A3 in a Jazz?

[Artie]

I was thinking of swapping some A2's into my Jazz's to make them A2 Pro's, just to compare the difference. But I have an A3 that's been sitting here for some time. What would I expect to hear if I put the A3 into one of the Jazz's? And, if I try it, should I put the A3 into the bridge or neck pup?

Thanks all.

 

[GuitarStv]

No idea on sound, but it seems to be a more popular magnet in the neck.

 

[Aceman]

You know, that's an interesting question.

Looking at putting an A3 into a Jazz, I might say, not good. I suspect it would lower the output, soften the bass, maybe brighten up the highs more. So basically ruin it?

Looking at what it would do to an A2P however, I might not worry about the output drop (not sure why), I'd miss the fatness of the highs. Not sure on the mids....

Either way, not liking it. But just theories. I always think of an A3 as turning a 59/PAF type more vintage and little softer and clearer. I don't like the idea of either a Jazz or an A2P getting softer or clearer

**Full disclosure - only ever swapped A3 into an A5 pickup.

 

[Artie]

Cool. Good info guys. I'll just go with the A2's, and save the A3 for another project. Maybe into one of my 59's.

 

[beaubrummels]

My experience with A3 pickups in general is they:
lower the output a touch
have a less thick mid-hump; more like a soft bump that is chimy
can sound a touch darker on top in comparison to others of the same 'class', but not severe, it's not 'dark'
a very vintage sound

You could try either bridge or neck, (Gibson Custombuckers, Bonamassa Skinnerburst, Eric Steckel "Candy", and MJ Magicbucker sets are all A3)
Neck is more common as it sorts out boom issues people have with necks.

 

[Artie]

Hmmm . . . ok. Mag swap is pretty simple. I suppose I should just try it and see what I think. And, report back.

 

[Clint 55]

I think it would sound good in the neck. A3 for bridge is more if you decidedly want to vintage out a pup further.

 

[marcello252]

done with an APH-1n, the A3 sounds a little weaker, with a peak on the mid high, if your guitar has some boominess and you prefer a bright sound the A3 is the cure. It's a sound that somehow reminds me a certain telecaster vibe.
I still did prefer A2 , a bit softer and full on the bass, still not boomy

 

[Artie]

These are in a maple capped mahogany Cort. So, no boominess at all. I may just stick with the A2's. I'll see.

 

[Chistopher]

I generally only swap to A3 if I have a neck A2 pickup that has a touch too much bass. Other than that I find it usually takes me away from the direction I want to go. As far as magnets go, A2/A3 are close enough that some people wouldn't notice. Swapping to A3 is about as big a difference in tone as going down one string size smaller.

 

[Artie]

The impetus for this is I wanted to convert the A5 Jazz's to A2 Pro's to hear the difference. I figured, I might try this A3 while I had it apart.

 

[Clint 55]

A3 neck, A2 bridge.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

To me, it would just be weakening an already weak pickup, LOL. I wouldn't do it, but that's just me.

 

[Artie]

A3 neck, A2 bridge.

I hate to sound wishy-washy, but I think I'm going to try that. Then, if I don't like it, change the neck to A2. Then, I don't like that, change them back to normal Jazz's. :9:

 

[beaubrummels]

A3 neck, A2 bridge is LtKojak's "Smooth Vintage" combo. Works in multiple Duncans.

 

[Artie]

Cool. It's a plan.

 

[Clint 55]

Give us the report on how it sounds.

 

[Artie]

I will. But I move slow these days. Hopefully, not too long.

 

[marcello252]

FWIW I've just put an A3 on a Tonerider 8.3K bridge pickup (once with a A4), I put in bridge pos of my tele and it sounds like a... tele bridge on steroids (paraphrasing SD), it's very musical indeed, pushed on the mid high but not piercing at all, vintagey I'd say, less compressed than an A2. Take a A2 pull down a bit the mids, pull down a little further the bass, you obtain an A3 (with my ears)

 

[jeremy]

a3 neck, a2 bridge is a pairing ive used a bunch of times with good success. currently have it in an antiquity set and i love it