Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

[whitenoise013]

Hi guys,
I'm from nepal, and the only way i can get a seymour duncan pickup is by importing from US. So yes, i don't have a chance to actually try the pickup before purchasing, so i have to completely rely on the youtube videos and you guys.

I have a Fender Jaguar MIJ '94. The stock pickups are OK, but it lacks the overall 'response' and the 'punch' when i hit the strings. It's very noticeable when i put it side by side with my ibanez roadstar II guitar (Single coiled too). So i'm thinking of replacing the bridge pickup 1st.

I don't play a lot of heavy stuff, i usually play clean, usually the frusciante stuff, also jonny greenwood. So i'd love to have a pickup that's got the 'punch' is clean and a bit hot in output too (compared to my stock pickups). Yes, i also want to preserve the jaguar tone.

So i've come up with a couple of options. SD Antiquity II pickups: from the reviews that i've seen it looks really good, i hear the clean is outstanding. But what i fret is that, it might be only a little improvement from my stock pickups. 2nd: SD Sjag 2: this seems to be the spot on pickup atm for me. It has a higher output and from what i've read, it keeps the jaguar tone intact too. Sjag3: i think this pickup is a little too hot for me, maybe not. I hope you guys can give me a clearer answer.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

I have a Fender CIJ Jaguar. I agree that the stock pickups are disappointing. My recollection is that they were so bright and thin that the neck PU made the sounds that i would have liked to have obtained from the bridge pickup.

My choice of pickups was Ant 1 neck, Ant II bridge. I wanted the neck pickup to be sweet and mellow. I wanted the bridge pickup to be brash and a little nasty. There are some sounds that are unique to a Jaguar. To me, it seemed foolish to own such a guitar and then modify it to the extent that it no longer made those unique sounds.

The ideal solution might be an SJAG-2b with coil tap. That way, you could switch output levels between vintage and powerful. Unfortunately, such a pickup would be a special order.

 

[whitenoise013]

Re: Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

hmm i think i'll go with Sjag 2 for the bridge. For some reason i feel like antiquity might be quite similar to the stock pickups that i have in terms of response. ah, how i wish i could test them :|

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

For some reason i feel like antiquity might be quite similar to the stock pickups

Wash out your mouth with soap!!!

 

[whitenoise013]

Re: Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

Wash out your mouth with soap!!!

haha
anyway, i think i'll put get an antiquity for the neck, for its clean output. One more question, does the Sjag 2 preserve the jaguar tone? i know it won't be the same, but to some extent , does it keep the 'twanginess' of the bridge pickup intact?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Jaguar MIJ pickup replacement question, Sjag or antiquity?

In my opinion, no.

The advective that I use for the Jaguar bridge PU sound is "wiry". This is the quality that I want it to bring to the sound palette. I suspect that, most of the time, I use the neck pickup.

I can understand why you want to get away from the stock pickup tones. Try to forget those. They are unbelievably thin sounding compared to any American Jaguar pickup.

Ultimately, any choice will be a compromise. Only you can decide what is best for your needs.