Active Pickups to Compensate for 7.25” Radius

[P Cheen]

Might be an oddly specific query here but I’m considering either an EMG JX or JVX (leaning towards the JVX) as an upgrade on my Fender Classic Series 70’s Jazz that has a rounded 7.25” fretboard radius. Of course the stock pickups have flat a pole piece arrangement...

My question is will getting active pickups compensate for the lower volume on the A and D strings? I understand that the JX has ceramic bar magnets radiused at 14” and the JVX just has flat poles. My thinking is that the preamp in those pickups might be compressing the signal to a point where the minute string-to-pole distance is made insignificant.

 

[XLunacy]

Not a direct answer to your question, but have you considered pickups with adjustable pole pieces ? Would that help ?

 

[Jazz Ad]

Preamps generally don't compress signal. This one very likely doesn't since it claims

This pickup maintains the "faded" attack of the offset pole pieces that many players prefer in combination with our most dynamic preamp

Extended dynamics is the opposite of compression. They also say they took in account the typical offset pole pieces and mimiced it, which means the problem is already solved.

 

[RattleSnack]

I would sugest trying better setup with stock pickups. Fender recommends lowering them, and IME this helps.
Some forum members wrote about modifying their pickups by opening them and carefully knocking middle poles out so they follow the radius.
If that doesn't help, get pickups designed for this radius.

 

[A9X]

My question is will getting active pickups compensate for the lower volume on the A and D strings?

No.