Humbuckers needed for custom Jaguar

[Elessar [Sly]]

I am considering getting a custom Jaguar made, and would like a pick up recommendation. I want nice articulate cleans from the neck humbucker but it needs to be able to handle fuzz and a bit of high gain. For the bridge I need something that can handle high gain distortion well as well a little bit of overdrive (perhaps punchy cleans?). I am also considering coil tap options (if that would work alright on a Jaguar that is).

It will have a standard jaguar bridge system, and would like generic humbuckers with humbucker covers not specifically made Jaguar pick ups.

[JonnyScaramanga]

With that description, you could be looking at virtually anything from the vintage and vintage hot sections of the BK catalogue. All of them have nice cleans and all of them can handle high gain. I have a VHII in the bridge of a Strat, and it's by far the nicest sounding bridge humbucker clean tone I've ever had. It can still kick the amp surprisingly hard, and sounds great with any amount of gain. The VHII splits extremely well, because of the asymmetric wind.

If you're a Jag player, I'm guessing you're into the slightly alternative side of things, and the VHII might be a bit too polite for you (it's a very musical, almost sweet-sounding pickup). I'm guessing you'll want something a bit dirty.

 I haven't ever played a Jag, so I'm not sure what they sound like unplugged, or how the short scale affects the tone. So I'll give my vote for VHII, but with that warning.

[Elessar [Sly]]

VHII is certainly on the table. I would like something more articulate/clean for the neck. I appreciate options for both positions.

[JonnyScaramanga]

More articulate than a VHII? That's a tall order.

Lower output and clearer I guess would give a Riff Raff neck... I'm having one fitted to a Les Paul as we speak, so I'll report back.

[Elessar [Sly]]

I meant in general for the neck. Again, I am open to any suggestions at this point!

[Telerocker]

A Mule-bridge and Stormy Monday-neck, but I don't know the timbers and how bright or dark the natural voice of the guitar is.

[Elessar [Sly]]

The body will be Ash just to let you know.

Any help is appreciated.

[Telerocker]

In that case something with a tad more mids: VHII, Abraxas, Crawler. I added the Crawler because if performs very well in ash and swampash (have one in my swampash HSS-strat) and it splits nice. The singlecoil-sounds of the Crawler is liking have a beefy stratpickup under your fingertips. For punchiness the VHII is hard to beat.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

VHII is much better than you think it is.

[Telerocker]

Addition: yesterday I gigged with my ash Fender American Series strat, loaded with VHII and Mother's Milk. Normally I take my HSS custom strat with Crawler and Irish Tours, cause it can do nearly everything. Once again I was surprised how good the VHII performs in ash. No lack of mids or bass, clear but sweet topend. Very dynamic/touchsensitive and punchy. Solotones are wicked. A touch leaner then the Crawler, but more open. Great pickup.

[Elessar [Sly]]

Tim has recommended Alnico Nailbombs for it. But the VHII sounds cool (and the Crawler).

Still not sure on what to get though. There are never enough vids on youtube! Certainly not for Jags!

I like gibson 57 classics in the neck of my Les Paul, although a completely different different instrument; is there anything similar in the BKP's range? I really like the BKP's in my collection and would really like to have them in the Jag.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I believe the Stormy Mondays are the usual suspect in the BKP line for Gibson '57 pickups.

[Elessar [Sly]]

I believe the Stormy Mondays are the usual suspect in the BKP line for Gibson '57 pickups.

How do the stormy mondays handle high gain?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Should do a decent job. Richard Fortus of the new Guns N Roses uses SM in some of his guitars, so I guess they can handle GNR and lower. I wouldn't think they'd be absolutely mind blowing with much more gain than GNR though.

[Telerocker]

I don't want to question Tim's advice, but bear in mind Nailbombs are agressive, have an uppermid spike and some sizzle you like or you don't. The question is wether you want a contemporary sound or something more vintage. In ash, a timber with percussiveness in the tone, I would be careful with pickups that are on the bright side. But's that my taste, especially played through highgain-amps.