Best WRHB/Single Coil combinations for Jazzmaster build

[Glumlord]

I finally decided to pull the trigger on jazzmaster build and came across an oxblood TVL body and neck on The Stratosphere and I'm looking for some advice on pickup combinations. I've done some searching through the forum and haven't found much talk about this recently.

I would like to try a Wide Range in the bridge position and single coil in the neck, but not sure which single coil will complement the WR best. I'm leaning towards the Lollar Regal and a SD Antiquity I. I'm currently running an Antiquity II in the neck position of my telemaster and love it to death, hoping the antiquity I will give me a bit of variety.

I know that the Novak JM-WR is another popular WR for Jazzmaster option, and would love to hear about how this compares to the Regal, and what SIngle coil option would be a good match for that one as well.

any advice you can provide on these combination or others?

[JSett]

For many years I had a Creamery WRHB and an AVRI62. Sounded great to my ears.

[Deed_Poll]

I think a few winders out there do a kind of split single EXII type thing in a WRHB form factor, I feel like that would be a clean look visually and would keep the hum cancelling

[javier-san]

I currently have a Novak JM-HC Stealth in the neck and Novak JM-WR in the bridge on one of my guitars. It's a combination I have been really enjoying.

I have some Creamery WR Baby 71s (which are the same as his JMWR) and those are great, too. I believe those might be a better match if you're trying to go single coil neck and WR bridge , since he underwinds them when compared to "normal" WR pups (I think, 8k vs 10k)

[Glumlord]

I currently have a Novak JM-HC Stealth in the neck and Novak JM-WR in the bridge on one of my guitars. It's a combination I have been really enjoying.

I have some Creamery WR Baby 71s (which are the same as his JMWR) and those are great, too. I believe those might be a better match if you're trying to go single coil neck and WR bridge , since he underwinds them when compared to "normal" WR pups (I think, 8k vs 10k)

Thanks for your input. The difference in resistance is one thing I was wondering about. The Regal is 10.7 and the SD Antiquity is 8.2

Maybe they won’t balance in output?

[CorporateDisguise]

I have a JM with a Novak WRHB in the bridge and a JMV in the neck. I really like the WRHB with gain and fuzz. A bit more pick attack than a Gibson style HB, which lends itself to high gain really well. It stays crisp and clear, without getting mushy. The neck is perfect for clean tones. Full bodied, warm, all the things we love about JM pickups.

The only thing I really miss from a stock JM, is the magical middle position, which is a really special sound IMO. That’s why I have two JMs, one stock and the other modded.

I know noise drives some people crazy, but it has never ben an issue for me. I don’t mind a bit of 60 cycle. Especially because I use the neck for cleanish tones, I never really encounter it much. Although I do use the neck pickup with my Superfuzz, but that has a bit of a gate on it, so that point is moot.

I unfortunately have never compared to the Lollar Regals, so I have no insight there.

EDIT

Oh, and as with most of the WRHBs I’ve encountered, the height of the pickup, and pole pieces is really important. I generally put the pickup down pretty low, and then adjust the pole pieces up closer to the strings. They like to be pretty close.

[evanforbass]

I've always thought a JM with sc neck and WRHB bridge (standard WR, not in a JM cover) would be cool. I have Mojotone WRHB in my jazzblaster and I am very happy with them, a little more affordable than Lollar and others. In my JM I have a Novak JMV in the neck and it really is the best.

[redchapterjubilee]

I rolled for a long time with a Novak WRHB bridge and JM90 neck and loved that combination.

[Glumlord]

I have a JM with a Novak WRHB in the bridge and a JMV in the neck. I really like the WRHB with gain and fuzz. A bit more pick attack than a Gibson style HB, which lends itself to high gain really well. It stays crisp and clear, without getting mushy. The neck is perfect for clean tones. Full bodied, warm, all the things we love about JM pickups.

The only thing I really miss from a stock JM, is the magical middle position, which is a really special sound IMO. That’s why I have two JMs, one stock and the other modded.

I know noise drives some people crazy, but it has never ben an issue for me. I don’t mind a bit of 60 cycle. Especially because I use the neck for cleanish tones, I never really encounter it much. Although I do use the neck pickup with my Superfuzz, but that has a bit of a gate on it, so that point is moot.

I unfortunately have never compared to the Lollar Regals, so I have no insight there.

EDIT

Oh, and as with most of the WRHBs I’ve encountered, the height of the pickup, and pole pieces is really important. I generally put the pickup down pretty low, and then adjust the pole pieces up closer to the strings. They like to be pretty close.

thanks so much for this detailed response! Your description of the JV-WR is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I switch between very clean and heavily overdriven sounds frequently, and I'm looking for a bit more tightness and punch in the bridge position.

Do you find that there's a big difference in output between the neck and bridge pickups? do they balance pretty well EQ wise? I haven't found any information on output or EQ curves of any of the Novak pickups.

[CorporateDisguise]

They balance well enough. I tend to want more ummph from the bridge pickup, and with this combo, I rarely blend the two. I’m either on the bridge, or the neck. But there isn’t a massive difference in output when you switch between the two on a clean sound. The WRHB is certainly more compressed, and pushes things much harder. It sounds ok clean, but I’m never really a fan of bridge pickups clean anyway. Get a little gain going, and it really perks up.

EQ wise they aren’t leagues away from one another. Compared to a standard JM bridge the WRHB has more of a full body, and is one of the most balanced pickups I’ve encountered EQ wise. Not pushing alot of mids or bass like some HBs do. It also retains more pick attack, which we perceive as an inherent brightness, and is why I think it lends itself so well to high gain. That pick attack lets it retain a level of clarity, when other HBs would start to smear, and mush up the bottom end. But switching from bridge to neck doesn’t sound unnatural IMO.