Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

For help with setups and other technical issues.
Post Reply
User avatar
JimboMansonMB-1
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:02 pm

Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by JimboMansonMB-1 » Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am

hey all! I'm embarking on a quarantine project to build my dream Jaguar, starting with a KO Marr body.

I'm looking for some opinions on Jag pickups these days - I've seen a few threads on this topic that are all around 6+ years old, but curious to see if there are any newer options that should be considered as well. here's what I'm currently looking at :

Novak
Lollar
Fralin
The Creamery
Fender PV65 (are these the same as the AV65 pickups?)
custom Bare Knuckle set (are they still doing this?)

anyone else I should have on the table?

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!

User avatar
adamrobertt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2408
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:28 am
Contact:

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by adamrobertt » Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:33 pm

JimboMansonMB-1 wrote:
Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am
hey all! I'm embarking on a quarantine project to build my dream Jaguar, starting with a KO Marr body.

I'm looking for some opinions on Jag pickups these days - I've seen a few threads on this topic that are all around 6+ years old, but curious to see if there are any newer options that should be considered as well. here's what I'm currently looking at :

Novak
Lollar
Fralin
The Creamery
Fender PV65 (are these the same as the AV65 pickups?)
custom Bare Knuckle set (are they still doing this?)

anyone else I should have on the table?

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!
The PV and AV pickups are not the same. The PV are hotter, more modern sounding. The AV pickups are vintage correct.

User avatar
JimboMansonMB-1
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:02 pm

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by JimboMansonMB-1 » Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:01 pm

adamrobertt wrote:
Sun Apr 05, 2020 2:33 pm
JimboMansonMB-1 wrote:
Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am
hey all! I'm embarking on a quarantine project to build my dream Jaguar, starting with a KO Marr body.

I'm looking for some opinions on Jag pickups these days - I've seen a few threads on this topic that are all around 6+ years old, but curious to see if there are any newer options that should be considered as well. here's what I'm currently looking at :

Novak
Lollar
Fralin
The Creamery
Fender PV65 (are these the same as the AV65 pickups?)
custom Bare Knuckle set (are they still doing this?)

anyone else I should have on the table?

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!
The PV and AV pickups are not the same. The PV are hotter, more modern sounding. The AV pickups are vintage correct.
and the V-Mod are even hotter, more modern than those?

User avatar
kgbAttack
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 225
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:30 am
Location: Europe

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by kgbAttack » Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:55 pm

JimboMansonMB-1 wrote:
Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!
I have placed Lollar pickups in my AVRI '62 Jag. They are not hotter than the stock pickup but fatter in tone. What really helped me getting hotter output is the parallel/series mod - I sacrificed the bass-cut switch for that, but it isn't a big loss for me. Then you basically have a HB output level in your Jag.

User avatar
lastlol
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1034
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:41 am
Location: A mote of dust

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by lastlol » Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:50 pm


User avatar
pikmin
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 357
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2015 5:03 am

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by pikmin » Tue Apr 07, 2020 3:02 pm

I used to have Pure Vintage 65 pickups , they were good .
But then I ordered a Custom vintage style set from Q pickups and they are awesome .
I Much prefer these to the Pure Vintage 65 . And I only payed 60 euros for the custom set made for me in 2017 !!!

But i’d like to try some Mojos or Creamery too ...

User avatar
Embenny
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 10363
Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 5:07 am

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by Embenny » Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:31 pm

Since Larry got me thinking about Kinmans again, why not look into their options? Their Jag pickups are basically just their Strat pickups with the right nonmagnetic claw and cover to make them drop into a Jag and work properly, and their strat pickups are quite renowned.

They have several options that are hotter than vintage, and my attitude is that a dream guitar should be one that doesn't hum and buzz. If you're building a dream Jag and want it to slot into your gear setup alongside mini-HBs and P90s, that'd be an avenue I'd pursue for sure.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

User avatar
Ridgeback
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 115
Joined: Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:19 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by Ridgeback » Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:35 pm

kgbAttack wrote:
Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:55 pm
JimboMansonMB-1 wrote:
Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!
I have placed Lollar pickups in my AVRI '62 Jag. They are not hotter than the stock pickup but fatter in tone. What really helped me getting hotter output is the parallel/series mod - I sacrificed the bass-cut switch for that, but it isn't a big loss for me. Then you basically have a HB output level in your Jag.
Do you happen to have a link to a wiring diagram for using the strangle switch for the series pickup setting? I like the 4 way switch in my tele and I liked the series mode in the Marr I used to own. I never use the bass cut switch on my Jag and would love to convert it. Thanks.

User avatar
N0_Camping4U
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1673
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:59 pm
Location: Houston Texas

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by N0_Camping4U » Wed Apr 08, 2020 9:19 am

I have Curtis Novaks in my 12 string, and Jaguar - and they're great. It's a bad comparison, but I have Lollar's in my Jazz bass and I was really impressed with how the Lollars felt, looked, and played compared to the Novaks.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master."

User avatar
kgbAttack
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 225
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:30 am
Location: Europe

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by kgbAttack » Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:31 am

Ridgeback wrote:
Tue Apr 07, 2020 4:35 pm

Do you happen to have a link to a wiring diagram for using the strangle switch for the series pickup setting? I like the 4 way switch in my tele and I liked the series mode in the Marr I used to own. I never use the bass cut switch on my Jag and would love to convert it. Thanks.
I'll see if I can find it again - I searched for it through my files and couldn't find it anymore but it should be out there somewhere

User avatar
odieux fonzie
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:14 pm

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by odieux fonzie » Mon May 09, 2022 12:39 pm

2 years later...
I don't think it's necessary to put out the stragle circuit to have series / parallel on a jaguar.
Here is how to do it :
https://www.reddit.com/r/offset/comment ... ds_series/

when the pickup switches are both up : parallel
both down : series

User avatar
Edle8759
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2022 4:39 am

Re: Best Jaguar Pickups 2020?

Post by Edle8759 » Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:18 pm

kgbAttack wrote:
Sun Apr 05, 2020 10:55 pm
JimboMansonMB-1 wrote:
Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:05 am

tonally, I'm looking for something that will "split the difference," so to speak - I do want to retain some of the earlier vintage Jaguar pickup vibe, but I also need this guitar to hold its own when switching out with other guitars during a show (those have P90s and mini humbuckers).

let me know what you'd recommend - thanks!
I have placed Lollar pickups in my AVRI '62 Jag. They are not hotter than the stock pickup but fatter in tone. What really helped me getting hotter output is the parallel/series mod - I sacrificed the bass-cut switch for that, but it isn't a big loss for me. Then you basically have a HB output level in your Jag.
How much better are the Lollar’s than the stock ones? Do they handle drive pedals better?

Post Reply