Author Topic: Which pick-ups for Jaguar HH? (Read 2466 times)

Mr Arkadin · « **on:** February 11, 2007, 07:23:46 PM »

OK, first-time poster here with the standard question - which pickups for my Jaguear HH. For those who don't know the HH is standard humbucker pick-ups - in this case the stock Fender Dragsters. They're OK, but i think getting something a bit more upmarket would be good. i really like the look of the Bareknuckles (plus they're British), but there are so many models that i'm having trouble choosing. Some clues to help you in your task (should you choose to accept it):

i like clean sounds or clean sounds just breaking up for different tunings with open strings a la Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca - too much distortion ruins this sound. So something that cleans up nicely with harmonics i suppose would be good here.

e-bow, i use e-bow on the neck pick-up and again i use it clean, and i definitely need the harmonics to be good for this setting.

i also like straight ahead rock (Led Zep, Floyd) and even heavier/industrial stuff like Deftones. i don't really play blues but i don't need anything ridiculously hot either. i'm not bothered about sounding vintage/retro.

i'm also thinking of wiring the pick-ups for parallel/series use, replacing the low-cut switch with a series/parallel switch.

Also, finish-wise i like the look of the aged nickel, is the aged raw nickel much different?

One final thing - is there anything i need to know about dimensions as this is a Fender, are they different to Gibo's?

Cheers,
Mr Arkadin.

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:45:45 AM »

I think a set of Crawlers would be perfect.

I'm not sure about the string spacing. Most Fenders have 52mm spacing but the HH Jag has a tune-o-matic bridge wich usually has a 50mm spacing.

Mr Arkadin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2007, 12:13:47 PM »

i'll check those out thanks. My ruler says 51.5 for the string spacing, so thats between the two :? Think i'll have to phone Mr Bare Knuckle.

Elliot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2007, 12:21:18 PM »

I'd second Crawlers for humbuckers - get them split coil for real versatility.

Another option are Mississippi Queens (the humbucker sized P90s) which would retain the old school Indie sound of Thurston Moore and can easily do Zepplin without any problem.

As to spacing - looks like you should go 52mm for the buckers, MQs only come in 50mm.

Mr Arkadin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2007, 09:02:49 PM »

i like the idea of a P90 in the neck position and a humbucker in the bridge position, but i prefer humbuckers for e-bow which plays off the neck pick-up, so i'll probably stick to humbuckers with series/parallel wiring.