Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

Fuhgawz

New member
I need some advice about buying pickups for my Squier HH Jazzmaster. I've had this guitar for six months now and I really like it, but as you can imagine the pickups are not that great. The guitar seems pretty middy from itself, so I could use pickups that are slightly mid scooped so the overall tone is balanced. I want an open, clear sound. No mud or scratchiness. The guitar has only one tone knob, so I want a bright sound from the neck and a balanced sound from the bridge. Looking for medium output, slightly lower for the neck or higher for the bridge. Not looking for vintage only or metal only sounds. I want to keep it in the standard DiMarzio / Duncan price range max. and I don't want to go mag swapping on new pickups.

For the neck I'm about 95% sure that the SH-2n Jazz neck will be exactly right for my needs. Not sure about the bridge. Based on the SD website the Custom seems to be good EQ wise, but I had one years ago in a totally different guitar and remember that the highs could get scratchy / not very clear. The Custom 5 might sound clearer, but seems like it might be too mid scooped. Then there's the Saturday Night Specials that seem perfect for what I want (EQ, output, clarity), but for some reason they are almost 50% more expensive than standard Duncans / DiMarzios, which I think is too much for this Squier. So I don't know. Can anyone advise me?
 
Re: Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

on my hh guitars with only one tone, ive started putting the tone on the bridge pup only and like it that way. keeps the neck a bit brighter and i can dial back the bridge without effecting the neck
 
Re: Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

Jazz bridge, Jazz neck.

Maybe Demon :)

That's interesting. I don't think I ever heard anyone use the Jazz bridge model. Is it not too bright and vintage sounding? How much more powerful is it compared to the Jazz neck?

Demon sounds like it could work, but it's also a lot more expensive (121 euros vs 91 euros for the Jazz). Not sure I want to spend that much on a 180 euro Squier.

on my hh guitars with only one tone, ive started putting the tone on the bridge pup only and like it that way. keeps the neck a bit brighter and i can dial back the bridge without effecting the neck

That sounds like a great idea. Thanks!
 
Re: Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

the jazz is bright but not as scooped as the 59b. it is only a bit more powerful than the neck but balances well if the heights are set accordingly. the demon isnt much higher output than the jazz bridge. the patb-3 is a good option for the bridge as well, a terrific often overlooked pup
 
Re: Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

Agreed the Demon and Jazz are very similar; the biggest difference to me is the Demon's tighter bass. It's been a while since I played a '59 bridge but iirc it is a 'bouncier,' more fundamental focused and less harmonic pickup vs. the Jazz, with maybe more decay and very different attack. I guess I'd say all of them are just short of medium output.
 
Re: Squier HH Jazzmaster: looking for balanced, clear sound

the jazz is bright but not as scooped as the 59b. it is only a bit more powerful than the neck but balances well if the heights are set accordingly. the demon isnt much higher output than the jazz bridge. the patb-3 is a good option for the bridge as well, a terrific often overlooked pup
Beat me to it

I'd throw a PATB-1n/PATB-3b combo in there and call it a day.
 
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