Jazzmaster pickups vs p90 pickups

therose789

Hello all, 

I have a classic player jazzmaster which from my understanding has stock pickups. 

I alwas thought they were p90's until recently, turns out jazzmaster pickups arent p-90s! 

Whats the difference?!?!?!

XWulfhere

@therose789

This article might help you out mate

http://mmguitarbar.com/2013/07/23/demystifying-the-fender-jazzmaster-and-jaguar-pt-4-pickup-lines/
the previous three parts make good reading too

therose789

Wulfhere;527431" said:

@therose789



This article might help you out mate



http://mmguitarbar.com/2013/07/23/demystifying-the-fender-jazzmaster-and-jaguar-pt-4-pickup-lines/

the previous three parts make good reading too

Thanks mate! Very informative

therose789

And now after reading that article i do have p-90s! 

impmann

Well, almost.

I like CP pickups but they don't sound like a Jazzmaster.

Ajoten

I had the same question but found this thread... to avoid duplicating the thread I shall resurrect because that link just gives me a 404 error in 2021. Can anyone give a summary of the article?

My specifiic question is given the Jazzmaster was originally designed for jazzers, are the pickups different enough to be more  or less "suitable" than P90s? And if I bought one that actually had P90s under the cover, would it not be playing the game?

EDIT: Ignore me! This works (httpS not http)
https://mmguitarbar.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/demystifying-the-fender-jazzmaster-and-jaguar-pt-4-pickup-lines/

EDIT #2: So is it possible to identify guitars that DO have proper JM pickups and not P90s? Or should I assume that ALL are, in fact, P90s in disguise and after-market is the only way to go?

meltedbuzzbox

therose789 said:

And now after reading that article i do have p-90s! 

Aren't they the same bobbin size(ish) with a bar magnet across the bottom?

Its been a while since I have seen one

Fuengi

I don't think Jazzmaster pickups have a bar magnet. 

Mattharrier

I love reading this sort of stuff. I now really want to try a Jazzmaster though.

The "visual reminder" of the difference between P90s and JM pickups made me laugh.

meltedbuzzbox

Fuengi said:

I don't think Jazzmaster pickups have a bar magnet. 

They don't but a p90 does?

thermionic

meltedbuzzbox said:

Fuengi said:

I don't think Jazzmaster pickups have a bar magnet. 

They don't but a p90 does?

P90s have two!

Alegree

Jazzmaster pickups are essentially a flattened Strat pickup, P90s are essentially an overwound screw side bobbin of a humbucker powered by two bar magnets. Entirely different tones.

earwighoney

Alegree said:

Jazzmaster pickups are essentially a flattened Strat pickup, P90s are essentially an overwound screw side bobbin of a humbucker powered by two bar magnets. Entirely different tones.

Cheers for the info.  How do your FeCrCo P90's compare to standard P90's?

Zoonyboy

Go Jazzmaster, they are musical and toasty warm, P90s are hard! IMHO....

Alegree

earwighoney said:

Alegree said:

Jazzmaster pickups are essentially a flattened Strat pickup, P90s are essentially an overwound screw side bobbin of a humbucker powered by two bar magnets. Entirely different tones.

Cheers for the info.  How do your FeCrCo P90's compare to standard P90's?

Louder, brighter, tighter. Pretty much a half way between P90 and Jazzmaster.

Henrytwang

Sometimes Jazzmaster pickups don’t even sound like Jazzmaster pickups! I own an old Fender Japan Jazzmaster which didn’t sound anything like a Jazzmaster until I installed a pair of Fender USA Custom Shop Jazzmaster pickups. On removing the Japanese ones I found that they were basically Strat pickups in Jazzmaster covers.