Humbucker question for VM jaguar Hb

[sydandpaigesdad]

Hey guys new to bass and trying to learn, while I just got my new jag HB reading up on it has me kind of confused. If I wanted to switch out the pick up what type would I have to get and would I have to replace all the electronics as well. I have researched it but just don't have enOugh experience yet to understand I guess. If someone could post some examples and why I'd appreciate it

 

[Batmensch]

I gotta ask, why do you want to change stuff out already? Is it that bad of a bass? Do you not like the way it sounds? Or do you want to do it because you heard/read that's what you're supposed to do with a Squier?

 

[sydandpaigesdad]

No I don't want to at all, like I mentioned I'm just trying to learn and I've noticed there are so many options I was asking using my bass as an example, what would work and why, what wouldn't work and why that sort of thing. Answers I get will probably clear up some things and lead me to ask other questions, I hope, thanks for responding.

 

[Batmensch]

Well, I would worry more about learning to play before bothering with things like modifying your bass. Maybe a year down the road, when you have played the heck out of it and know your particular bass's ins and outs, you might want to look into such things, until then, I wouldn't bother. There's no hurry.

 

[sydandpaigesdad]

Ok, again not wanting to upgrade SO maybe I should rephrase my question could someone explain the differences between let's say the HB pickup I have on my jaguar and let's say the aftermarket types that one may replace it with?
Does one change mostly for quality of sound, different tone, a combination? If you have replaced one in a jag why did you do it?
I am an inquisitive fellow and I will ask questions and although I'm sure you may have a much more abundance of knowledge if you don't want to help just move along and I'll thank you for looking but don't tell me not to ask questions I have questions about lol

 

[Batmensch]

Not telling you to not ask questions, that would be rude. I'm just saying this is not something you need worry about right away, but I understand if you might simply be curious about this kind of thing.
I haven't done this kind of swap on any of my basses as I've found no need to, I like the way they sound, but a lot of people have, and they all have different reasons. Some hope for an improved tone, or a different tone, some higher outut, (i.e.louder), many reasons.
Aftermarket pickups differ mostly in the materials, and the number of wire wraps around the coils, which can affect the sound in different ways, Some of the double coil humbuckers, (like the one in your Jag), have something called a "coiltap" switch which will bypass one of the coils which will defeat the humbucking effect, but will give you more of a single coil sound kinda like a Fender Jazz bass. I'm sure others will be able to tell you other differences I may have forgotten.
The only reason I caution you about being maybe too anxious to change these things is a lot of people have done this because they hear it will improve their sound if they install "brand X "pickups in their basses, and they end up disappointed and find themselves putting back the original stock pickups and trying to sell the new pickups, in hopes of recouping some of the money they've lost.
BTW, sorry if I came across a little pedantic. (is that the right word?)

 

[sydandpaigesdad]

Cliff,
Thanks man I understand your philosophy and I believe you are 100% correct in your cautions. I just like learning and I'm so bad right now changing anything other than my fingers and hands are not going to make a difference. I liken it to if I use Tiger Woods golf clubs I'm going to stink as bad as if I use a set from wal mart lol

 

[Stealth]

The Jaguar HB appears to have a format similar to EMG-35 style pickups. A lot of aftermarket pickup makers make pickups in those enclosures or are willing to make them by request. TB's David (SGD Luthierie) commonly makes pickups of that format, and he makes several variants of them, so you'll have quite a set to choose from.

C.Linton, if I may, "killing" one coil of a humbucker is a coil split. A coil tap would mean you "kill" a portion of the windings of a single coil so less windings remain in circuit to capture the sound - it would give a cleaner, if less loud, tone, but it's rarely done on basses.

As far as the electronics go, it's a bass with passive pickups and an (active, obviously) preamp: if you ever wish to change the preamp you can go for a different three-band one, or you can go with a two-band and plug up one of the knob holes somehow, or you can even go fully passive and put a passive volume and tone control in there. The possibilities are basically endless. You have to figure out the tone you want, and the electronics can be done onwards.

 

[Batmensch]

The Jaguar HB appears to have a format similar to EMG-35 style pickups. A lot of aftermarket pickup makers make pickups in those enclosures or are willing to make them by request. TB's David (SGD Luthierie) commonly makes pickups of that format, and he makes several variants of them, so you'll have quite a set to choose from.

C.Linton, if I may, "killing" one coil of a humbucker is a coil split. A coil tap would mean you "kill" a portion of the windings of a single coil so less windings remain in circuit to capture the sound - it would give a cleaner, if less loud, tone, but it's rarely done on basses.

As far as the electronics go, it's a bass with passive pickups and an (active, obviously) preamp: if you ever wish to change the preamp you can go for a different three-band one, or you can go with a two-band and plug up one of the knob holes somehow, or you can even go fully passive and put a passive volume and tone control in there. The possibilities are basically endless. You have to figure out the tone you want, and the electronics can be done onwards.

Ah, I stand corrected, Thanks.

 

[sydandpaigesdad]

Thanks guys this is what I was looking for, just obtaining info for the sake of knowing lol. Does anyone know what, well I'll say brand, preamp and pickups they use on the jag?, or better yet where I could find the info myself?

 

[Batmensch]

Well, that would be hard to tell. I don't know if Squier makes their own components (Pickups , pre-amps) from scratch, or contracts out, but I suspect the former.
Their Vintage Modified line of Basses (except for the Jag Specials and short-scales) use "Duncan Designed" pickups, meaning that they are built by Squier to specs from popular aftermarket pickup designer and manufacturer Seymour Duncan. (very nice pickups, IMO) Other than that, I believe they simply make their own pckups and pre-amps.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Ok, again not wanting to upgrade SO maybe I should rephrase my question could someone explain the differences between let's say the HB pickup I have on my jaguar and let's say the aftermarket types that one may replace it with?

OK, it's a copy of a MusicMan humbucker. They have a certain tone, because of the large pole pieces and the fairly low impedance windings. But it might not be wound like a real MusicMan humbucker. Maybe of the replacements are wound hotter. It's just a certain shaped pickup.

So there are exact replicas of the real MM humbucker, like the Duncan/Basslines and Nordstrand, and then there are pickups in that shape that will give you a different tone, like Bartolini, Kent Armstrong, Villex, EMG, my SGD pickups, etc.

So if you didn't like the tone of the pickup in the Jag, you would need to figure out what you didn't like about it... you want a brighter tone, or a deeper tone, etc., and then look for one that has those qualities.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Well, that would be hard to tell. I don't know if Squier makes their own components (Pickups , pre-amps) from scratch, or contracts out, but I suspect the former.
Their Vintage Modified line of Basses (except for the Jag Specials and short-scales) use "Duncan Designed" pickups, meaning that they are built by Squier to specs from popular aftermarket pickup designer and manufacturer Seymour Duncan. (very nice pickups, IMO) Other than that, I believe they simply make their own pckups and pre-amps.

Most of the pickups and stuff in Squiers are made by Asian manufactures and are not necessarily made custom for Fender. Same is true of their preamps.

Duncan Designed pickups are not made to Fender/Squier's specs, but are made to Duncan's specs and are Korean made.

 

[sydandpaigesdad]

Thanks guys this is very interesting, so what would make a certain preamp more desireable, is it the quality or much like the pickups more of a personal taste thing? I would gather from the info it would run along the lines of personal taste, am I right!

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The main thing that separates preamps is where the center frequencies are on the tone controls, and how much they boost and cut, and if they have any other features.

Some preamps have a certain sound of their own, while others are more transparent.