Jagstang Pickup Suggestions

[jrsdws]

Hi.  My son and I are starting work on our first ever build this week...a Warmoth Jagstang in swamp ash.  He plays a pretty wide variety of music...ranging from blues...older and newer AC/DC...some Beatles...all the way to some 80's pop stuff ...no metal or anything of the sort.  He currently plays a Gibson Les Paul Studio with a Gibson 498T in the bridge and 490R in the neck.  He likes the grind he gets from that neck pickup alot.

We'd like to pull out of that darker LP tone a bit with the Jagstang....but not real far.  We're considering a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck positions but have the options and are willing to run anything that doesn't break the bank.  Active pickups are not an option.

Amps:  Custom Lancaster Brutis 30 (JTM 45 clone with footswitchable JCM800 overdrive)
            Sovtek Mig 60  (the gig pig...it's rockin and gutsy)
            Vintage Hiwatt Custom 50  (for special occassion use only...when dad lets him!!)

With that being said....please make some pickup suggestions.  Versatility is the name of the game on this build I think. 

 

[jrsdws]

Considering a Fralin PAF wound to about 9.2k in the bridge and a stock Fralin P-90 in the neck.  Does anybody know if these are compatable?

 

[AutoBat]

Call 'em up. They're very helpful on the phone, and there's a fair chance Lindy will be the one on the other end of the line.
804-358-2699

 

[JaySwear]

if you're looking for versatility then these pickups have been dying to meet you.

Seymour Duncan P-Rails. i just sold the one i had and i am a little disappointed that i never got to test it out in a build. however, i've heard that all it's tones are extremely usable. it's not just a cool looking gimmick. with series and parallel wiring, along with coil splitting for the p-90 and the hot rail (not to mention the full humbucker) this thing should do pretty much everything. then i think i'd opt for a nice single coil neck pickup. the neck pickup really depends on what you're having warmoth route the body for. you could throw a second p-rail in there to REALLY diversify the sound (i love a p90 in the neck!) but i know most jagstangs are a humbucker/single set up. anyway thats my suggestion. sounds like a cool build! keep us updated.

 

[jrsdws]

The body is routed to accept humbuckers - the pickguard is being made to accept a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck.

We're putting Fralin PAF's in the Les Paul this week so that'll give us a little more to go on....whether we like what we get, etc.

The biggest question for us is the neck single coil.  We've never had a guitar with single coils so kinda hard to have any kind of comparison.  Kinda leaning towards a vintage vibe out of this position...something that will provide a big mid-range when played clean...but provide a nice grind when pushing the amp hard. 

In reading and researching, I'm thinking this single coil needs to be overwound to around 8k  to match up with the bridge humbucker at 9.2k. 

We have no brand loyalty here to speak of, but really like the exchange policy of Lindy Fralin.  That helps a ton when you're inexperienced like we are.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Rio Grandes...Genuine Texas Neck/BBQ Bridge...for sure. Can't go wrong w/Rio Grandes!!!  :headbang:

 

[bbl4ck]

Rio Grandes...Genuine Texas Neck/BBQ Bridge...for sure. Can't go wrong w/Rio Grandes!!!  :headbang:

I have that set in my V and love it to pieces. 
The Rio Grandes rule...  They have a lot of sound clips on their website.  Check em out!
Good luck and it is really cool to see a father and son project. 
Keep us posted and remember; pics or it doesn't exist...
:rock-on:

 

[jrsdws]

Nice pickups and prices are pretty good!!  Thanks for the tip I might give em a try.  I'm afraid the BBQ might be a little hotter than what we want, though.  We're dropping in some Fralin PAF's at 9k and 8k bridge and neck respectively into his Les Paul this week.  This should help give us a good baseline compared to the stock pickups.  The current bridge pup is hot at like 13.2k....but the neck is week at 7.2k.

My son still wants to stick with the single coil in the neck I guess so I'm thinking we'll have a better idea on how "hot" after moddy the LP with the PAF's.

He says he wants a Cream-ish Clapton tone. 

 

[jrsdws]

LOVE the Fralin PAF's!!!  Amazing tone and clarity.....awesome response to string attack....I can't describe how much better the LP sounds now as compared to the stock Gibby pups.

We'll give these a little play time and discuss where he wants the Jagstang tone to go compared to his LP.  This has set an awesome benchmark to work from.

 

[jrsdws]

Ok...a small detail overlooked:  Do I order a standard humbucker or one with long attach mounts?  This question arose when attempting to order today.

Also do I need mounting rings?