cushymac Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Hi I have an old Jap Jazz which has Maxon humbuckers in it. The Maxons have pretty much had it and are microphonic - on closer inspection they are shagged beyond repair. The bass plays and (did) sound amazing. Can anyone recommend something that I can use to replace the maxons that will have a nice vintage sound and not require too much modification - the hole is pretty large. Obviously Hammon Darkstars came to mind but these are no longer in production. The neck position can take anything as I can just make a new pickguard, so it is the bridge position I am concerned about. Cheers Steve Mc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr M Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Those look to be about the same size as the mini-humbuckers you find on a few basses - EB3 bridge, Ric neck, Ibanez semi-solids. I think Duncan make a Ric neck replacement, but I have no idea what it's like. I'll be interested to see other suggestions - I've got an Ibanez Iceman with pickups about the same size that I've been considering replacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I can recommend the [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/replacement-toaster-pickup-front-2687-p.asp"]Kent Armstrong[/url] 'toaster' style pickups for guitar and bass. Mini Humbucker size and pretty reasonably priced. I think with most mini-humbuckers you might have to do a bit of work for them to fit, but you have nice big pickup surrounds there to hide it Alternatively, you could get in touch with [url="http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/"]Bareknuckle[/url] or [url="http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/"]Wizard pickups[/url] and get the originals re-wound and wax-potted. Then you'll keep the original pickups, they will sound great and won't be microphonic. Also probably cheaper than replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Get the rewound as stated above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cushymac Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 I sent them to Wizard and Andy didn't want to touch them. He said they were beyond repair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 [quote name='cushymac' timestamp='1360768148' post='1976151'] I sent them to Wizard and Andy didn't want to touch them. He said they were beyond repair! [/quote] Could he not wind you something to fit in the existing covers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1360769031' post='1976171'] Could he not wind you something to fit in the existing covers? [/quote] And if he can't there is bound to be someone who can! You could also try this guy, Mike, at [url="http://www.geminipickups.co.uk/"]gemini[/url] pickups. He makes a Ric style mini humbucker and does repairs too so both angles covered. He's really helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cushymac Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Hi All Thanks for the advice, really usefull. I have spoken to Aaron at Armstrong Pickups who says he can sort them out for me. Anyone had any experience of Armstrong Pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 [quote name='cushymac' timestamp='1360840040' post='1977145']Anyone had any experience of Armstrong Pickups?[/quote] Aaron is the third generation of the Armstrong family to make pickups: Dan, then Kent, now Aaron. The family is one of the best in the business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Yep, whichever Armstrong you choose you'll get a decent pickup I think Aaron is UK based too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Out of interest are the original pickups actually humbuckers? I can see there's two sets of pole-pieces, but cheap far eastern instruments from the 60s and 70s were notorious for having pickups that looked like humbuckers on them, but when you actually had a look beneath the covers there was only a single coil in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) [quote name='cushymac' timestamp='1360840040' post='1977145'] Hi All Thanks for the advice, really usefull. I have spoken to Aaron at Armstrong Pickups who says he can sort them out for me. Anyone had any experience of Armstrong Pickups? [/quote] I haven't personally; but I know a few who have; all very happy. Also had a couple of Kent's era pickups are they were great. If you go that route you should be very happy with the result, though there is at least one of those pickups on Fleabay just now, they come up fairly often. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Aria-EB-3-SG-Bass-Guitar-Original-Bridge-Pickup-Made-in-Japan-/370745043551?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5652206a5f"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5652206a5f[/url] Edited February 14, 2013 by Big_Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 They look pretty much the same as the original Stu. Good find. No guarantee those Aria ones will not be microphonic though, best to get new ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.