Pickup Replacement for a 2017 American Pro Jazzmaster

[Dui Rahieem]

I love this guitar. The only thing that truly lacks on this guitar - other than that inconvenient switch - are the pickups. I have looked at Curtis Novak JM-Fat and JM-Vintage, as well as Lollers own Jazzmaster designs. Does anyone have any input on Jazzmaster pickups?

I'm looking to bring some fatness and cream to my offset machine

[Larry Mal]

There's a lot of options. A cheap one is the Pure Vintage pickups that Fender makes, if you want a pretty classic Jazzmaster sound.

[tvrf]

I'd definitely use the search function on here as there must be thousands of pickup threads on here specific to JMs!

Also, depending on where you are will depend what's easy to get hold of. For example, in the UK there are some great pickup builders like The Creamery and Mojo Pickups that make different variations of JM pickups. If you are in the US, Lollar are certainly a good choice (along with many others).

Also, don't underestimate the power of the tone control to take some of the high end off if you want things to sound a bit fatter.

My experience of threads like this is everyone will recommend their favourite or the ones they currently have. Unless you can try them in a guitar, it's hard to know if you will like them unless you pull the trigger, buy a set that seem to match what you are after and try them out.

[Jestapali]

You can have a look/listen to this wonderful comparison thread:

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =7&t=33614" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

btw: what don't you like about the American Pro pickups? just curious.

[Dui Rahieem]

what don't you like about the American Pro pickups? just curious.

They don't sound full or alive. There seems to be a bunch of mid range and the treble is a bit shrill. The bass isn't sweet and fat. Great pups, but not as wide ranged in sound as I am used to. Mainly the treble pickup is the weaker one but the neck pickup is more sweet and wide ranged. Thank you so much for the thread you provided - that was exactly what I was looking for.

[Larsongs]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

[indiandysummer]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

I don't think a gently used $2300 MSRP guitar is valued the same as a gently used $1500 MSRP guitar.



Regarding what pickups to get, my fav neck pickup has been the novak JM-V. I would pair it with the JM-fat or JM-90. AV65 and SD Antiquity, as well as all the other pickups out there, are good options too.

[Dui Rahieem]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

my fav neck pickup has been the novak JM-V. I would pair it with the JM-fat or JM-90. AV65 and SD Antiquity, as well as all the other pickups out there, are good options too.

I listened to the sound samples jestapali provided and I fount my favorite neck pickups were 1) JM-Fat 2) JM-V 3) Lollar Vintage and Bridge Pickups were 1) Lollar Vintage 2) JM-Fat 3) AV-65

What is your opinion with the JM-Fat in the neck? I really dig it there, but not many people talk about it in the neck position?

[Larsongs]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

I don't think a gently used $2300 MSRP guitar is valued the same as a gently used $1500 MSRP guitar.



Regarding what pickups to get, my fav neck pickup has been the novak JM-V. I would pair it with the JM-fat or JM-90. AV65 and SD Antiquity, as well as all the other pickups out there, are good options too.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new AV65 Jazzmaster in the vicinity of $1600.00. Not a Second, Refurb or Blem. I found some near new Used ones that were negotiable for that range too. I know it can be done.

L

[indiandysummer]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

I don't think a gently used $2300 MSRP guitar is valued the same as a gently used $1500 MSRP guitar.



Regarding what pickups to get, my fav neck pickup has been the novak JM-V. I would pair it with the JM-fat or JM-90. AV65 and SD Antiquity, as well as all the other pickups out there, are good options too.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new AV65 Jazzmaster in the vicinity of $1600.00. Not a Second, Refurb or Blem. I found some near new Used ones that were negotiable for that range too. I know it can be done.

L

You're missing the point. 70% of $1500 is $1050. By the same argument, you could say his used Pro will only fetch $1100. That's certainly a bigger difference than some new pickups. If he likes the guitar, he should keep it.

[indiandysummer]

I listened to the sound samples jestapali provided and I fount my favorite neck pickups were 1) JM-Fat 2) JM-V 3) Lollar Vintage and Bridge Pickups were 1) Lollar Vintage 2) JM-Fat 3) AV-65

What is your opinion with the JM-Fat in the neck? I really dig it there, but not many people talk about it in the neck position?

I haven't owned the JM FAT, but the JMV is too weak in the bridge for most people, unless they're going for that vintage JM bridge pickup thing. I've tried AV62, AV65, SD Ant II, SD Ant I, Novak JMV pickups and prefer the JM-V. The AV65 and SD Ant II are a close 2nd for my prefs.

[Larsongs]

Re; Indianasummer.....

If you factor in the cost of new Pickups, Labor & Setup he's not far off what he can get a Used (maybe New) AV65 for. Plus, once he starts modding his Guitar which isn't up to his expectations no telling where it will end. Probabaly selling it & getting an AV65 anyway. Which is probably what he should have done in the first place.

I still don't get the new Pro Series. I've played some of the different models & haven't been impressed at this point.

L

[sunburster]

If you want fatness, get a set of Lollar JM pickups. Great pickups.

[enkindler]

AV65's. Or sell yours & get a gently preowned AV65. There shouldn't be much, if any, difference in cost.

I don't think a gently used $2300 MSRP guitar is valued the same as a gently used $1500 MSRP guitar.



Regarding what pickups to get, my fav neck pickup has been the novak JM-V. I would pair it with the JM-fat or JM-90. AV65 and SD Antiquity, as well as all the other pickups out there, are good options too.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new AV65 Jazzmaster in the vicinity of $1600.00. Not a Second, Refurb or Blem. I found some near new Used ones that were negotiable for that range too. I know it can be done.

L

Also that some people just don't like 7.25" radius fretboards or Vintage-Style frets which is why the AV65 was never an option for me.

To the OP: I would also suggest changing to 1M pots if you change the pickups and are looking for that vintage sound note that the Jazzmaster version uses two 500K pots.

http://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Origi ... 7-2016.pdf

[Dui Rahieem]

I LOVE the neck on my American Pro Jazzmaster and I don't even consider parting with it for an AVRI. Not that I dislike the AVRI at all, but the AM Pro is just more comfortable for my hands!

Back to the pickups, I'm torn between the JM-Fat and Lollars for the neck. I'm defiantly doing Lollars in the bridge.