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Ok to switch neck and bridge jazz pickups?

Quatzu

Quatzu

Jul 15, 2008
108
10
Detroit, MI
#1
Hey guys, I've tried searching, but I'm just not finding these answers.

I got ahold of a 1983 MIJ jazz body. I gutted my 2002 MIM jazz and moved everything to the MIJ body. The bridge pickup slot on the MIJ was just too small for the bridge pickup from the MIM, so I just put the neck pickup in that slot and the bridge pickup in the neck slot, since the bridge pickup was slightly larger. So far, it doesn't seem to affect the sound negatively at all, in fact it sounds great.

Is there a difference between the two actual jazz pickups? Are they specifically made for their position in the body, or are they virtually the same?

I know I'm going from MIM to MIJ and from 2002 to 1983, but is there usually such a discrepancy between models that pickups just won't fit? Also, what is the usual correct workaround? Route out the slot? Bite the bullet and hunt down the correct pickups?

Again, sounds great, doesn't seem to be a problem. The only thing is, I had to file out the pickguard to fit around the now larger neck pickup cover.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
#3
It will work as long as they are polar opposite (they should attract to each other) and reverse wound from one another. If not they will not be noise canceling when both pickups are on.
 
#4
Many J sets have more windings on the bridge pickup than the neck. This is intended to make up for the smaller string vibration closer to the bridge, but it has the added effect of reducing treble (and possibly increasing mids).

If it sounds good to you... go with it.
 
#5
chucko58 said:
Many J sets have more windings on the bridge pickup than the neck. This is intended to make up for the smaller string vibration closer to the bridge, but it has the added effect of reducing treble (and possibly increasing mids).

If it sounds good to you... go with it.
Click to expand...

See... I knew there had to be something. I really want to do it correctly. Should I route it out, or try to find a pickup that fits?
 
#8
i'm not sure why you bothered, what made you think the 80s MIJ body was better than the '00s mex body?

especially since that MIJ body apparently didn't even have the correct-sized pickup routes (which post-90s mex jazz basses did).

you're supposed to have a wide pickup at the bridge and a narrower one at the neck, with a bridge that lines the strings up between the pairs of magnets on both pickups.

questions of relative winding strength aside, putting the pickups backwards throws the string/magnet spacing out the window.
 

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