Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

[Butch Snyder]

Thanks to all who helped me out trying to decide on humbucker combos for my new guitar. I was going to go with a CC/PGn combo (Thanks Robert S. for the PM's). Because of this guitars chunkiness and girth, I'm afraid the CC will be to middy in the lower frequencies. The PG? Well, I don't know... I have opted for a good old JB/Jazz combo and I'll stay with my stock pots. I believe they're 500k. I'm going to get the "Hotrodded Humbucker Set". It's cheaper than buying them separate. But..................................

I was thinking of getting the pickups and replacing the Alnico 5 magnets with Alnico 2 on both pickups. Now, I have read reviews of the JB w/Alnico 2 mags and it sounds worth doing. I have never read a review of a Jazz with Alnico 2 magnets. Anybody ever put an Alnico 2 magnet in a Jazz model? I'm about to get this set....

 

[Artie]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

Pure speculation on my part, but looking at the specs, it wouldn't surprise me if A2 mags in a Jazz makes it an AII Pro. Maybe.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

I have a Jazz with alnico II in a Yamaha AES 500. It's a mahogany bodied instrument with a strat scale and a maple bolt on neck with a rosewood fretboard.

When I changed out the alnico V mag, it dropped the output a bit, but it retained a lot of the sparkle. Interestingly, it sounds a lot closer to a single now than it did with the alnico V mag. It lost some of the low end wallop and got a lot airier. I did have to raise it a bit so that it would balance with the Super Distortion that 's at the bridge, but it works well.

AS far as the JB with alnico II, I posted a review of it on Scott's Tone Ninja web site.

It's a cool pickup, but I preffer thee standard Custom over it for general use. :burnout:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

Because of the snappiness of your right hand picking, I'd probably opt for Alnico 5 pickups like a C-5/Jazz N. I also use my right hand fingers to pick about 1/3 of my notes, and always find that Alnico 2 pickups have less punch and attack on the note.......kinda softer on the bass notes and creamier on the highs. I like both A5 and A2, but I'm inclined to think that your style sounds better with something open and punchy with a tight clear bottom, on both the bridge and neck pickups.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

Pure speculation on my part, but looking at the specs, it wouldn't surprise me if A2 mags in a Jazz makes it an AII Pro. Maybe.

It's close, but the APH is smoother and fatter than the Jazz II. Clean, the Jazz with the Alnico II has more sparkle and air, dirty, the APH is a bit better; smooth and fat.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

Alnico 2 Pro is definitely pleasingly plump in the lower mids -- the Jazz, no matter what magnet you put in it, is thin in the lower mids.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

Because of the snappiness of your right hand picking, I'd probably opt for Alnico 5 pickups like a C-5/Jazz N. I also use my right hand fingers to pick about 1/3 of my notes, and always find that Alnico 2 pickups have less punch and attack on the note.......kinda softer on the bass notes and creamier on the highs. I like both A5 and A2, but I'm inclined to think that your style sounds better with something open and punchy with a tight clear bottom, on both the bridge and neck pickups.

Okay Gearjonser, Why a C5 over a JB? I like that upper mid spike. It kind of sounds just a bit Teleish to me..... I do use my fingers a lot though....

 

[ErikH]

Re: Gonna Pull The Plug - But...

You made a good choice Butch. I love the JB/Jazz combo. Never tried either one with an A2 mag but wouldn't mind trying it. I really like the CC/Jazz combo too which puts an A2 in the bridge and A5 in the neck. They work together really well.