JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

[cadred]

I'm pretty close to buying a new Fender Blacktop Jaguar with the intention of replacing the pickups shortly after. The BT Jag has an alder body, rosewood fretboard, and hardtail bridge.

My dad upgraded a Strat Squire with the Total Axe kit witch comes with the JB jr's and I loved the sound on that guitar, so I wanted something similar for the Jag.

So a couple of questions:

1) Is this a good combo for this guitar?
2) Can I reuse the chrome covers, or do I need to get ones specifically for the pups
3) Is there a cheaper combo pack with chrome covers similar to the standard combo pack?
4) 250k pots or 500k pots, there seems to be some debate...
5) I've also considered coil-taps wired to a push/pull volume knob for even more diversity. Good idea?

I know thats a lot of questions, but I appreciate any help.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

The shorter scale, maple/rose neck and alder body might limit the thick tones the JB is famous for and make the highs a little ice-picky. The Jazz is also fairly thin-sounding in Fender style guitars. I'd go with a JB/59 combo, 250k tone pots and a 500k volume.

 

[Despair]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

1. If you like the sound of the pickups in a Strat, they should be reasonably similar in the Jag. A bit tighter for the fixed bridge, but that's not a bad thing wiht the JB, and maybe a bit mellower if it's a shorter scale Jag.

2. Chrome covers from 1 manufacturer work on identical size pickups from that manufacturer. Some have enough margin to fit other brands. Most Seymour Duncans come with chrome covers already installed for a pretty small price difference, though.

3. I don't think so, but you can always shop around. If you don't care about having the 21 day swapout (or don't live somewhere that's available), you can always buy used.

4. I prefer 250K with the JB, but you can always go for a 300-350K pot for a compromise.

5. I'd do it, but you'll find people who hate split/parallel humbuckers. Personal taste issue, really. You could also look into a 5-way megaswitch option for faster switching.

Too many questions is probably better than too few. Good luck!

 

[cadred]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

The shorter scale, maple/rose neck and alder body might limit the thick tones the JB is famous for and make the highs a little ice-picky. The Jazz is also fairly thin-sounding in Fender style guitars. I'd go with a JB/59 combo, 250k tone pots and a 500k volume.

Ice-picky is not a tone I'm going for. The particular sounds I was honing in on were the glassy tones and bell like harmonics when clean and the ability to take distortion/overdrive pretty well. I also liked the neck pickup in that set that stayed bright and not muddy.

Is there a better set than the JB/Jazz's, JB/59 combo?

5. I'd do it, but you'll find people who hate split/parallel humbuckers. Personal taste issue, really. You could also look into a 5-way megaswitch option for faster switching.

I've only really played with split humbuckers on a PRS in a guitar shop, so I don't really know much about what it offers. I was hoping for a single coil-ish sound?

Too many questions is probably better than too few. Good luck!

Thanks!

 

[Despair]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

Shorter scale is usually less ice-picky. But a lot depends on the behavior of the particular guitar. If it boosts the mids at the peak frequency more, JB can get quite uncomfortable. Or if it boosts them at the wrong frequencies, it gets loose and honky like an enraged ill goose.

A lot of PRSes have 5 or 6 position megaswitches that do various split combinations (usually something like bridge series, screw coils of both pickups, both series pickups, stud coils of both pickups, neck in series. sometimes throw in a parallel neck option, IIRC).

As far as other good pickups there's insane numbers of them.

Jazz or Full Shred neck are great for bright sparkly articulate tones that don't get muddy. '59n is pretty glassy, a different sort of bright, but has a low mid/bass punch that can be difficult in some guitars. There's some tricks you can use to tame that (swapping screws under the wound strings, particularly low E, to 0.5", particularly in a hex screw, does wonders for reducing farting out). Might check out addictionfx if you are interested in pickup hacking.

Ian's likely right about the Jazz in Fenders, but some people do like them.

I'm not sure what I'd recommend in a bridge pickup, depends on strengths/weaknesses of the guitar. Possibly a Custom magnet-swapped to A8 or UnOriented A5.

For glassy clean bridge tones and good distortion, a '59b or Screamin' Demon might do what you want. Might have too much highs for your taste for distortion, or not enough mids.

The JB might just be what you want... with a magnet swap. UOA5 would tame the ice pick slightly and give it broader mids. A2 would punch up the mids even more, and smooth out the upper mid peak considerably.

If you can mention some guitarists, bands or musical styles you are aiming for with the guitar, that can only help.

 

[cadred]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

That's a tough one. I'm not really looking to emulate any particular artist and a lot of the stuff I listen too, I'm not really interested in playing. However some of my preferred artists would be stuff like Devin Townsend, G. Love & Special Sauce, some 90's stuff like Blind Melon, (earlier) Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, STP, etc.

It's a wide variety of sound, but like I said I'm not really trying to emulate anyone in particular. Though thinking about it, one clean sound that sticks in my head a lot is the intro to Pearl Jam's Ledbetter. I'm not a huge PJ fan, but I dig that sound.

As for what i want to play, I'm trying to going into a more blues, blues-rock mode. But I'm new to that style, so I don't really have any particular artists I'm trying to emulate just yet.

Overall I want something that's balanced, bright, and a little warm. I lean towards the bright side of things and definitely want to avoid muddy, especially in the neck position.

Does that help at all?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

That's a tough one. I'm not really looking to emulate any particular artist and a lot of the stuff I listen too, I'm not really interested in playing. However some of my preferred artists would be stuff like Devin Townsend, G. Love & Special Sauce, some 90's stuff like Blind Melon, (earlier) Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, STP, etc.

It's a wide variety of sound, but like I said I'm not really trying to emulate anyone in particular. Though thinking about it, one clean sound that sticks in my head a lot is the intro to Pearl Jam's Ledbetter. I'm not a huge PJ fan, but I dig that sound.

As for what i want to play, I'm trying to going into a more blues, blues-rock mode. But I'm new to that style, so I don't really have any particular artists I'm trying to emulate just yet.

Overall I want something that's balanced, bright, and a little warm. I lean towards the bright side of things and definitely want to avoid muddy, especially in the neck position.

Does that help at all?

For what it's worth I can really nail the Yellow Ledbetter sound with a neck position '59 in a semi-hollow and the right amp settings.

 

[cadred]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

I talked to the guy at the shop today that I think I'm going buy the guitar from (and does custom work) and he suggested a JB/59 combo. So that seems like it might be a good combo?

For what it's worth I can really nail the Yellow Ledbetter sound with a neck position '59 in a semi-hollow and the right amp settings.

My dad was trying to talk me into an Ibanez Artcore this weekend. I liked it, but I think it's a little too specific and I'm hoping to have some flexibility in tone. It was a nice guitar though.

 

[jdier]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

I have a JB bridge (trembucker (f-spaced)) and a Jazz neck in my fender toronado and that thing is completely sweet sounding. I cannot imagine ever changing those pick ups.

I have a hollow body that I am still messing with but so far I like the '59b/Jazz neck combo over the Custom 5/Jazz neck. I think I am going to try to score another '59 bridge to try out with the Jazz neck.

I also want to try a '59 in the neck.

I suggest you pick up some HB's here in the trading post and try them out. Everyone I have dealt with here has been really nice and you can brush up on your soldiering skills and try a few out. The ones you do not like you can always resell right here too.

 

[cadred]

Re: JB/Jazz combo for new Blacktop Jag?

I would try out some, but since this is a brand new guitar I'm planning to have the work done by the shop that's selling it, which is also a fender and SD dealer. Their labor isn't that bad and will hopefully be more reliable than I could do. So I'm a little more anxious to get it right the first time.

I have a beater squire I may upgrade myself at some point.

It's my understanding that mid-range Schecters come with the JB/59 combo. Does that mean my Jag will end up sounding like a mid-range Schecter? Is that a bad thing?