the risk of sounding super-vague, I'm looking for a a good aftermarket that distorts really well but still sounds good and crisp when using non-overdrive/fuzz/distortion effects. My rig is pretty simple, just a Russian Big Muff and some reverse reverb. If this question is better suited to the other thread regarding Blacktop JM humbucker replacement, please do let me know and I'll edit this post.

Thanks in advance! I've already ordered a Mastery bridge and am really stoked on this guitar.

[Bacchus]

Seymour Duncan JB? That's usually the bridge humbucker of choice for all things nineties and distorted isn't it?

[Lucamo]

as far as I know, that will not fit the stock pickup.

you need to find a jazzmaster style pickup cover



It has to 4 screws giving it the wider look. I also think it is abit wider.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

@ BacchusPaul: I'm pretty out of the loop when it comes to specific pickup sounds. I guess? I will look into them!

@ Lucamo: like this pair? http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Genuine-Fender-Ja ... 5641294188

Cheers!

[Lucamo]

Yep Yep amigo, those look just right, and their genuine! if they don't fit sue!

[SGJarrod]

Seymour Duncan JB? That's usually the bridge humbucker of choice for all things nineties and distorted isn't it?

Tru

[Bacchus]

That link in your second post is what you need as regards covers. The ones in your original post are for P-90 style pickups. They look similar but count the number of holes. They are a different shape, too. I'm not sure how cream they will be though. You could always darken them a bit more with coffee/tea treatments.

I know that the Seymour Duncan JB is sort of the standard recommendation for getting a Jag-stang to sound a bit more Kurt Cobainey (not that that's what you're going for specifically, but it's close enough in ballpark terms).

I'm not sure of the merits of spraypainting a pickguard either. I can't imagine it being particularly durable, although it will might look really cool when bits of the paint start coming away with your strumming.

[Bacchus]

Also: Post pics of the guitar when you receive it. We like pictures of guitars.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

That link in your second post is what you need as regards covers. The ones in your original post are for P-90 style pickups. They look similar but count the number of holes. They are a different shape, too. I'm not sure how cream they will be though. You could always darken them a bit more with coffee/tea treatments.

Ah, okay.

I know that the Seymour Duncan JB is sort of the standard recommendation for getting a Jag-stang to sound a bit more Kurt Cobainey (not that that's what you're going for specifically, but it's close enough in ballpark terms).

Hmmm. Yeah, I'm trying to get Kevin Shieldsy, really.

I'm not sure of the merits of spraypainting a pickguard either. I can't imagine it being particularly durable, although it will might look really cool when bits of the paint start coming away with your strumming.

Hmm. Well, years ago a friend I knew had a really janky Mexi J-bass, and he did a gloss black spray with fine results. He played entirely with a pick. But, where would one get a Blacktop JM pickguard as opposed to your normal Jazzmaster pickguard? Pickguardian does custom work but I'm gonna wager that would be expensive.

Also, can I get specific recommendations on pots and a pickup switch to drop in if those aren't to my liking?

[Fran]

Second question regards the humbucker-- if I'm into 90s sounds like My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr and Siamese-Dream era Smashing Pumpkins, are their any recommendations?

None of them bands players used humbuckers except James Iha, i'd recommend a humbucker size P90 based on the route options.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

Well, just for the sake of having versatility...what are you thoughts on the Seymour Duncan P-Rails pickup mentioned in the other thread, given its apparent ability to do humbucker, single-coil and P90 tones?

[johnnyseven]

JB's are good for rock and metal tones, they also don't sound good clean. You could try a Seymour Duncan 59, I believe Robert Smith uses them - I know that's not shoegazer territory but it may take you some of the way there.

You could try the Seymour Duncan Phat Cat which BacchusPaul is selling, for 30 it's worth a try.

[SGJarrod]

I personally feel you should get a pickup for what u want, to me it seems like when u have a pickup that claims to do all it may do all well but none great

with the JB think Jerry Cantrell, Kurt Cobain, Jeff Beck...ect.....not the thing ur looking for..

I put the JB, an Orange drop cap and vol mod in mine and am very happy

the pots are full size so I think scraping those would be a waste, but they are 500Kb.....if u replace them Alphas are great for the cash..also stock JM tone cap is .033....including this one

[SGJarrod]

JB's are good for rock and metal tones, they also don't sound good clean.

I would tend to agree that the JB is not good clean but on the BT JM it is better clean than the stock HB if that says anything...lol

[Bacchus]

I know that the Seymour Duncan JB is sort of the standard recommendation for getting a Jag-stang to sound a bit more Kurt Cobainey (not that that's what you're going for specifically, but it's close enough in ballpark terms).

Hmmm. Yeah, I'm trying to get Kevin Shieldsy, really.

Ah, cool. I was thinking more in the direction of SP than MBV.

I'm not sure of the merits of spraypainting a pickguard either. I can't imagine it being particularly durable, although it will might look really cool when bits of the paint start coming away with your strumming.

Hmm. Well, years ago a friend I knew had a really janky Mexi J-bass, and he did a gloss black spray with fine results. He played entirely with a pick. But, where would one get a Blacktop JM pickguard as opposed to your normal Jazzmaster pickguard? Pickguardian does custom work but I'm gonna wager that would be expensive.

Might well work then. It'd be an idea to key it with sandpaper first, though. I reckon you're right that it'd be expensive to get one custom cut.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

Good deal.

Again-- SD P-Rail pickup in the bridge? Thoughts, anyone?

[Ankhanu]

Good deal.

Again-- SD P-Rail pickup in the bridge? Thoughts, anyone?

I think it's a great idea, especially with a Triple Shot ring.

[RedwoodCephalopod]

..what's that? Also, how does one switch through the modes? Is it something like a push-pull pot, or would additional routing have to happen?

[Ankhanu]

..what's that? Also, how does one switch through the modes? Is it something like a push-pull pot, or would additional routing have to happen?

The triple shot is a way to do the switching; the switches are hidden in the pickup ring.
Alternatively, you can use any other method of pickup splitting, push-pull pots, on/off/on switches, adding extra toggles, etc. You should be able to do it without extra drilling or routing.

[SGJarrod]

Good deal.

Again-- SD P-Rail pickup in the bridge? Thoughts, anyone?

I personally feel you should get a pickup for what u want, to me it seems like when u have a pickup that claims to do all, it may do all well but none great