Chiliwailer

I think the 59J you refer to is from the Original series; they also have a Classic series version. I use a Classic series MM pickup on my Ray. I always liked the Original, but found it too dark at time, the Classic remedies that for my taste, so just a heads up that you may have another option.

Only got 3 basses now, a Stingray first bought in 1996, a Fender CS Jazz Bass, and an Ozark Acoustic bought in 1994. Made the list below a while back - it's selective as although lots more basses have passed through my hands these are the ones I liked and considered mine...until they weren't Fender 1955 Precision Fender 1964 Precision Fender 1964 Jazz Fender 1966 Precision x 3 Fender 1969 Precision Fender 1973 Precision Fender 1978 Precision Fender 1971 Musicmaster Fender 1973 Musicmaster Fender CS 1963 Jazz Fender CS 1964 Jazz Fender CS 1955 P Bass Fender CS 1964 P bass Fender Flea Active Jazz Bass (up for sale on BC) Fender 1963 Precision AVRI Fender USA Deluxe Precision Fender USA Deluxe Jazz 5 String Fender USA short scale Bullet Fender USA Std Jazz Squier 1983 JV Precision x 2 Squier 1982 JV Precision, with Fender logo Mike Lull PJ4 x 2 Mike Lull P4 Mike Lull M4V Modulus Flea FB4 x 2 Music Man Sabre 1979 x 2 Music Man Stingray x 3 (1995, 1987, 2015) Music Man Sterling (USA) x 2 Music Man SUB (USA) Sterling Music Man SUB (USA) Stingray Music Man Stingray 5HH Music Man Stingray Short Scale (USA) Music Man Stingray Special HH Music Man Old Smoothie Rickenbacker 4001 1978 Rickenbacker 4001 1973 Warwick 1989 Thumb 5 Wal Mk2 Fender Jazz Bass Std (Mex) Hohner Rockwood LX100b (first bass) Aria SB1000 Aria IGB30 Hohner Jack x 2 Ozark Acoustic Satalitte Fretless Ovation Fretless Acoustic Ibanez MC940 Fretless Ibanez BTB6 Squier Std Jazz Steinberger Spirit

Brilliant, thank you, that’s really good to know ACG use them too, and you liked them. I ordered the Armstrong this morning. I’m so intrigued as I never knew these existed until yesterday. 🤞

Kent Armstrong make a Mixed Magnet Music Man pickup, one coil is alnico and one is ceramic. I'm quite interested, as I like aspects of both on a MM, and love the idea of best of both worlds.... if it works well in reality that is. Anyone tried one? Think I may have to get one, especially as they have a good returns policy. https://www.armstrongmusic.co.uk/products/handwound-music-man-shape-pickup-music-man-with-mixed-magnets

Quite worryingly, I remember vintage Gibson’s being faked very well about 20 years ago… each one would contain real vintage parts from a less expensive model from the same period; all to make the buyer perhaps subconsciously believe that “well it must real as the parts are” - add in a good Clive Brown refinish and it’s easy to see people being caught out - as a fiend of mine did by a real pr1ck on this site a few years back, I wanted to take the bass apart when he was buying it but he didn’t want me to for some reason, when I did months later to sell it for him, I clearly saw one of Clive’s ‘secret’ markings - you wouldn’t know what they are unless Clive told you. Old flux was also used for ‘virgin solder joints’ on these fake Gibsons and that really caught people out, they fooled a fair few dealers and collectors. People were/are also doing this with vintage Marshall heads, taking parts from same era lesser models and putting them into the desirable ones so they went back to being ‘all original’ and never messed with. I had nothing to do with it btw, I was just in the vintage industry at the time and sadly saw it.