Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

ukoldgit

New member
Hi Guy's (& gurlls)
Just scored a Floroescent yellow set neck JB Player professional from screwbay, I am a bit of a lurker on this site but have a great respect for all your knowledge.
The guitar look's as if it's all original (though I am still awaiting delivery) here's the query/question, I understand that the Select EMG pickup's are not so special these one's are the passive type as there is no battery box on the guitar, it has an HSS set up so what would be a sensible (not too expensive) replacement outfit, I do have a set of 3 Duncan designed single coil's from a Squier Deluxe and don't know if these could be incorporated, perhaps?
I play mostly blue's, old rock and rarely metal, any suggestion's would be greatly appreciated.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

What kind of amp are you playing through?

Anything in particular that you want from your tone?

I see no reason that you couldn't incorporate 2 of the DD SC-101 pickups from the Squier. I quite like those myself for being budget single coils!

It's hard to know what the basic tonal character of that guitar will be, but I would generally recommend looking into something from the "Custom" family to play it safe. For rock through metal, the SH-5 is punchy and powerful, but still has a great classic rock vibe. For milder styles, the Custom Custom will give you warmth with enough output to cover most styles and the Custom 5 will give you brightness, clarity and a little more power than the Custom Custom.

Another great option to pair with those single coils would be something like the Pearly Gates bridge pickup or even a "Pearly Gates Plus" if you can find one on eBay (usually has a sticker that says PGP on the bottom and came from Fender guitars)
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

Thanks Masta C, I have a Mesa DC-3 and a Vox Valvtronix so should be able to do most pup's justice, with the sc-101's I suspect they would give the brightness in the middle and neck positions but not sure what bucker's would give the right sort of punch at the bridge. (I think I would like a bit of growl now and then) The guitar I understand is a bit of a lump maple neck through with soft maple wing's so it should have a bit of vintage tone, we shall see!
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

Is hum-cancelling important? I'd dig the Classic Stack Plus in the neck and middle, and a '59 in the bridge. Blues and rock tones for days, and no hum at all.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

Hi Mincer, Not worried about noise/hum at all, being a little older than most I can't hear it any more anyway!!!, god's way of saying get on with life and turn a deaf-un to stuff you don't have to listen to! I have a Squier deluxe which has a calibrated set of SD-5s that I changed from the Duncan Designed set and that guitar absolutely sing's.
I would love to get a great sound from the JB Player as I think it's a bit of a quality guitar and it's only my experience, but the old bodies do produce a certain depth that are not evident in the newer wood's. (only my opinion of course)
Thank's for the reply.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

How about that for a colour? enough to take the enamel off your teeth!!!!!
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

How about that for a colour? enough to take the enamel off your teeth!!!!!

I actually like the color! If it was my guitar I would call it the "Flemish Lion" because it's exactly the colors of the Flemish flag and weapon shield! But apart from that, I do like the color of the guitar!

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As for pickups, I would pick single coils with added output to put up with a full size humbucker in the bridge.
A pair of Custom single coils in the neck and middle (SSL-5=Staggered or SSL-6=Flat) would be a good choice in my opinion.
I myself would go for noisecanceling ones though like a pair of Duckbuckers for example, but since you say you don't mind at all that the singles are not humcanceling I'd say the SSL-5 or SSL-6.
As for the humbucker in the bridge, there's a lot of options there, but I guess I would go for the Pearly Gates, in my opinion that's an underrated pickup for a Superstrat like yours, I think it sounds real good in it though, and would cover the styles you mentioned real well!
 
Re: Replacement pups for a set neck JB Player Pro Series

Wow, what a great color! SSL-5 (or -6) in the neck and middle would blend well with a vintage -output humbucker in the bridge.
 
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