Jazzmaster owners...

[arcaneaether]

I need some help making a decision.

 

I have a MIJ Jazzmaster - amazing guitar but as you may have heard, the pickups are not great.

 

I've recently been in contact with a pickup maker (Catswhisker pickups) and I'm thinking it's a good option to go for as I've had some glowing reviews from people.

 

The question is, he makes normal Jazzmaster pickups (I assume to vintage-ish spec), and also makes P90 Jazzmaster pickups (fitting in normal Jazzmaster pickup covers). Which should I go for? I like lots of body to the sound, plenty of clang but not too twangy. I'm thinking the P90 but have no experience with the classic JM sound - is it that good that I should go for it? Youtube demos aren't that representative of their sound, and I've heard lots of praise for "the classic Jazzmaster sound".

 

Thanks.

 

TL;DR - vintage spec or P90 pickups for a Jazzmaster?

[ollenorin]

go with the vintage specs ones....if u want p90 sound, dont buy a jazzmaster

[only_shallow]

vintage spec. tele/les paul/sg's like p90s more.

[KoskineN]

+1 to the two posts above! Vintage all the way...that's how Jazzmasters like it!

[attic]

I have a USA Jazzmaster and I love the pickups. Don't have any experience with P90s though.

[amhartwig]

I've got a P90 Novak one in the bridge of mine. Sounds great; a lot like a Jazzmaster pickup but just slightly more aggressive.

[Gonkboy]

Some people don't think the bridge pickup on the Jazzmaster is great so you might want to try a vintage style neck and a P90 bridge PU. It would give the guitar a unique sound but you could still just use the neck pickup if you want a more authentic Jazzmaster sound. Best of both worlds?

[ChrisFFTA]

vintage spec

 

look at novacks and lollar

[Alex W]

I have a Novak p90 bridge and a Novak regular JM pickup in the neck. The p90 still sounds a lot like a regular Jazzmaster pickup, it doesn't sound like a full on Gibson P90. My guitar tech didn't even know it wasn't a traditional Jazzmaster pickup but he did comment on how nice it sounded.

 

I told Curtis Novak I was going for a Weezer Blue Album type of sound and I can come pretty close but it's still a Jazzmaster sound.

[only_shallow]

 

Some people don't think the bridge pickup on the Jazzmaster is great so you might want to try a vintage style neck and a P90 bridge PU. It would give the guitar a unique sound but you could still just use the neck pickup if you want a more authentic Jazzmaster sound. Best of both worlds?

 

 

I don't particularly like the bridge pickup, I have SDs in mine and it's very sensitive and extremely treble-y. But I'm cool with that since it sounds epic with both pickups on.

 

I heard that the pickups on the new classic player series are wound kinda like the p90.

[Gunner Recall]

I don't like vintage bridge jm pups either (makes me think all those blacktop haters have never played a jazzmaster).

 

I'd do p90 bridge/vintage neck.

[six acre lake]

I have an AVRI Jazzmaster. I only use the neck pickup. Actually I never use the bridge pickup on any of my guitars.

 

A few friends have Novaks in their Jazzys and they are nice sounding but not too different from my AVRI... Maybe a tad hotter.

[renula]

i use SD quarter pounders... love them, and mostly use both pups at the same time or neck....

[Faldoe]

I also have the Novak P90/Vintage set up, sounds great.

[Aedes]

Same here--novak vintage in the neck, 90/180 in the bridge (ballsy)

[imbuedblue]

Vintage spec. Seems like there's a lot of hate for Jazzmaster bridge pups. I used the neck pickup exclusively on all my guitars until I played Jaguars and Jazzmasters.

[Kidbs]

Dammit so many differing opinions. I'm wrestling with the same issue myself and can't decide which pickup to choose. I personally want something mellow with not too much output since I have other guitars with humbuckers for when I need more juice.

 

I love the cleans that Sonic Youth have had on their last 2 albums. Think vintage is the way to go for that?

[DL2]

Vintage spec. Seems like there's a lot of hate for Jazzmaster bridge pups.

 

Maybe that's cause they're brighter than a god damn supernova.

 

But that's what the tone knob's for, right?

 

Honestly, I dig the pickups in my MIM, but def post a demo when you get the vintage ones like you should. I wanna see what I'm missin' out on.

[gambit]

i use SD quarter pounders... love them, and mostly use both pups at the same time or neck....

 

i use the same in my Jagmaster. SJM-3 jazzmaster pickups.. they sound great! reeaally beefy

 

nearly all the video's in my sig have this guitar in.. check out the lovely cleans!

[renula]

Your freeze video is very good. That's what i want that pedal for...

[gambit]

Your freeze video is very good. That's what i want that pedal for...

 

cheers!

 

i changed the knob on it so i can adjust the level with my toes, but otherwise it's a great little pedal for adding drones or punching in on certain notes.

[arcaneaether]

Cheers everyone.

 

I've been thinking of two options...

 

1) slightly cheaper option - the neck in my Jazzy isn't actually that bad at all, it's just the horrific bridge pickup that brings the whole guitar down. Probably get the P90 one for the bridge (or I could ask for a slight overwind)

 

2) get a vintage-spec for the neck, and an overwound vintage-spec for the bridge.

 

Hmm. Choices, choices...

[Capsule]

I only use the bridge pick up in my jazzy with a darker fuzz. I've been thinking of ordering a Novak wide range humbucker (jazzmaster drop in) for my bridge position. I love the jazzblaster sound so this would give me the best of both worlds.

[ZeppelinPie792]

Just get the JM-V in the neck and JM-90 in the bridge. It's a great combination

[acdc518]

i just ordered a pair of vintage style jm pickups from pickup wizard for my mij jazzmaster.

 

if i can find this thread after they get here i'll let you know what i think since i too thaught the neck pu was ok and the bridge one was {censored}