MIM Jazz pickup replacement routing or 2 neck sized pups

[mrmcgoo1964]

Hi there
thinking about replacing the pups on my MIM jazz.

Both the pic ups are the same size what are the thoughts on replacing them with two neck PuPs, I look forward to the combined wisdom of the forum.

If this has been discussed elswhere my apologies

Thanks

[ikay]

You need a neck and bridge matched pair. The bridge pup is wound in reverse to eliminate hum when both pups are full on. Bridge is also sometimes wound a little hotter to provide a better balance.

Edited June 30, 2012 by ikay

[Jono Bolton]

I've bought replacement sets of Jazz pickups before, Seymour Duncans and Wizards, and they just dropped straight in to my MIM Jazz. The bridge pickup from the Wizards needed a bit of cajoling to fit the rout, but nothing major, I don't see any need why you would need 2 neck pickups or anything specialist.

[steve-bbb]

why 2 necks? the sound of equal amounts of neck+bridge on a J is awesome imo

am guessing you might find the bridge a bit harsh and burpy but used in moderation mixed in with the neck it really does add that bit of extra definition

the other issue apart from wiring is pole spacing - a J matched pair will not be identical size/spacing - there is approx total 4-5mm difference in pole/string positioning between the neck and bridge

[mrmcgoo1964]

The reason for the two necks was that some MIM jazz basses mine included the pick ups are the same size this was changed on the later ones i believe.

My preferred option is to fit proper different sized ones.

I found this out from the forum when I started thinking about upgrading the PuPs measured them and found out.

What I don't know is whether the pickups in my bass are wound as they should be or not.

[ikay]

What year is your bass? This info about MIM pickups (taken from Talkbass) might help to identify what you've got on there at the moment::

[i]"Seems that the different pickup size change (only) occurred in 2001 (with the same body style). But MOST of those pickups were NOT noise cancelling, just different sizes, that is to say the pups were NOT reverse wound/reverse polarity (RWRP) in relation to each other and still have flat pole pieces. So turning the volumes on both all the way up did NOT cancel hum.

Since 2004/2005, the pickups were not only the appropriate (different) sizes, they have the raised pole pieces under the A and D strings, indicating they are the newer noise cancelling pickups, although not technically reverse wound/reverse polarity (RWRP). Turn both volumes all the way up and they cancel noise AND cause a midrange "scoop" due to frequency cancellation of the mids (called phase cancellation in physics), not due to true electronic hum cancellation--think of it as 2 waves of water coming together, one peaked and one troughed, that cancel each other out. This is due to the distance between the pickups, and not due to RWRP. Technically, he said you can also get this by setting both volumes at identical settings anywhere in the range, but that is almost impossible to do, so just crank 'em up and control the volume with your amp.

You CAN find Fender Mexican / MIM jazz basses from as far back as 2001 that have the raised poles, but they are hit and miss. As with any assembly plant, different runs on different assembly lines used different stock as it was available. Although what I said above is the "official" Fender line, there were certainly times when the "stock" pickups were unavailable and the "improved" ones used, even as far back as 2001 when they made the initial change to different sizes but not noise cancelling. Then as shipments of the "stock" pickups were available, they'd change back for a bit to use up the old ones, then back again to the new ones. Fender "tech-dude" contends that if most MIM jazz basses from the 2001 era that have the raised poles on different sized pickups are probably after-market replacements (i.e. MIA pickups or Fender Custom 60s, etc.) installed by the owner and later resold.

So, in a nutshell, from 2001-2004, you could have a MIM bass with
a) 2 pickups that are the [u]same size [/u]with flat poles -- i.e. 2 "neck pickups" in the neck and bridge position with minimal, if any, noise cancellation
b ) 2 pickups of [u]different size with flat poles [/u]-- i.e. standard sized pickups, but [u]not [/u] true noise cancelling at full volume (similar to (a))
c) 2 pickups of [u]different size with raised poles [/u]-- i.e. standard sized pickups that [u]ARE[/u] noise cancelling (with mid-range scoop desired by many jazz players) when both volumes turned all the way up.

As you move away from 2001 towards 2004/2005, you move from (a) to (b ) to ©. Mostly (a) to (b ) occurred during the 2001 model year as the body routs were made almost immediately. Then by 2004/2005, everyone was made with ©.[/i]

Edited June 30, 2012 by ikay

[mrmcgoo1964]

Thanks ikay
its a '93 from the serial no. and has "two pick ups of the same size with flat poles,"

so no noise cancelling then, it would appear that anything would be an improvement

LOL

[ikay]

Haha! Regular jazz bridge pickup is 94mm long in case you want to check whether it will fit your rout (mounting screw centres are 40mm apart.).

[Jono Bolton]

So with these earlier J Basses is the only way to swap out the pickups to have the body routed to accomodate the larger bridge pickup? Mine's an '03 which would explain the two different sized pickups.

[mrmcgoo1964]

YUp i reckond this would be the case and the talkbass post just confirmed this,

its only a hairs breadth that needs to come off so could do that with a dremel.

The other alterative may be getting wizard to custom wound a bridge PuP in a neck size?

[brensabre79]

Yep, speak to Andy at Wizard, better than slipping with a dremel and awesome sound too