Novak JM-WR pickups sounding weird?

[Footbutt]

I now have two Jazzmasters equipped with Novak pickups.
One with the JM-90 / JM-V combo, and the other has JM-WRs.
The former sounds absolutely fantastic, full-range, and rockin'.
The latter, however, sound brittle and boomy.
The WRs have a weird scooped sound, I guess?

Is this common or do I have an odd pair?
(New build, using AllParts wiring kit, 1Meg pots)

[andy_tchp]

Pretty much how I found them too.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Are you sure they're in phase with each other? Could be that too...

[Embenny]

WRs were the single biggest disappointment I've had in a pickup. I have no idea why other people can make them sound great. I can't. Whatever combination it was of guitar/pickup/player/amp/effects, they were just plain incompatible with my playing.

[Shadoweclipse13]

WRs were the single biggest disappointment I've had in a pickup. I have no idea why other people can make them sound great. I can't. Whatever combination it was of guitar/pickup/player/amp/effects, they were just plain incompatible with my playing.

Which WRHB's did you have? The reissue Fender ones that were just regular humbuckers, or different ones?

[andy_tchp]

I had the Novak JM-WRs.

Pretty much the least inspiring Jazzmaster pickup I've encountered (aside from the original Fender Japan pickups), and I've tried quite a few over the years. Flat, cold, dynamic-less and overly compressed feeling. Sold them on within a few months.

[Embenny]

WRs were the single biggest disappointment I've had in a pickup. I have no idea why other people can make them sound great. I can't. Whatever combination it was of guitar/pickup/player/amp/effects, they were just plain incompatible with my playing.

Which WRHB's did you have? The reissue Fender ones that were just regular humbuckers, or different ones?

Mine were Novaks as well. "Legit" WRHBs if that's what you're asking, in that they had magnetic rod polepieces.

I don't know if they sound better in thinline teles than they do in a JM, but I'm 100% with Andy - completely uninspiring (to me), and yet I've seen people whose WRHBs sounded amazing to me. Must have been more compatible with their guitar/fingers/gear than mine.

[Gavanti]

I've played Fender RI's, Novak JM-WR's, Lollars, and vintage ones too. They generally do sound darker if you're used to JM pickups, and I don't see them as all that similar in tone. I've come to really appreciate their tonal balance, richness, and versatility to the extent that the Lollar and vintage ones are now some of my favorite pickups. However, it took some time and a lot of dialing in pickup and amp settings, both of which can make a big difference.

[dougk]

I can't speak for the Novaks but don't write off wideranges with out trying the Lollars. They are just phenomenal

[Embenny]

I've played Fender RI's, Novak JM-WR's, Lollars, and vintage ones too. They generally do sound darker if you're used to JM pickups, and I don't see them as all that similar in tone. I've come to really appreciate their tonal balance, richness, and versatility to the extent that the Lollar and vintage ones are now some of my favorite pickups. However, it took some time and a lot of dialing in pickup and amp settings, both of which can make a big difference.

In my personal case, it's probably because I've chosen amps, pedals, etc based on all my guitars having single coils (or one guitar with TV Jones Classics, which might as well be single coils in terms of brightness). So, even adjusting my amp settings and pedals etc, I wasn't able to find a tone that worked for me. But I'm sure there are lots of amps, pedals, and players who sound good with them. I'm just not one of them.

[Shadoweclipse13]

I can't speak for the Novaks but don't write off wideranges with out trying the Lollars. They are just phenomenal

I'd say the for same for The Creamery. Jaime's WRHB that I have in the neck of my Tele Custom is amazing.

[dylanafghjkl]

ive been umm-ing and ahh-ing about wrhbs for the longest time and posts like these are starting to give me a suspicion that they won't make me sound like lee ranaldo for some reason

[rexter]

Strange to hear the differing perspectives here - I had a Novak JM-WR in the neck position of a swamp ash JM body and it was one of the best sounding JM pickups to my ears - ever! And I really am not a humbucker person. I found the clarity excellent, without loss of dynamics. Just a really beautiful, rounded sound. I had a Creamery bridge WR type in the bridge and tehy balanced nicely.
Regret selling that guitar!

[andy_tchp]

Strange to hear the differing perspectives here

Really? It doesn't seem strange to me at all that people like (or don't) different things as subjective as how pickup/guitar combinations sound. Humbuckers aren't for everyone.

ive been umm-ing and ahh-ing about wrhbs for the longest time and posts like these are starting to give me a suspicion that they won't make me sound like lee ranaldo for some reason

I suspect you're right, they won't

Have you used them previously? They must be the most over-hyped/fetishized bit of gear on this forum.

The original Fender ones from the 1970s are good, but they're certainly not something I'd pay $300USD+ (per pickup) for.

[dylanafghjkl]

ive been umm-ing and ahh-ing about wrhbs for the longest time and posts like these are starting to give me a suspicion that they won't make me sound like lee ranaldo for some reason

I suspect you're right, they won't

Have you used them previously? They must be the most over-hyped/fetishized bit of gear on this forum.

The original Fender ones from the 1970s are good, but they're certainly not something I'd pay $300USD+ (per pickup) for.

I haven't actually, all I have to go on is the hype, some youtube clips and Lee. I'm honestly not sure what I'd expect to hear if I was playing a guitar with some in it. I mean I have a vague idea of what I think it should sound like but I doubt I'm close

Really not sure about the price, also.