Page 1 of 3

What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 8:43 am
by broadcasterguy
Dear forum,
I would like purchase a set of split pickups, for a project I am working on.
I would prefer to use a newer reproductions. Original 50 year old parts best, but are expensive and should probably be used to fill in gaps in original guitars.
I want them to replicate the look and specifications of an original set from 1966.

After briefly searching online, the only ones I have found so far are the Curtis Novak 'XII Fat' and 'XII V' pickups.

Are there any others out there that would fit my needs?

Thank you for your advice.

Image

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
by rank
I got Novak's for my XII build & couldn't be happier. I got white pickup covers made for it. Now that Fender has reissued the XII, you should be seeing some showing up from parted out XIIs.Image

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:21 am
by Embenny
I used a Novak XII-V in the neck and XII-FAT in the bridge (note: the "fat" isn't overwound, it just uses lower gauge wire and is a bit less shrill, not mid-dominant like an overwound pickup). There were no other options at the time.

His default is to wind them to vintage specifications (each pair in the same polarity and winding direction) but I recommend anyone who orders a set to get each pair RW/RP. They're split pickups like a p-bass, and if you have Curtis wind them as RW/RP pairs, you get him cancellation in all pickup positions instead of just the middle position.

It doesn't change the tone and it's insane to me that Fender didn't do this in the first place (or on the new models from 2019)...he used the same design a decade earlier on the P Bass and would use the same principle 15 years later on the G&L Comanche.

Anyway. I'm allergic to hum and there's literally no reason that an Electric XII needs to hum, the solution is already there in the design.

switch on pickguard

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 8:23 pm
by broadcasterguy
Great. I just ordered a set from Novak.
Quick question, that long white knob on your pickguard that is black on my photo . I need to order one of those for my project. Do they have a certain name, if I wanted to sarch for one online?
Also, is it attached to a multi position rotary switch? If so, how many positions?
Thanks for your help.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 1:46 am
by Horsefeather
Just google "fender xii knob"

https://www.angela.com/dakawarechocolat ... hknob.aspx

The original rotary switch there is a four position.

As for pickups, I've been intrigued by these lately:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Teisco-Spectru ... 1438.l2649

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:40 am
by Soniqfreq
rank wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
I got Novak's for my XII build & couldn't be happier. I got white pickup covers made for it. Now that Fender has reissued the XII, you should be seeing some showing up from parted out XIIs.Image
Where did you have the white pickup covers made? I’ve been looking for some for my AR EXII but have had no luck. It looks like Novak made them at one point but are not offering them now.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:41 am
by Soniqfreq
rank wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
I got Novak's for my XII build & couldn't be happier. I got white pickup covers made for it. Now that Fender has reissued the XII, you should be seeing some showing up from parted out XIIs.Image
Where did you have the white pickup covers made? I’ve been looking for some for my AR EXII but have had no luck. It looks like Novak made them at one point but are not offering them now.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 3:48 am
by rank
Soniqfreq wrote:
Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:41 am
rank wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
Where did you have the white pickup covers made? I’ve been looking for some for my AR EXII but have had no luck. It looks like Novak made them at one point but are not offering them now.
If memory serves, I ordered them from Shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/product/AWSYR ... ckup-cover

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:49 am
by BoringPostcards
Can't go wrong with Novak. Curtis is a gentleman, and genuinely does stellar work.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:07 am
by Nudger
The Knob can be found on reverb or ebay under..

Daka Ware Electric XII knob

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:57 am
by Embenny
rank wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
I got Novak's for my XII build & couldn't be happier. I got white pickup covers made for it. Now that Fender has reissued the XII, you should be seeing some showing up from parted out XIIs.Image
I know this is bordering on a necropost, but where did you get those white pickup covers made? They're made of unobtainium right now.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:06 pm
by Steadyriot.
mbene085 wrote:
Sun Dec 13, 2020 10:57 am
rank wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:19 am
I got Novak's for my XII build & couldn't be happier. I got white pickup covers made for it. Now that Fender has reissued the XII, you should be seeing some showing up from parted out XIIs.Image
I know this is bordering on a necropost, but where did you get those white pickup covers made? They're made of unobtainium right now.
It was posted 2 or 3 posts back but in a quote (happens to the best of us). Shapeways has ‘em:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/AWSYR ... ckup-cover

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:49 pm
by rank
Steadyriot. wrote:
Sun Dec 13, 2020 3:06 pm
I know this is bordering on a necropost, but where did you get those white pickup covers made? They're made of unobtainium right now.
[/quote]

It was posted 2 or 3 posts back but in a quote (happens to the best of us). Shapeways has ‘em:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/AWSYR ... ckup-cover
[/quote]

What they said.

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:27 pm
by Embenny
D'oh. I try not to ask questions that have been answered already, but I was overcome with excitement at seeing white XII covers and clearly missed it :fp:

Thanks!

Re: What xii split pickups do you recommend?

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2020 10:08 am
by garyptaszek
I thought that was the whole purpose of split coil pickups in a XII :wtf:
I always assumed they were like the p bass pickup!
mbene085 wrote:
Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:21 am
I used a Novak XII-V in the neck and XII-FAT in the bridge (note: the "fat" isn't overwound, it just uses lower gauge wire and is a bit less shrill, not mid-dominant like an overwound pickup). There were no other options at the time.

His default is to wind them to vintage specifications (each pair in the same polarity and winding direction) but I recommend anyone who orders a set to get each pair RW/RP. They're split pickups like a p-bass, and if you have Curtis wind them as RW/RP pairs, you get him cancellation in all pickup positions instead of just the middle position.

It doesn't change the tone and it's insane to me that Fender didn't do this in the first place (or on the new models from 2019)...he used the same design a decade earlier on the P Bass and would use the same principle 15 years later on the G&L Comanche.

Anyway. I'm allergic to hum and there's literally no reason that an Electric XII needs to hum, the solution is already there in the design.