2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

[lephotophile]

Hello good fellows,


I just bought two Phat Cat SPH901B&N.
Earlier last year, I bought a LHanded Jaguar Kurt Cobain. My main idea, since it is impossible for a leftie to grab a true left jaguar or jazzmaster, unless I'm very rich, is to replace the mic's, and setup the volumes and tone pots to its nearest original settings.
Actually, the kurt cobain jaguar looks closer by it config to a 60's jazzmaster than a jaguar, since the three switches have been replaced by a three way toggle switch, and the mics are diMarzio humbuckers.
I love P90's sound, and think the two Phat Cat should do great in that guitar.
I looked at the wiring diagram concerning jazzmaster in "Other Wiring Diagrams section". But the wiring of the P90's Jazzmaster mics are not the same as the Phat Cat braided shield wiring. Well, I'm not good at analysing a diagram anyway. So I' might miss something ^^

So, my question is:
Is it possible to use the jazzmaster wiring diagram with 2 Phat Cat and keep the same jazzmaster's pots wiring settings ?

Thank very much in advance

Julian (Belgium)

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

Welcome to the forum.

The Phat Cat pickups feature single conductor + braided shield output cable. The vintage Fender Jazzmaster wiring depends on having two conductor cabling. You may need to run additional grounding cables from the cut ends of the braided shielding mesh to suitable ground points.

The bridge pickup can be grounded to the three-way selector switch chassis. The neck pickup would have to be grounded somewhere near the Rhythm Circuit slider switch. This will leave the run of signal carrying cable between the Rhythm Circuit slider switch and the selector switch unscreened.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

I just bought two Phat Cat SPH901B&N...I love P90's sound

The one possible flaw in that plan is that Phat Cats don't have a P-90 sound, nor was that the intention (so I've been told). They're single coils, similar to P-90's. The 'P-90 sound' as defined by Gibson and many imitators is A5 magnets, which give a bright, sharp high-end, tight low end, and lots of clarity. Phat Cats use A2 magnets, which gives them a different sound; warmer, rounder highs, and a looser low end. Hopefully they'll do what you want in your guitar.

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

Also possibly worth nothing, since it's not clear in the original post whether or not lephotophile knows, is that traditional Jazzmaster pickups are NOT P90s. They are similarly shaped, but are made very differently. So if you were looking for a Jazzmaster sound in a Humbucker shape, the Phat Cat is very, very far from what you're looking for.

The one possible flaw in that plan is that Phat Cats don't have a P-90 sound, nor was that the intention (so I've been told). They're single coils, similar to P-90's. The 'P-90 sound' as defined by Gibson and many imitators is A5 magnets, which give a bright, sharp high-end, tight low end, and lots of clarity. Phat Cats use A2 magnets, which gives them a different sound; warmer, rounder highs, and a looser low end. Hopefully they'll do what you want in your guitar.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

My reading of the OP is that the proposal is to install a Jazzmaster type control circuit into a Jaguar with HH pickup cavities.

IMO, the obvious place to seek the official wiring diagram for this Fender model is in the Support section of Fender's website.

 

[lephotophile]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

Welcome to the forum.

The Phat Cat pickups feature single conductor + braided shield output cable. The vintage Fender Jazzmaster wiring depends on having two conductor cabling. You may need to run additional grounding cables from the cut ends of the braided shielding mesh to suitable ground points.

The bridge pickup can be grounded to the three-way selector switch chassis. The neck pickup would have to be grounded somewhere near the Rhythm Circuit slider switch. This will leave the run of signal carrying cable between the Rhythm Circuit slider switch and the selector switch unscreened.

Ok, that should be a good orientation to how, and where the grounding should be done.
I'll give it a try, and tell you how it's working
Thanks !

 

[lephotophile]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

Also possibly worth nothing, since it's not clear in the original post whether or not lephotophile knows, is that traditional Jazzmaster pickups are NOT P90s. They are similarly shaped, but are made very differently. So if you were looking for a Jazzmaster sound in a Humbucker shape, the Phat Cat is very, very far from what you're looking for.

It’s already long ago.
But never too late to answer. I did try to install Gibson P94 bridge and neck.
The only problem is I’m leftie, and not a pro in guitar mods.
After modifying, the neck bucker works perfectly. But the bridge one gives very low volume and gain. I certainly mistaken somewhere in the diagram that was for righties jazzmaster wiring.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

There are a lot of things that could went wrong. Some of them: The volume pot could be defective or too low, the cap of the tone pot could be shot, you mixed up the bridge pup with the neck pup ...

 

[Mincer]

Re: 2 Phat Cat on a Jazzmaster.

It’s already long ago.
But never too late to answer. I did try to install Gibson P94 bridge and neck.
The only problem is I’m leftie, and not a pro in guitar mods.
After modifying, the neck bucker works perfectly. But the bridge one gives very low volume and gain. I certainly mistaken somewhere in the diagram that was for righties jazzmaster wiring.

First thing I would do is check the pickup with a meter, and make sure you are getting the proper output. Then work forwards from there.