Jazzmaster AV65/PV65 Pickups

[timiscott]

I saw a post on another forum which said that the PV65 Jazzmaster pups were a hotter version of the AV65 pups and it set me wondering. I thought they were the same thing but I've got to say that my MIJ with PV65s definitely has more bite to it than my AV65 Jazzmaster - which sounds much smoother and more mellow. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[timiscott]

Anyone?

[Francer]

I don’t know for sure but looking at spec sheets, AV65 pickups are described as American Vintage ‘65 but pickups in AO series are described as Pure Vintage. Might just be naming convention though, I seem to recall when the AO series was released they were described as retaining the same pickups as the AV65.

I have an AV65 jag and used to have a CIJ Jag with pure vintage pickups installed, they did sound subtly different but I put that down to the many other variances between the guitars

[timiscott]

Thanks for that. I was thinking along those lines myself! I was thrown by the poster saying the PV65s were hotter! Oh well..

[Liquitone]

As far as I understand they are the same pickups and the 'pure vintage' name is used when bought in a set.

[timtam]

Riley's description of Pure Vintage 65's ...
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-pu ... 992239000/
"Comes stock in the Fender American Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster reissue."

Both neck and bridge nominally 6.8k DCR, 3.2H inductance, Alnico 5.

[timiscott]

That seems pretty decisive! Thanks for clearing it up.

[JamesSGBrown]

Riley's description of Pure Vintage 65's ...
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-pu ... 992239000/
"Comes stock in the Fender American Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster reissue."

Both neck and bridge nominally 6.8k DCR, 3.2H inductance, Alnico 5.

Hypothetically, would that be a difference if you swapped the pickup positions? Or are is EQ chart just reflecting the difference the position has on the tone, rather than the tonal specs of the pickups themselves?

[timtam]

Riley's description of Pure Vintage 65's ...
https://darrenriley.com/store/fender-pu ... 992239000/
"Comes stock in the Fender American Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster reissue."

Both neck and bridge nominally 6.8k DCR, 3.2H inductance, Alnico 5.

Hypothetically, would that be a difference if you swapped the pickup positions? Or are is EQ chart just reflecting the difference the position has on the tone, rather than the tonal specs of the pickups themselves?

How Fender depict the frequency spectrum of their pickups seems to vary. The above charts are an example of the depiction appearing to reflect the positions in which the pickups are placed, rather than intrinsic differences between the pickups (all indications suggest they are nominally identical intrinsically, save for magnetic polarity). OTOH I've seen examples for other Fender pickups where the charts do appear to reflect intrinsic differences, or maybe a mix of the two. Like the V-mods ...


So it's kind of unclear how useful Fender's charts are. All pickup manufacturers could publish full frequency spectra on their pickups if they wanted to (recorded under defined/standardized conditions), like microphone and speaker manufacturers do. But it seems to suit them better to keep customers largely in the dark, and thus always buying new pickups in the quest for some ill-defined "better". We should demand more from them.

Some other pickups that Fender sells aftermarket - like the AVRI 62 jazzmaster pickups - come with no published specs at all. Some users have reported those to measure at slightly higher DCR than PV65's, just over 8k (not that DCR really tells you much).
https://darrenriley.com/product-categor ... r-pickups/

[Arc]

Totally agree with you timtam, why keeping us away from the actual mean of comparison between brands/styles of pickups?

[timiscott]

I think I'm going to go back to the point where I said 'That clears it up!' and put my hands over my ears!