Do jazz-style neck & bridge pickups differ in any way other than size?

[Bobster]

The length of the bridge pickup on MiM Fenders changed a while ago. Around 2003, I believe. I'm sure someone will come along to correct me.

Also the CV and VM Squires have a longer bridge pickup.

Bob

 

[SteveD]

Very interesting, though I know almost nothing about pups.

61 Jazz, original pups, neck length 90mm, bridge pup 93mm. Both are 17.5mm wide.

2001 MIM Jazz fretless, original pups, Both 92.5mm, both 19.5mm wide.

2011 Indonesian Jazz 24, Basslines Quarterpounders: neck 89.5mm, bridge, 92.5mm. Width, both 17.5mm.

Tone? 61 gets nice ragged growl as the presence knob comes up, 2001 more smooth and deep, good definition with bassy settings (reggae machine), doesn't sound as good with tone knob cranked. The Basslines QPs sound big, punchy, more detailed, perhaps a bit scooped, prone to be clacky/zippy unless you cut some highs. They are very growly with a mid bump on the passive setting, smoother but trebly when active.

 

[Tony Stasa]

This Thread is great,

So I have a Squire 2017 Jazz 70s modified that I put new DeMarzio pickups in. I just noticed that I installed in reverse (I didn't know there was a difference when installing), I do remember that the pick guard Pickup hole was really tight, so I have to slightly grind the edges to get it to fit. I assumed it was just that the diMarzio's were just a bit bigger. So big question now is do I reverse them back? Does it matter?

 

[iiipopes]

According to Fender and most of the aftermarket manufacturers, the neck pickup in "vintage" size is about 3 5/8 inches long and about 3/4 inch wide, not including the mounting ears. By contrast, the bridge pickup in "vintage" size is about 3 3/4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, not including the mounting ears. This is to account for the taper of the string spacing of a little bit more than 2 1/4 inches overall (yes, it is a little wider than "nominal" 3/4 inch or 19mm per string) to about 1 3/8 inches overall (give or take, depending on how the nut is installed) at the nut.

The effect of this is that even though first generation vintage pickups have nominally the same number of turns of the same wire on both pickups, generally quoted at @ 7800 turns, that 1/8 inch difference in length multiplied by several thousand turns of wire make the bridge pickup have a higher d.c. resistance when measured on an ohmmeter, along with the other differences in strength and tonality between the pickups.

Since the original J-bass pickups, various manufacturers have altered these specs, sometimes significantly, and many time adding more turns, either to the set, or just to the bridge pickup for the reasons stated above.

 

[allboutbass]

I did this simple test in photoshop ... here are the magnets aligned from the first pole piece, obviously they are not the same size. The one on top is the bridge pu. Done deal... at least MIAs

 

[Thom Harmand]

The bridge pickup should be 1/4" wider than the neck, not 1mm.

IIRC, the bridge pickup is not overwound, but rather, it is wound the same as the neck pickup, but since the pickup is wider, that equates to more wire being used to do so.

So, if that is the case, wouldn't a replacement pick guard fit around that bridge pickup? Mine is for a 5- string but my 1973 is a 4-string.
Hmmm ...