Saturday Night Special vs Jazz A4?

[Supernautilus]

I currently have a Harley Benton single cut (LP style) with a JB in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck. I'm not happy with the Jazz neck pickup though so I started swapping magnets. I didn't like the original A5 magnet, too scooped and brittle sounding. Then I tried A2, but it is too round and soft. Not enough bite at all. I was thinking about trying an A4 magnet next. Then I realized SD already makes an A4 humbucker, the Saturday Night Special. So I was wondering if anyone had any experience in this area and could tell me what the difference should be between a SNS and a Jazz A4. And which of these would match best with a JB in the bridge. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[jeremy]

id guess they would be a bit similar though the sns neck is probably a little thicker and darker than an a4 jazz neck. a5 to a4 would be a step in the right direction though

 

[Supernautilus]

id guess they would be a bit similar though the sns neck is probably a little thicker and darker than an a4 jazz neck. a5 to a4 would be a step in the right direction though

Thanks for the info. Well, I ordered up some A4 bars today. It’s a cheap upgrade so I’ll try that first. If the Jazz is still too brittle maybe I’ll try the SNS next.

 

[Clint 55]

When I mag swapped the SNS, it sounded exactly like the Jazz recipe to me. They're wound to different levels, but the scooped eq, and neutral character were extremely similar. I think they're the same recipe.

As far as mags for the Jazz, you have several options. UOA5 and A3 are less scooped and softer than A5 but not as much as A2. UOA5 still has most of the A5 spike while A3 is a little subdued but still snappy. A4 is very even and somewhat acoustic sounding, it isn't overly bright but it isn't lush either. A6 is slightly softer than A5 with some added mids, but responds the way an oriented magnet does. There is also A9 which is a favorite of mine since it's the most aggressive, but you might not like that if you didn't like A5.

 

[EC Strat]

Don’t hesitate on the SNS neck. Just put a set in my LP. The neck is super. Full bodied and even tone. Very articulate and mellow I raised the treble side a bit and it hit the sweet spot.

 

[Supernautilus]

When I mag swapped the SNS, it sounded exactly like the Jazz recipe to me. They're wound to different levels, but the scooped eq, and neutral character were extremely similar. I think they're the same recipe.

As far as mags for the Jazz, you have several options. UOA5 and A3 are less scooped and softer than A5 but not as much as A2. UOA5 still has most of the A5 spike while A3 is a little subdued but still snappy. A4 is very even and somewhat acoustic sounding, it isn't overly bright but it isn't lush either. A6 is slightly softer than A5 with some added mids, but responds the way an oriented magnet does. There is also A9 which is a favorite of mine since it's the most aggressive, but you might not like that if you didn't like A5.

Honestly I kinda just want some kind of middle ground between 2 and 5, which both seem extremely in this pickup. I’ve read 4 is good for that so I’ll find out soon. Got my fingers crossed.

 

[Supernautilus]

Don’t hesitate on the SNS neck. Just put a set in my LP. The neck is super. Full bodied and even tone. Very articulate and mellow I raised the treble side a bit and it hit the sweet spot.

Cool, sounds like an endorsement to me. Have you ever had a JB bridge pickup? Do you think the SNS neck would be a good match?

 

[Clint 55]

Honestly I kinda just want some kind of middle ground between 2 and 5, which both seem extremely in this pickup. I’ve read 4 is good for that so I’ll find out soon. Got my fingers crossed.

Middle ground between A2 and A5 include A4, UOA5, A3, and A6.

 

[Supernautilus]

Middle ground between A2 and A5 include A4, UOA5, A3, and A6.

Ok that’s good to know, thank you. Maybe I’ll try those next.

 

[Mincer]

The cost to experiment with magnets is fairly cheap, at least cheaper than a new pickup. So I'd start there, first.

 

[Clint 55]

Ok that’s good to know, thank you. Maybe I’ll try those next.

No prob

 

[EC Strat]

Cool, sounds like an endorsement to me. Have you ever had a JB bridge pickup? Do you think the SNS neck would be a good match?

I haven’t gone the JB route yet. It’s a super hot pickup though right? Might not balance well with the SNS neck

 

[Ascension]

First off am having the exact same issue as you are with the Jazz neck in my Carvin DC 127.
I also am a big fan on the SNS set but so far have not been able to get the balance between the neck and a bridge pickup I wanted. Have had 2 SNS sets and loved both of them.
Now to the Jazz. I'm in the same shape as you are and about to swap mags in mine also. In this guitar I have a Perpetual Burn in the bridge and it will stay in this guitar. My ideal would be a floor custom Sentient in Zebra with nickle polls but want to play with mag swaps in the Jazz first.
A2 may work for me but am concerned it may be a little to soft and dark. Have a 59 in another guitar with a JB in the bridge that I swapped a A 3 into that is amazing so may try that as have A2,3,4 and 8 mags on hand. Will watch this thread and also give you my results from mag swapping the Jazz. I kind of know where the A2 will take me as have had a Alnico II neck in several guitars over the years.

 

[pskorz]

You should definitely try an A4 in the jazz-it’s quick, easy, and inexpensive and you may just love it.
I have a duncan designed hb 103n that I switched the mag to an a4, and am very pleased with the result. It’s in a flying V copy paired with a JB, and it works.

if that’s not doing it for you, I would wholeheartedly recommend the SNS neck! Its a wonderful pickup.

I’m not going to knock the JB, but for my ears and tastes, it works best on its own. I’ve never successfully been pleased with much of anything in the neck with it. I like my neck a bit darker and smoother than my bridge. But that’s also why it’s n general a Jazz isn’t my favorite neck pickup-because it’s pretty bright.

 

[Supernautilus]

You should definitely try an A4 in the jazz-it’s quick, easy, and inexpensive and you may just love it.
I have a duncan designed hb 103n that I switched the mag to an a4, and am very pleased with the result. It’s in a flying V copy paired with a JB, and it works.

if that’s not doing it for you, I would wholeheartedly recommend the SNS neck! Its a wonderful pickup.

I’m not going to knock the JB, but for my ears and tastes, it works best on its own. I’ve never successfully been pleased with much of anything in the neck with it. I like my neck a bit darker and smoother than my bridge. But that’s also why it’s n general a Jazz isn’t my favorite neck pickup-because it’s pretty bright.

I know what you mean. I also prefer a bit smoother neck pup with more mids than a typical a5 neck. The stock Jazz was way too brittle and harsh for me.

 

[Supernautilus]

Update...success!

Well, I put in the A4 magnet and I was very pleased with the results. It accomplished what I hoped. The bite of A5 with the sweetness of A2. Just what the doctor ordered. Sounds great in the middle position too.

I supposed I ought to show this guitar because I'm proud of how it come out. See pics below. This guy started out life as a stock Harley Benton SC-550 Silverburst. I ripped out the stock pickups and all the electronics and rewired everything from scratch with better components. Oh and I installed a 3 way toggle switch for series/split/parallel operation for the JB. It's very versatile now. The neck pickup was the last piece of the puzzle and now that problem is solved. Thanks for the assistance, all.

 

[Clint 55]

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