-=Jazzmaster and Jaguar Pickups and Electronics FAQ=-
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 3:51 am
A lot of people ask questions about which pickups to use for their MIJ/CIJ, parts project, vintage restoration etc. so here's a little guide:
Jazzmaster pickups
Fender AVRI
Official reissue of a '62-ish jazzmaster pickup. Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound, although some feel they are a bit on the bright side. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Fender Japan
Decent quality pickups. However, these have a taller narrower central bobbin so the wind is shaped more like a Stratocaster pickup than 'true' Jazzmaster pickups, and this gives them a more Strat-like character with lower output and a thinner, brighter sound.
Semour Duncan SJM-1 Vintage for Jazzmaster
Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Not quite as bright as the AVRIs. Supposedly based on the sound of a '58 pickup. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJM-2 Hot for Jazzmaster
Overwound SJM-1, resulting in a lot more output and a bit more emphasis on the lows. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJM-3 Quarter Pounder for Jazzmaster
Overwound pickup using long, 1/4" thick Alnico V rod magnets, and a narrower and taller coil than a standard jazzmaster pickup. High output and a lot more emphasis on the mids. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity I for Jazzmaster
High quality detailed replica of an early black bottom jazzmaster pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Fairly dark tone. Alnico II magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity II for Jazzmaster
High quality detailed replica of a mid 60s grey bottom jazzmaster pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Brighter tone than Antiquity I. Alnico V magnets.Cloth covered hookup wire.
Curtis Novak Jazzmaster pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Although based on an original '63 pickup, since they are custom, you can have them wound to suit your specific requirements. He aslo offers P-90, PAF, Charlie Christian and standard humbucker pickups that will fit inside a jazzmaster pickup cover, with no modification required.
Jason Lollar Jazzmaster pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Can also be wound to suit your requirements.
Jaguar pickups
Fender AVRI
Official reissue of a '62-ish jaguar pickup. Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Fender Japan
Decent recreation of the vintage sound. Are known to produce a lot of unwanted feedback when distorted.
Semour Duncan SJAG-1 Vintage for Jaguar
Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJAG-2 Hot for Jaguar
Overwound SJAG-1, resulting in a lot more output and a bit more emphasis on the lows. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJAG-3 Quarter Pounder for Jaguar
Overwound pickup using long, 1/4" thick Alnico V rod magnets. High output and a lot more emphasis on the mids. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity I for Jaguar
High quality detailed replica of an early black bottom jaguar pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Alnico II magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity II for Jaguar
High quality detailed replica of a mid 60s grey bottom jaguar pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Alnico V magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Curtis Novak Jaguar pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Although based on an original '64 pickup, since they are custom, you can have them wound to suit your specific requirements. Options include Alnico II / III / V magnets, and enamel / formvar wire.
Note: Seymour Duncan pickups are in some cases wound differently than stock pickups, so for instance a SD neck pup and Fender bridge pup might not provide hum cancelling in the middle position, and may have phase issues. Apparently this isn't always the case, but it's something to look out for.
Electronics
Jazzmaster Wiring Schematics
From www.fender.com (vintage correct, includes grounding of the shielding plates)
From www.seymourduncan.com (closer to japanese wiring model, does not include grounding of shielding plates)
Jaguar Wiring Schematics
From www.fender.com (vintage correct, includes grounding of the shielding plates)
From www.seymourduncan.com (closer to japanese wiring model, does not include grounding of shielding plates)
Upgrading MIJ/CIJ guitars
Although the electronics of the japanese offsets work fine, some feel they want to have more reliable and/or vintage correct parts, and popular upgrades include:
-CTS / Fender USA pots
-Switchcraft / Fender USA jacks and switches
-Cloth wire
-Orange drop caps
Improving the shielding is also a popular upgrade, since some aren't shielded at all. Popular options include:
-AVRI brass shielding plates and tubs
-Sticky-back foil (copper / aluminum / brass)
Jazzmaster pickups
Fender AVRI
Official reissue of a '62-ish jazzmaster pickup. Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound, although some feel they are a bit on the bright side. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Fender Japan
Decent quality pickups. However, these have a taller narrower central bobbin so the wind is shaped more like a Stratocaster pickup than 'true' Jazzmaster pickups, and this gives them a more Strat-like character with lower output and a thinner, brighter sound.
Semour Duncan SJM-1 Vintage for Jazzmaster
Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Not quite as bright as the AVRIs. Supposedly based on the sound of a '58 pickup. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJM-2 Hot for Jazzmaster
Overwound SJM-1, resulting in a lot more output and a bit more emphasis on the lows. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJM-3 Quarter Pounder for Jazzmaster
Overwound pickup using long, 1/4" thick Alnico V rod magnets, and a narrower and taller coil than a standard jazzmaster pickup. High output and a lot more emphasis on the mids. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity I for Jazzmaster
High quality detailed replica of an early black bottom jazzmaster pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Fairly dark tone. Alnico II magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity II for Jazzmaster
High quality detailed replica of a mid 60s grey bottom jazzmaster pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Brighter tone than Antiquity I. Alnico V magnets.Cloth covered hookup wire.
Curtis Novak Jazzmaster pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Although based on an original '63 pickup, since they are custom, you can have them wound to suit your specific requirements. He aslo offers P-90, PAF, Charlie Christian and standard humbucker pickups that will fit inside a jazzmaster pickup cover, with no modification required.
Jason Lollar Jazzmaster pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Can also be wound to suit your requirements.
Jaguar pickups
Fender AVRI
Official reissue of a '62-ish jaguar pickup. Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Fender Japan
Decent recreation of the vintage sound. Are known to produce a lot of unwanted feedback when distorted.
Semour Duncan SJAG-1 Vintage for Jaguar
Good quality, faithful recreation of the vintage sound. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJAG-2 Hot for Jaguar
Overwound SJAG-1, resulting in a lot more output and a bit more emphasis on the lows. Uses Alnico V rod magnets. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan SJAG-3 Quarter Pounder for Jaguar
Overwound pickup using long, 1/4" thick Alnico V rod magnets. High output and a lot more emphasis on the mids. PVC covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity I for Jaguar
High quality detailed replica of an early black bottom jaguar pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Alnico II magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Semour Duncan Antiquity II for Jaguar
High quality detailed replica of a mid 60s grey bottom jaguar pickup. These pickups have been slightly demagnitized to accurately simulate the sound of an aged original. Alnico V magnets. Cloth covered hookup wire.
Curtis Novak Jaguar pickups
High quality custom made vintage replicas. Although based on an original '64 pickup, since they are custom, you can have them wound to suit your specific requirements. Options include Alnico II / III / V magnets, and enamel / formvar wire.
Note: Seymour Duncan pickups are in some cases wound differently than stock pickups, so for instance a SD neck pup and Fender bridge pup might not provide hum cancelling in the middle position, and may have phase issues. Apparently this isn't always the case, but it's something to look out for.
Electronics
Jazzmaster Wiring Schematics
From www.fender.com (vintage correct, includes grounding of the shielding plates)
From www.seymourduncan.com (closer to japanese wiring model, does not include grounding of shielding plates)
Jaguar Wiring Schematics
From www.fender.com (vintage correct, includes grounding of the shielding plates)
From www.seymourduncan.com (closer to japanese wiring model, does not include grounding of shielding plates)
Upgrading MIJ/CIJ guitars
Although the electronics of the japanese offsets work fine, some feel they want to have more reliable and/or vintage correct parts, and popular upgrades include:
-CTS / Fender USA pots
-Switchcraft / Fender USA jacks and switches
-Cloth wire
-Orange drop caps
Improving the shielding is also a popular upgrade, since some aren't shielded at all. Popular options include:
-AVRI brass shielding plates and tubs
-Sticky-back foil (copper / aluminum / brass)