|
Post by deadriff on May 6, 2020 23:16:26 GMT
I’ve been trying to read through old posts, but can’t find a definite answer. Are the “jazzmaster” pups in the JA-60 just jazzmaster looking or are they actually more like jazzmasters than real P90s? I’ve been wanting a guitar with P90s for recording rock (don’t like how deep humbuckers are or how thin single coils are).
For $137, would there really be a difference in pickups or would it be worth it to either get the JA-60 and change them out or look for another guitar?
I’ve also never done any work on a guitar before and I started looking at HBs for a project guitar, so I wouldn’t mind having to change the pickups. I’m just not sure if it’d be worth doing if the jazzmasters that come in it currently would really make a difference
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on May 6, 2020 23:58:32 GMT
Well a lot of people will tell you how they sound because they've heard them on yt. So they must know what they are talking about. 🙄 hartonbenley I believe took some of them apart and they were closer in construction/dimensions to jazzmaster pups if I remember correctly? I have a JA60 with the Roswell jazzwhatevers, I did readings with an LCR meter and they are closer to jazzmaster pickups in both resistance (k) inductance (henries). I did put these readings in a thread about JA60s.. Now they don't sound like the P90's in my 450GT or any other soapbar P90's I've heard. Again they don't sound like the P94 clones (humbucker sized P90's). Do they sound like jazzmasters? I can't say I haven't got a jazzmaster to compare them with. What also may need to be taken into account is the JA60 doesn't have the tone circuit a jazzmaster has or 1meg Potentiometers. So in reality it's bit of trick question. Unless you can swap them with real Fender jazzmaster pups into a JA60 and vice versa. IMHO they are good sounding pickups a different flavour from P90's and a lot different to most humbuckers. Sorry for the long winded response but it's only way I could explain it. Hope this helps. 😎
|
|
|
Post by deadriff on May 7, 2020 0:38:08 GMT
Well a lot of people will tell you how they sound because they've heard them on yt. So they must know what they are talking about. 🙄 hartonbenley I believe took some of them apart and they were closer in construction/dimensions to jazzmaster pups if I remember correctly? I have a JA60 with the Roswell jazzwhatevers, I did readings with an LCR meter and they are closer to jazzmaster pickups in both resistance (k) inductance (henries). I did put these readings in a thread about JA60s.. Now they don't sound like the P90's in my 450GT or any other soapbar P90's I've heard. Again they don't sound like the P94 clones (humbucker sized P90's). Do they sound like jazzmasters? I can't say I haven't got a jazzmaster to compare them with. What also may need to be taken into account is the JA60 doesn't have the tone circuit a jazzmaster has or 1meg Potentiometers. So in reality it's bit of trick question. Unless you can swap them with real Fender jazzmaster pups into a JA60 and vice versa. IMHO they are good sounding pickups a different flavour from P90's and a lot different to most humbuckers. Sorry for the long winded response but it's only way I could explain it. Hope this helps. 😎 How would you compare them to the P90s, do they sound more or less mellow? From what I’ve read the jazzmasters are supposed to have a smoother top end But I absolutely appreciate the response, every bit helps!
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on May 7, 2020 1:04:57 GMT
That's a tough one deadriff, I suppose I could say they are not as in your face as P90s played on the clean channel. Obviously if your adding OD or distortion the difference is maybe not so much. I never know what terms are the correct to use. You could use smoother but you can get some rather smooth tone from P90s. I'm not helping am I. 🤔 I'll probably get berated for using this description! If pushed they are not as gnarly as P90s. I will however say they are quite versatile and can sound very good both clean and with OD/distortion.
|
|
3,457 posts
|
Post by LeoThunder on May 7, 2020 4:00:15 GMT
I’ve been trying to read through old posts, but can’t find a definite answer. Are the “jazzmaster” pups in the JA-60 just jazzmaster looking or are they actually more like jazzmasters than real P90s? I’ve been wanting a guitar with P90s for recording rock (don’t like how deep humbuckers are or how thin single coils are). According to the Roswell site, they are like Jazzmaster pick-ups. Older models came with P90, you can still find them used. They are recognisable at the smaller covers.
|
|
|
Post by deadriff on May 8, 2020 10:33:32 GMT
blindwilly3fingers No haha you're still helping. I'm definitely looking for gnarlyier and more output, but I'd imagine the jazzmasters would be more than useable. LeoThunder yeah, but I remember reading somewhere the roswell jazzmasters are much more like p90s in sound than real jazzmasters, which wouldn't be a bad thing for me
|
|
3,457 posts
|
Post by LeoThunder on May 8, 2020 11:28:41 GMT
I remember reading somewhere the roswell jazzmasters are much more like p90s in sound than real jazzmasters, which wouldn't be a bad thing for me I wonder how that should be. If they are built like Jazzmaster pick-ups, they should be closer to that sound. Here's a demo: And another one. The guy's a fool who speaks of "P90 style" pick-ups but the guitar shown has the new Jazzmaster type: Videos of the older variant with actual P90s are plentiful so they can be compared to some extent. The P90s are smaller and have two visible screws in between pole pieces, like on this one: Finally, I found this demo of all the possibilities of a real Jazzmaster quite interesting:
|
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on May 8, 2020 12:53:00 GMT
That final video is interesting. It chimes with my experience of a similar Fender Jazzmaster a couple of months ago: much more pick attack and toppier/thinner sounding than any other pickup I have played. I wasn't sure I liked it at all at the time, especially for lead lines but, having rejected the whole idea, I have been mulling over how handy that could be in a mix, poking it's head above the thump and blur of other instruments. Did you swap the Fender pups into a JA60 and vice versa? I wonder if the tone circuit and 1meg pots made it sound toppier/thinner than any other pickup you have played? But I suppose you would EQ that out, silly me. 🙄
|
|
DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
|
Post by DefJef on May 8, 2020 13:32:45 GMT
Wasn't my Jazzmaster to mess about with blindwilly3fingers . Having already rearranged the owner's pedal board I'm sure I would have overstepped the mark if I'd got the screwdriver and soldering iron out! I was surprised that even the rhythm circuit, intended to be less toppy, still seemed pretty thin to me. I did try rolling off some volume for some treble cut and, of course messed with the tone knob and amp's EQ but, in the short time I had it, I didn't gel with it. Maybe, over a weekend and with my own amp and pedals I may have got something more satisfactory out of it but I got the feeling that it was going to be a bit like one of my strats - untamable - even with an EQ pedal. I'm guessing the JA-60 comes with 250K pots? That must ameliorate the highs a good deal?
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on May 8, 2020 14:31:01 GMT
Wasn't my Jazzmaster to mess about with blindwilly3fingers . Having already rearranged the owner's pedal board I'm sure I would have overstepped the mark if I'd got the screwdriver and soldering iron out! I was surprised that even the rhythm circuit, intended to be less toppy, still seemed pretty thin to me. I did try rolling off some volume for some treble cut and, of course messed with the tone knob and amp's EQ but, in the short time I had it, I didn't gel with it. Maybe, over a weekend and with my own amp and pedals I may have got something more satisfactory out of it but I got the feeling that it was going to be a bit like one of my strats - untamable - even with an EQ pedal. I'm guessing the JA-60 comes with 250K pots? That must ameliorate the highs a good deal? I don't know DefJef I'll have to check YouTube to see if the pots used make any difference. I'm sure the equipment they use will sound similar to my set up. It probably doesn't make much difference if they record direct or in the room. Not that I really know as I don't record. 🤔 I can understand your friend not being open to you modifying his guitar. People can be so obstinate! 😯 Just out of curiosity does he like it and gel with the Jazzmaster? Or is it like the Tele or Les Paul only fit for firewood? 🙄 Getting back to the JA60 IMHO not that it is relevant or compendious. It is obviously not the same as a jazzmaster but ostensibly a lookalike! An offset body style guitar with two jazzmaster style pups. As mentioned by those possessing far more expertise and knowledge than myself. It has no tone circuit and different value pots. So I really must compare it to a real Jazzmaster on youtube! I have a JA60 and like it I suppose I've even 'gelled' With it. I even like how the pickups sound. 😮 But it would probably be a better guitar if it had Splitable Humbuckers? Better still the legendary single coil pickups that have clarity no humbucker could ever get close to! Wow! you can even make those sound exactly like humbuckers. I kidd you not, I've read it on this forum. 🥰 The Original poster asked what the JA60 jazzwhatever pups were like. I mistakenly gave him my honest opinion based on comparison with P90, P94 pickups I have or have and that I have played in guitars that are not mine. I did state in my reply youtube is really the way to go according to the "Experts". Perhaps the forum is not really necessary? I'll definitely know youtube is the place to look for answers in the future! 😁
|
|
DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
|
Post by DefJef on May 8, 2020 14:40:12 GMT
Now then, He likes how it looks and feels. So did I...although that bridge string angle WAS a bit worrying . But no he's not as sold on it as his two teles and a rather unusual 'two-knob' 80s strat. As for 'gelling' he was cuddling it when I left him...don't know how that worked out for him... .
|
|
|
Post by blindwilly3fingers on May 8, 2020 15:18:46 GMT
Now then, He likes how it looks and feels. So did I...although that bridge string angle WAS a bit worrying . But no he's not as sold on it as his two teles and a rather unusual 'two-knob' 80s strat. As for 'gelling' he was cuddling it when I left him...don't know how that worked out for him... . Well everyone gets self gratification somehow. ❤️
|
|
|
Post by hartonbenley on May 9, 2020 21:40:43 GMT
Well, I have no experience about Jazzmaster, nor P-90 pickups, but yes, I do have a JA60-LH with Roswell "Jazzmaster" pickups. Here are the pictures of those pickups : They have a plus over the regular Fender Jazzmaster pickups : they are RWRP. Moreover, it seems that the new Squier Jazzmaster is fitted with those same Roswell pickups - I can't retrieve where I saw the matching pictures showing the same references, though. To make those pickups hum dead silent, I wrapped them in a grounded aluminium adhesive foil : I did not noticed any significative change in the tone, but it could have reduced a little bit the magnetic window of the pickup, making them a just a bit thinner ? I really can't confirm, because I perceived no obvious difference - except the remaining hum eradication ! That said, these pickups are quite powerful, nothing to do with Strat/Tele single coils or Gibson humbuckers. They fat, bright and slighty mid-scooped to my ears. But it's me, OK ? Cheers,
|
|