What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

[hswarth]

Thinking about putting an antiquity texas hot in the neck position of a bass wood japanese fender jag stang. The original jag stang set up is one "vintage style" single coil in neck and a humbucker in the bridge.

I also have an Mahaony American GIBSON SG with 490t's in the bridge and neck (stock).

Want the Jag-Stang to sound jangly and bright but also full and warm. Looking to have a brighter toned guitar to contrast the SG.

How will the 'midrangeyness' and other tonal factors of the MAHAGONY SG with 490t's compare/contrast to the BASS WOOD jag-stang with the antiquity Texas Hot in the neck and a PEARLY GATES in bridge?

How bought a JAZZ in the bridge, same equation?
Will the JAZZ's out put be to low?

What about a JB sh-4?

ALSO if anyone has any insight about what to try and/or other factors to consider I would love to hear about them. The first time I have ever even thought about pick ups was just in the last month so i really don't know what i'm doing.

My amp is a 1970 silver face FENDER SUPER REVERB.

thank you!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

The Fender Jag-Stang is an awkward customer. Its stock pickups conspire to exaggerate the worst qualities of the build materials and hardware. Rumours abound as to which pickups Kurt tested before finalising his personal (MIA) guitars. Texas Specials, DiMarzio humbuckers and Lace Sensors have all been mentioned. The current Lace range is available in almost every imaginable "flavour" of guitar tone.

A good place to look for helpful suggestions is www.jag-stang.com

QUICK AFTERTHOUGHT: I've just been playing my Seymourised Fender CIJ Jaguar. A Duncan Antiquity II Jaguar single coil would make a nice choice for the neck position. The coil itself should fit inside a Stratocaster pickup cover with no need for a metal screening "claw". If the Duncan Jag and Strat Antiquity specs are close enough, get the Strat model.

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Thanks Funkfingers. What do you think about a JAZZ pick up in the bridge?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Thanks Funkfingers. What do you think about a JAZZ pick up in the bridge?

Which guitar? SG or Jag-Stang?

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Which guitar? SG or Jag-Stang?

JAZZ in bridge of the jag stang. The SG I am leaving as is. It's kind of midrangey and very "vintagey." I love it!

I want the jag stang to sound jangly and bright but also warm and full. I'm looking for a higher toned sound from the jag stang to contrast the SG.

HAve my eye on the PEarly Gates, the JAZZ and the JB sh4 for the bridge of of the Jag stang. But what do you think will give me the sound I'm looking for?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

JAZZ in bridge of the jag stang. The SG I am leaving as is. It's kind of midrangey and very "vintagey." I love it!

Smart move.

I want the jag stang to sound jangly and bright but also warm and full. I'm looking for a higher toned sound from the jag stang to contrast the SG.

HAve my eye on the PEarly Gates, the JAZZ and the JB sh4 for the bridge of of the Jag stang. But what do you think will give me the sound I'm looking for?

The PG is, unsurprisingly, designed to go in a Les Paul. So is the SH-4 JB. I would suggest something with more oomph than the PAF-alike models but not too much more. How about the Screamin' Demon?

One problem with the Jag-Stang is polepiece alignment. The bridge pickup is set on enough of a slant to leave a regular HB out of position with respect to the strings. This is why a pickup with blade polepieces might be a better choice. Lace Sensors also avoid the alignment issue.

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Smart move.



The PG is, unsurprisingly, designed to go in a Les Paul. So is the SH-4 JB. I would suggest something with more oomph than the PAF-alike models but not too much more. How about the Screamin' Demon?

One problem with the Jag-Stang is polepiece alignment. The bridge pickup is set on enough of a slant to leave a regular HB out of position with respect to the strings. This is why a pickup with blade polepieces might be a better choice. Lace Sensors also avoid the alignment issue.

thanks a lot. What are some examples of blade pole piece humbuckers? Will the P rails work for a bridge pick up?

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Hey Funk Fingers. what do you think about a stock American Strat Humbucker for the bridge?

Or does Lace make HB's?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Er, Fender has used quite a few different humbuckers in American Stratocasters. Most of them have names such as Atomic and so on.

Examples of blade-pole HBs include the SD Dimebucker, DiMarzio X2N, Bill Lawrence.

Lace does, indeed, make humbuckers and Dually (double single coil Sensors on a HB elevator plate) pickups. Either type will fit the Jag-Stang scratchplate. One advantage of the Dually pickups is that you could obtain some interesting sound options using the guitar's original pickup selector switch system.

e.g. The neck PU single coil could be a slightly hot type with exposed polepieces. This pickup should be kept phase reversible. The bridge position Dually could combine something like the Blue or Emerald Sensor for bright but warm Fender tones and the Red sensor for when you wanna Rock! For this pickup, the on/off/on slider switch selects between either sensor.

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Er, Fender has used quite a few different humbuckers in American Stratocasters. Most of them have names such as Atomic and so on.

Examples of blade-pole HBs include the SD Dimebucker, DiMarzio X2N, Bill Lawrence.

Lace does, indeed, make humbuckers and Dually (double single coil Sensors on a HB elevator plate) pickups. Either type will fit the Jag-Stang scratchplate. One advantage of the Dually pickups is that you could obtain some interesting sound options using the guitar's original pickup selector switch system.

e.g. The neck PU single coil could be a slightly hot type with exposed polepieces. This pickup should be kept phase reversible. The bridge position Dually could combine something like the Blue or Emerald Sensor for bright but warm Fender tones and the Red sensor for when you wanna Rock! For this pickup, the on/off/on slider switch selects between either sensor.

nice i like that idea alot!

because of how good the antiquities sound I definately want the texas hot for the neck, however, that neck pick up is not particularily hot.

I like the Dually Idea for the bridge. Could the Dually's work with the anitquitiy in the neck?
:scratchch

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Hi hswarth:

Welcome to the User Group Forum.

We don't make the Fender wide-range humbucker, but we've re-wound quite a few for customers and artists. If you're interested in going down that path, contact MJ in the Custom Shop for a price and lead time quote. That's your best hope for getting that exact same clear, bright and jangly tone.

Best of luck,

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Hi hswarth:

Welcome to the User Group Forum.

We don't make the Fender wide-range humbucker, but we've re-wound quite a few for customers and artists. If you're interested in going down that path, contact MJ in the Custom Shop for a price and lead time quote. That's your best hope for getting that exact same clear, bright and jangly tone.

Best of luck,

Thanks Evan!

What do you think about the Jb sh-4 in the bridge with an antiquity texas hot in the neck? What tonal qualities come to mind when you thimk about thta combination in a bass wood guitar?

How would you describe a JAZZ in the bride, texas hot in neck, (bass wood)?

I'd love to know your thoughts

 

[bagouser]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Try a Demon or Jazz bridge....
Theyre both bright and jangly but still have warmth.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Well, I'll go ahead and recommend my favourite bridge humbucker - the Stag Mag.

In single coil mode it might not have enough output for your needs, but it can do some good jangle, and with both coils, it is quite a lot brighter than a standard humbucker; quite similar to the single coil sound but hotter and harsher.

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Try a Demon or Jazz bridge....
Theyre both bright and jangly but still have warmth.

Yes! I really like the Jazz sample I've heard on the seymour website!

Would the out put would be to low for the antiquity hot?

What factors in the specs do I look at to determine proper out put?

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Well, I'll go ahead and recommend my favourite bridge humbucker - the Stag Mag.

In single coil mode it might not have enough output for your needs, but it can do some good jangle, and with both coils, it is quite a lot brighter than a standard humbucker; quite similar to the single coil sound but hotter and harsher.

Thanks Jeremiah, I actually was very attracted to this pick up on the seymour site.

At this point I'm leaning towards either the JAZZ or a Lace Dually Red/Red or Red Silver (Sorry SD)

 

[Natman]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

I just want to point out that the Lace Sensors will probably not sound very good in that guitar. I used to have one and it has a small scale and tiny neck with limited hardware (that mustang bridge and trem on a basswood body are tone killers IMO). Not trying to knock your axe here! I am building one from scratch that is 25.5" scale using quality parts. On my 96 JS, I tried ot get a SRV sound out of the neck pickup. Boy was I wrong. Nothing could get that sound out of that guitar! I tried a FLS red in the neck (very bad) and Seth Lover in the bridge (sounded very good). The ONLY Lace Sensor you should consider is the Hot Gold. Please take my word for it! In the end, it was too 'dinky' for me and I decided to build my own, just larger. I would stay away from the extremes if I were you. Don't go JB but not jazz either. It depends what kind of music you play and what sound you're after but if I had to take a guess, I I would buy a SSL-3 (hot for strat) and a Custom 5. Those will probably make you quite happy and not cost an arm & a leg. That's the problem with experimenting with pickups -it can get expensive! Personally I buy used ones when ever possible. The fancy boutique pickups like Fralin are totally wasted on a Jag-Stang and not worth the cost IMO. If you really want that high end tone, you really need a high end axe first.

 

[hswarth]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

I just want to point out that the Lace Sensors will probably not wound very good in that guitar. I used to have one and it has a small scale and tiny neck with limited hardware (that mustang bridge and trem on a basswood body are tone killers IMO). Not trying to knock your axe here! I am building one from scratch that is 25.5" scale using quality parts. On my 96 JS, I tried ot get a SRV sound out of the neck pickup. Boy was I wrong. Nothing could get that sound out of that guitar! I tried a FLS red in the neck (very bad) and Seth Lover in the bridge (sounded very good). The ONLY Lace Sensor you should consider is the Hot Gold. Please take my word for it! In the end, it was too 'dinky' for me and I decided to build my own, just larger. I would stay away from the extremes if I were you. Don't go JB but not jazz either. It depends what kind of music you play and what sound you're after but if I had to take a guess, I I would buy a SSL-3 (hot for strat) and a Custom 5. Those will probably make you quite happy and not cost an arm & a leg. That's the problem with experimenting with pickups -it can get expensive! Personally I buy used ones when ever possible. The fancy boutique pickups like Fralin are totally wasted on a Jag-Stang and not worth the cost IMO. If you really want that high end tone, you really need a high end axe first.

I'm not putting a LACE in the NECk but considering a LACE DUALLY for the Bridge. (RED SILVER, RED, RED or RED BLUE)

Why not the JAZZ? It's a moderate out put humbucker with a nice high end?


I have to agree the Jag stang tone is not good. I realized that once a friend played an american phat strat through my 70's Super Reverb.
Then I heard an American SG through my amp and bought in on the spot. It kills the Jag Stang and is the reason I'm looking at pick ups now.

PS

I heard a MIJ MUSTANG SHORTSCALE REISSUE WITH ONE LACE RED IN BRIDGE AND A LACE GOLD IN THE NECK. SOUNDED SO GOOD, BUT THE BODY WAS PROBABLY ALDER.

MAYBEE I"LL SELL THE JAG STANG, I DON"T LOVE THE TONE AT ALL BUT WAS HOPEING THE PICK UPS WOULD DO THE JOB.

Maybe I'll get one of the Alder Mustang reissues instead. all those tend to be even dinkier. OR a Jaguar (MI) and throw in a JAZZ/JB combo in the neck and bridge respectively...

But First I'm goin to try pick ups. AFter all Seymour Buys em back as long as the lead is still there!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Great thread.

I'll validate your idea of wanting to try a Jazz in the bridge. By the numbers, it seems like a good pick for your desires.

 

[Natman]

Re: What pickups=Bright, Warm + Full sound out a jag-stang?

Yeah I was saying the Jazz is a low output humbucker since it's all about clarity ( = bright usually but I have never heard it). I know the Sensor was meant for the brige but I also had a Strat Ultra with sensors in all 4 positions. The Hot Golds are the only ones worth owning IMO. It's a great idea to use the Duncan exchange policy! I wish it applied in Canada.