JM-Sized Humbuckers vs Classic Humbuckers?

[averic03]

So I'm relatively new to posting here but I've lurked for a while and I always see these JM-sized Humbucker pickups like the Novak Wide Ranges

What is the practical difference between this and a classic Fender-style wide range humbucker? Seeing as I've recently gotten into winding pickups, I'm assuming they are just slightly thinner and wider than a typical humbucker, but WRHBs are already thinner and wider than a typical humbucker.

I'm asking because I've seen plenty of builds where people have routed out fresh bodies for Novak WRs instead of a normal WRHB, and I was wondering if there's a reason for this besides aesthetics.

[andy_tchp]

I'm asking because I've seen plenty of builds where people have routed out fresh bodies for Novak WRs instead of a normal WRHB

Not really. Novak's 'JM-WR' offerings are the exact same footprint as normal Jazzmaster pickups.

Any 'off the shelf' body will have this routing pattern for the pickups.

[javier-san]

Wide Range humbuckers (not just Novak's) are bigger in size than a "traditional" or "PAF" sized humbucker.

And was mentioned above, the JM-sized WR requires no routing when going into a jazzmaster style guitar.

[averic03]

Not really. Novak's 'JM-WR' offerings are the exact same footprint as normal Jazzmaster pickups.

Any 'off the shelf' body will have this routing pattern for the pickups.

And was mentioned above, the JM-sized WR requires no routing when going into a jazzmaster style guitar.

Sorry, I don't think I explained what I was asking properly. What I'm saying is that I have seen people route bodies with no previous routes (body blank), or get custom routed bodies, specifically for a Jazzmaster pickup, but instead of mounting JM pickups, they would mount the Novak WRHBs. What I'm saying is that I am wondering if a specific attribute other than aesthetics has anything to do with it.

For example, I wouldn't take a body blank and route for Fat Cats if I want a P90 tone.

Wide Range humbuckers (not just Novak's) are bigger in size than a "traditional" or "PAF" sized humbucker.

This is what I meant when I said "I'm assuming they are just slightly thinner and wider than a typical humbucker, but WRHBs are already thinner and wider than a typical humbucker."

I should have been more specific, what I was meaning was that both the Novak JM-WR and Fender WRHBs are thinner and wider than a typical humbucker.

Sorry for the confusion.

[javier-san]

This is what I meant when I said "I'm assuming they are just slightly thinner and wider than a typical humbucker, but WRHBs are already thinner and wider than a typical humbucker."

I should have been more specific, what I was meaning was that both the Novak JM-WR and Fender WRHBs are thinner and wider than a typical humbucker.

Sorry for the confusion.

Fender (and others) WRHBs are taller and wider than typical humbuckers by about .100"-.125" (1/8"ish).

And if I remember the dimensions correctly, jazzmaster pickups are as tall as a humbucker and longer.

[Veitchy]

Sorry, I don't think I explained what I was asking properly. What I'm saying is that I have seen people route bodies with no previous routes (body blank), or get custom routed bodies, specifically for a Jazzmaster pickup, but instead of mounting JM pickups, they would mount the Novak WRHBs. What I'm saying is that I am wondering if a specific attribute other than aesthetics has anything to do with it.

I would imagine it gives them the ability to mount other JM/JM sized pickups in the future, whereas if your route a blank body for Wide Range pickups you're locked into a comparatively uncommon pickup footprint.

[bodhi]

Yeah, in other words basically all other pickups fit in a jazzmaster body route, but you need a bit of extra depth for humbucker legs and the like. Then you can just switch pickguards to change pickups. It's kind of an alternative to the "swimming pool" route for strats, in a way.

[averic03]

Yeah, in other words basically all other pickups fit in a jazzmaster body route, but you need a bit of extra depth for humbucker legs and the like. Then you can just switch pickguards to change pickups. It's kind of an alternative to the "swimming pool" route for strats, in a way.

I would imagine it gives them the ability to mount other JM/JM sized pickups in the future, whereas if your route a blank body for Wide Range pickups you're locked into a comparatively uncommon pickup footprint.

Gotcha, makes sense. Thanks for the answers!