Jazzmaster pickup comparison

[alexpigment]

Anyone have any experience with both the reissue Fender CuNiFe WRHBs from 2020 and the CuNiFe Jazzmaster pickups released a few weeks ago? Back-to-back comparisons are a bit hard to come by.

I don't have experience with both, but the specs appear to be roughly the same. The only obvious difference is that the tele version has a metal cover, so it will likely sound a bit less bright. I would think they would probably sound fairly identical if you turned down the tone knob a small amount or changed pots to a lower value (e.g. 500k instead of 1meg, 330k instead of 500k, etc).

[ldp54002]

Anyone have any experience with both the reissue Fender CuNiFe WRHBs from 2020 and the CuNiFe Jazzmaster pickups released a few weeks ago? Back-to-back comparisons are a bit hard to come by.

I don't have experience with both, but the specs appear to be roughly the same. The only obvious difference is that the tele version has a metal cover, so it will likely sound a bit less bright. I would think they would probably sound fairly identical if you turned down the tone knob a small amount or changed pots to a lower value (e.g. 500k instead of 1meg, 330k instead of 500k, etc).

Thanks for your input! I think I'm going to take the plunge and put a set in my JM. If they're close enough, the Tele goes up for sale.

[NJBuck]

I have a Creston Offset guitar with Novak JM-V neck pickup. I want to love this but I just don't. Want it to sound as good as the neck pickups on my telecasters (Asher Sweet T on one, Shaw V-Mod on another), but just can't get there. I m playing fingerstyle, almost clean, but for some warmth from an Analogman Prince of Tone to keep it interesting. The JM-V is just kind of scratchy or something. Not warm, not round and full like the tele neck pickups I love. Is there a pickup that is lower output, warmer, that I should try before I give up on this guitar?
Thanks.

[NJBuck]

And who makes the lowest output JM neck pickups? Thanks.

[Gavanti]

I have a Creston Offset guitar with Novak JM-V neck pickup. I want to love this but I just don't. Want it to sound as good as the neck pickups on my telecasters (Asher Sweet T on one, Shaw V-Mod on another), but just can't get there. I m playing fingerstyle, almost clean, but for some warmth from an Analogman Prince of Tone to keep it interesting. The JM-V is just kind of scratchy or something. Not warm, not round and full like the tele neck pickups I love. Is there a pickup that is lower output, warmer, that I should try before I give up on this guitar?
Thanks.

You might look at the Lollar Black Bobbin pickups. SD Antiquity 1's might be an option as well. They're both voiced a little darker/fuller than the JM-V. I'm assuming lowering the JM-V hasn't helped.

[GilmourD]

I have a Creston Offset guitar with Novak JM-V neck pickup. I want to love this but I just don't. Want it to sound as good as the neck pickups on my telecasters (Asher Sweet T on one, Shaw V-Mod on another), but just can't get there. I m playing fingerstyle, almost clean, but for some warmth from an Analogman Prince of Tone to keep it interesting. The JM-V is just kind of scratchy or something. Not warm, not round and full like the tele neck pickups I love. Is there a pickup that is lower output, warmer, that I should try before I give up on this guitar?
Thanks.

So, you're definitely comparing darker-sounding Tele neck pickups to something on brighter-sounding end of the Jazzmaster spectrum. To me it sounds like you want something inspired by the '58 and '59 spec Jazzmaster pickups that were a bit darker sounding.

The JM-V is what I would go for if I wanted a brighter, clearer Jazzmaster neck sound.

[andy_tchp]

I have a Creston Offset guitar with Novak JM-V neck pickup. I want to love this but I just don't. Want it to sound as good as the neck pickups on my telecasters (Asher Sweet T on one, Shaw V-Mod on another), but just can't get there. I m playing fingerstyle, almost clean, but for some warmth from an Analogman Prince of Tone to keep it interesting. The JM-V is just kind of scratchy or something. Not warm, not round and full like the tele neck pickups I love. Is there a pickup that is lower output, warmer, that I should try before I give up on this guitar?
Thanks.

Sunday Handwound woodies were my answer.

I had similar thoughts/experiences with my Novak JM-Vs (since on sold).