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I'm hoping that the Sunday Handwound '59-inspired set that Tim wound up for me last week will be my favorites but I haven't installed them in anything yet. They're really for my Tonebomb project which I need to paint (I need good weather on a day I'm off!) but I think I'm going to throw them in my Daphne Blue JM since I have that wired up with quick disconnects in the wiring harness so I don't need to pull out the soldering iron.

That said, I'm that weirdo that has multiple guitars of the same type with different pickups so they do different things.

distressed wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:03 am

Antiquity II's.

SAME HERE.

(Amelia sat on the caps lock key when I went to type that.)

I'd have to say Sunday Handwound. He made a custom set "Alnico 5 wound to 7k3 with heavy FormVar wire and an Alnico 2 bridge pickup wound to 8k9-9k1 with plain enamel" and it sounds really really wonderful.

For modern pickups, it's difficult to say as there is such a variety of JM pickups out there with different tones. Currently, I have three sets of hum-cancelling (or noiseless) pickups that I'm enjoying. I'd give the edge to my Kinman Surfmaster pickups that are in my Squier 40th Ann. Jazzmaster for that traditional early '60s Fender Jazzmaster tone.

A close second for my surf/punk/etc. needs is the Fralin Hum-Cancelling Jazzmaster pickups that are in my Musikraft/MJT JM build. Maybe when I get a hold of some Kinman Fatmasters, I'll swap out the Fralin HC JM pickups for them.

For non-traditional Jazzmaster hum-cancelling pickups, I have a set of Novak JM-HC Diamond pickups in my Squier J Mascis Signature JM. These pickups are really nice for modern, alternative, etc with their jangly tones. They can do surf and other stuff, too.

Honorable mention would go to Joe Barden/JBE Two Tone for Jazzmaster pickups (S1-switch between Humbucker and single coil). These are fantastic pickups and totally nail the vintage Fender Jazzmaster tone but I took them out for the modern simplicity of the Fralin and Kinman pickups.

For non-hum-cancelling/noiseless pickups, I used to gig with Seymour Duncan Antiquity IIs in my MIJ Fender '66 RI Jazzmaster (long gone now, sadly). These pickups (to me) sounded best when I played at gig and rehearsal levels. At home, quieter levels, they honestly left me fairly meh. That said, I really wish I had given the SD Antiquity I Jazzmaster pickups a try because I do like the darker tone.

I don't think I really appreciated them at the time, but I was quite happy with my Fender AVRI '62 Jazzmaster's stock pickups that I had back around 2008-2010.

I blame the OSG regular suspects of getting me hooked on the Kinman pickups. They're expensive but sometimes deals can be found. I found my Surfmasters via Amazon for a great price.

I love the Fralin pickups and the standard Q pickups …
Novaks are really great too …
Hybrid q pickups are more agressive but really good too . ( volume is lower on the video because of the recording ) .
I’ve made a video comparison of my 5 Jazzmasters . They sound different but they all sound good. Hard to pick .

Jazzmaster pickups comparison

pikmin wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:39 pm

I love the Fralin pickups and the standard Q pickups …
Novaks are really great too …
Hybrid q pickups are more agressive but really good too . ( volume is lower on the video because of the recording ) .
I’ve made a video comparison of my 5 Jazzmasters . They sound different but they all sound good. Hard to pick .

Jazzmaster pickups comparison

I never got Q Jazzmaster pickups but I did get Q’s ‘64 Jaguar and two different Strat pickup sets and they were really great. I have to imagine that Q’s Jazzmaster pickups would also be fantastic.

I like Novak’s work. He’s a good guy and treats his customers well from my experience.

GilmourD wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 24, 2023 7:43 am

I'm hoping that the Sunday Handwound '59-inspired set that Tim wound up for me last week will be my favorites but I haven't installed them in anything yet. They're really for my Tonebomb project which I need to paint (I need good weather on a day I'm off!) but I think I'm going to throw them in my Daphne Blue JM since I have that wired up with quick disconnects in the wiring harness so I don't need to pull out the soldering iron.

That said, I'm that weirdo that has multiple guitars of the same type with different pickups so they do different things.

I put them in Daphne (temporarily until the Tonebomb body is coated in lovely Medium Wedgewood) and they sound pretty sweet! They're not quite as dark as the AlNiCo II Bullocks that normally live in Daphne but they're definitely not what I would call bright. The combo position is nice and quacky!

Anyone tried the J mascis set?

To be on topic, I use PV 65. I'm happy with them.

Just ordered a custom set from Mojo today for my AV65. Black bobbins, A2 Magnets, heavy formvar wire, slightly overwound bridge. Can’t wait to get / hear them.

After trying out Kurtis Novaks JM-HC Stealth -option I settled with Antiquity II's. I really like them. If I had an extra project JM to work with, I'd propably insert the Novaks as a Jazzblaster configuration.

unreal77 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 25, 2023 9:09 am

Anyone tried the J mascis set?

To be on topic, I use PV 65. I'm happy with them.

You mean the set sold as aftermarket that look kinda, sorta vintage spec rather than the P90s in the Squier?

unreal77 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 25, 2023 9:09 am

Anyone tried the J mascis set?

I put a set in my Jazzmaster a couple weeks ago and really like them so far.

My two favorites: the Novak WRHB’s I bought here on OSG second hand 10 years ago and the Pickup Wizard hybrid p90 bridge/gray bobbin neck set I bought on here second hand five years ago.

I’m really happy with my old Seymour Duncan SJM-1s.