Stock CIJ Jazzmaster pickup, any opinions?

reissue

Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 19

Posted on Feb 06 2007 04:52 PM

Anybody have experience with the newer stock CIJ JM pups. I can see from what I've read and seen that I shouldn't expect vintage JM tones from those. But do the stock pups have decent tone of their own? Do people use these or do most swap the stock pups out in favor of the Duncan SJM-1's.

Top

BillAqua

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Feb 06 2007 05:09 PM

I had a CIJ Jazzmaster that I sold. It was one of the models Muscians Friend was blowing out at $399.00 a few years ago. The pickups sounded a lot like Stratocaster pickups, and not very good Stratocaster pickups.

Someone on the old yahoo group had taken one apart and found the pickup to basically a Stratocaster pickup in Jazzmaster cover.

—

"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

Top

WoodyJ

Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1547
Bethlehem, GA
United States

Posted on Feb 06 2007 07:04 PM

The stock MIJ pickups don't sound "bad"...they just don't let an otherwise very good guitar sound like a proper Jazzmaster is supposed to.

The most cost-effective upgrade is to install Fender American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) pickups. They are a lot less expensive than the Duncans, and they sound very close to real '60's Jazzmaster pups.

—

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Top

SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Feb 07 2007 02:50 AM

I'd heard the exact same thing that Bill Aqua had -- when you take the covers of the MIJ Jazzmaster pickups, you just have a basic single-coil, rather than the soapbar size pickup that SHOULD be in there.

~B~

Top

dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Feb 07 2007 10:30 AM

i have a CIJ Jazzmaster, and recently I have been considering replacing the pickups with these Curtis Novak JM-V pickups:

http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/jm-v.shtml

The CIJ pickups in mine sound a bit thin and treble-y. I'm looking for a beefier tone.

-dp

Top

Rick_Volcano

Joined: Mar 05, 2006
Posts: 289
Detroit
1 Calendar Pin

Posted on Feb 07 2007 11:26 AM

I've got a CIJ Jazzmaster I picked up in the late '90s. I put the Duncan vintage pick-ups in it. Mine didn't sound bad with the stock pickups (I recorded the Helbenders album with it), but it does sound better with the Duncans. Seems like a fuller frequency range, more hi-fi. It sounds good to me but I claim an ignorance-is-bliss position. I've never played a vintage Jazzmaster.
BTW the stock pickups in mine were not Strat-size, they were flat and wide. I guess some models are different.

—

The Volcanos

Top

archimedes

Joined: Dec 10, 2006
Posts: 127

Posted on Feb 07 2007 11:44 AM

i have a cij and i replaced the pickups a few months back with seymour duncan antiquity II's. i didn't buy these particular pickups because i have lots of money or i heard they were better than the others. i just liked what i had heard about these and a guitar store only a couple miles from where i live sell these for a fair price. i am blown away by how great these pickups sound. i couldn't believe how much the stock strat style pickups did not sound like jazzmaster pickups. the duncans are warmer, bassier, less harsh midrange, and higher more brilliant treble. i have heard that the AVRI pickups are just as good for a lot less money. all i can do is vouch for the seymour duncan pickups and say that i am very happy with these and definitely suggest a pickups swap if you want your jazzmaster to actually sound like one.:D

Tim

Top

reissue

Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 19

Posted on Feb 07 2007 12:20 PM

Good info folks thanks.

I've actually seen a photo of the stock CIJ JM pickups under the covers and those are not like a Strat pup. It's taller than the original JM pup but it still has the wide bobbin. Subsequently the windings are taller rather than flat and wide like the originals. I think the Strat comparison comes from the tall wind which would like produce similar tone, but the bobbin is definitely different, wide like the original.

I'm finding that both the AVRI and the Duncan sets sell for around $110, which is cheap enough for me. Now it's decision time. I don't even have the guitar yet so I haven't heard the stock pups. So I'll wait until I play it before I decide.

Top

Klas

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden

Posted on Feb 08 2007 05:03 AM

I've started to wonder if the Japanese made Fenders that are going to Europe are different (read: higher quality/better components) than the ones shipped to U.S. retailers. Maybe Fender didn't want too much competition for the U.S. made ones in the home market?

—

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

Top

reissue

Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 19

Posted on Feb 08 2007 11:49 AM

I'm not sure about the quality differences and I don't think I'd be able to tell the any of the CIJ's apart. As far as I know CIJ means CIJ. I know some models like the Strat XII, Mustangs' and some Jazz Basses are made for the US market. But I think most of the vintage reissue stuff is for the overseas markets. I could be wrong though, I don't spend much time researching what Fender Japan sends were. My CIJ experience is limited to the few Mustangs I've had and the Jazz Bass I have, the Jazzmaster I just bought is new from a Japanese Ebayer (Katana Guitars). It should be here tomorrow and I anxious to inspect it.

Top

Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2688
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 08 2007 01:17 PM

I have a MIJ Jaguar that I bought in 1988 before I ever heard of Fender Japan. The guys at the store told me that they used American parts in it but I didn't buy that, however it seemed to be built very well. I played it for years without a thought that it might sound better. A few years ago I had a friend's AVRI Jaguar for a few days and compared the two finding a very subtle difference if any. Now I have an AVRI Jazzmaster and have recorded using both. They are different but I can't tell which is "better"--I like them both. I have found changing picks to Dunlop gels (Wronski tip) made a difference in the sound I could really hear. A Fender tech recently said to me "...there is a difference if you are cursed with a good ear." Thankfully I don't think I have one. I do know that when I listen to old recordings none of those guys sound alike to me so I tend to believe that the most important tone factor is the hands.

Top

reissue

Joined: Dec 14, 2006
Posts: 19

Posted on Feb 08 2007 10:06 PM

So the guitar I bought came today. I have to admit I'm fine with the tone of the stock CIJ pups. I don't have much to compare it to since my experience with JM's is limited but the tone is fine to my ears. I was able to get classic surf tones without much effort. If I had to describe it I would say a different Fender tone than a Strat or Tele. Bright like a Tele on the bridge but more even and thicker, it's smooth and jazzy at the neck but unlike either a Strat or Tele. The neck pup kinda sounds like the Texas Special neck pup in my Tele but it's a fatter more round sounding. The switching makes it for me, very cool.

For now I'm going to hold off on the pup swap and live with it.

If anybody wants to see it here it is.

I gotta say thanks to Katana Guitars of Japan. That's a classy operation they have going there. I bought this guitar on Mon and it came from Japan to my door in CO in 3 and a 1/2 days. I couldn't be happier.

Top

JetBlue

Joined: May 30, 2006
Posts: 746
Cool, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 09 2007 10:41 AM

Swanky pic. Congrats and enjoy!

—

Don

Top

reissue Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 19	Posted on Feb 06 2007 04:52 PM Anybody have experience with the newer stock CIJ JM pups. I can see from what I've read and seen that I shouldn't expect vintage JM tones from those. But do the stock pups have decent tone of their own? Do people use these or do most swap the stock pups out in favor of the Duncan SJM-1's. Top
BillAqua Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1054 Chicago IL.	Posted on Feb 06 2007 05:09 PM I had a CIJ Jazzmaster that I sold. It was one of the models Muscians Friend was blowing out at $399.00 a few years ago. The pickups sounded a lot like Stratocaster pickups, and not very good Stratocaster pickups. Someone on the old yahoo group had taken one apart and found the pickup to basically a Stratocaster pickup in Jazzmaster cover. — "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there" https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/ https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/ Top
WoodyJ Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1547 Bethlehem, GA	Posted on Feb 06 2007 07:04 PM The stock MIJ pickups don't sound "bad"...they just don't let an otherwise very good guitar sound like a proper Jazzmaster is supposed to. The most cost-effective upgrade is to install Fender American Vintage Reissue (AVRI) pickups. They are a lot less expensive than the Duncans, and they sound very close to real '60's Jazzmaster pups. — Jack Booth (aka WoodyJ) The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025 The Hula Hounds (1996-2000) The X-Rays (1997-2004) The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012) Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990) Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Feb 07 2007 02:50 AM I'd heard the exact same thing that Bill Aqua had -- when you take the covers of the MIJ Jazzmaster pickups, you just have a basic single-coil, rather than the soapbar size pickup that SHOULD be in there. ~B~ Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Feb 07 2007 10:30 AM i have a CIJ Jazzmaster, and recently I have been considering replacing the pickups with these Curtis Novak JM-V pickups: http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/jm-v.shtml The CIJ pickups in mine sound a bit thin and treble-y. I'm looking for a beefier tone. -dp Top
Rick_Volcano Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 289 Detroit	Posted on Feb 07 2007 11:26 AM I've got a CIJ Jazzmaster I picked up in the late '90s. I put the Duncan vintage pick-ups in it. Mine didn't sound bad with the stock pickups (I recorded the Helbenders album with it), but it does sound better with the Duncans. Seems like a fuller frequency range, more hi-fi. It sounds good to me but I claim an ignorance-is-bliss position. I've never played a vintage Jazzmaster. BTW the stock pickups in mine were not Strat-size, they were flat and wide. I guess some models are different. — The Volcanos Top
archimedes Joined: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 127	Posted on Feb 07 2007 11:44 AM i have a cij and i replaced the pickups a few months back with seymour duncan antiquity II's. i didn't buy these particular pickups because i have lots of money or i heard they were better than the others. i just liked what i had heard about these and a guitar store only a couple miles from where i live sell these for a fair price. i am blown away by how great these pickups sound. i couldn't believe how much the stock strat style pickups did not sound like jazzmaster pickups. the duncans are warmer, bassier, less harsh midrange, and higher more brilliant treble. i have heard that the AVRI pickups are just as good for a lot less money. all i can do is vouch for the seymour duncan pickups and say that i am very happy with these and definitely suggest a pickups swap if you want your jazzmaster to actually sound like one.:D Tim Top
reissue Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 19	Posted on Feb 07 2007 12:20 PM Good info folks thanks. I've actually seen a photo of the stock CIJ JM pickups under the covers and those are not like a Strat pup. It's taller than the original JM pup but it still has the wide bobbin. Subsequently the windings are taller rather than flat and wide like the originals. I think the Strat comparison comes from the tall wind which would like produce similar tone, but the bobbin is definitely different, wide like the original. I'm finding that both the AVRI and the Duncan sets sell for around $110, which is cheap enough for me. Now it's decision time. I don't even have the guitar yet so I haven't heard the stock pups. So I'll wait until I play it before I decide. Top
Klas Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 2310 Stockholm, Sweden	Posted on Feb 08 2007 05:03 AM I've started to wonder if the Japanese made Fenders that are going to Europe are different (read: higher quality/better components) than the ones shipped to U.S. retailers. Maybe Fender didn't want too much competition for the U.S. made ones in the home market? — T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S Top
reissue Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 19	Posted on Feb 08 2007 11:49 AM I'm not sure about the quality differences and I don't think I'd be able to tell the any of the CIJ's apart. As far as I know CIJ means CIJ. I know some models like the Strat XII, Mustangs' and some Jazz Basses are made for the US market. But I think most of the vintage reissue stuff is for the overseas markets. I could be wrong though, I don't spend much time researching what Fender Japan sends were. My CIJ experience is limited to the few Mustangs I've had and the Jazz Bass I have, the Jazzmaster I just bought is new from a Japanese Ebayer (Katana Guitars). It should be here tomorrow and I anxious to inspect it. Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2688 Ventura, CA	Posted on Feb 08 2007 01:17 PM I have a MIJ Jaguar that I bought in 1988 before I ever heard of Fender Japan. The guys at the store told me that they used American parts in it but I didn't buy that, however it seemed to be built very well. I played it for years without a thought that it might sound better. A few years ago I had a friend's AVRI Jaguar for a few days and compared the two finding a very subtle difference if any. Now I have an AVRI Jazzmaster and have recorded using both. They are different but I can't tell which is "better"--I like them both. I have found changing picks to Dunlop gels (Wronski tip) made a difference in the sound I could really hear. A Fender tech recently said to me "...there is a difference if you are cursed with a good ear." Thankfully I don't think I have one. I do know that when I listen to old recordings none of those guys sound alike to me so I tend to believe that the most important tone factor is the hands. Top
reissue Joined: Dec 14, 2006 Posts: 19	Posted on Feb 08 2007 10:06 PM So the guitar I bought came today. I have to admit I'm fine with the tone of the stock CIJ pups. I don't have much to compare it to since my experience with JM's is limited but the tone is fine to my ears. I was able to get classic surf tones without much effort. If I had to describe it I would say a different Fender tone than a Strat or Tele. Bright like a Tele on the bridge but more even and thicker, it's smooth and jazzy at the neck but unlike either a Strat or Tele. The neck pup kinda sounds like the Texas Special neck pup in my Tele but it's a fatter more round sounding. The switching makes it for me, very cool. For now I'm going to hold off on the pup swap and live with it. If anybody wants to see it here it is. I gotta say thanks to Katana Guitars of Japan. That's a classy operation they have going there. I bought this guitar on Mon and it came from Japan to my door in CO in 3 and a 1/2 days. I couldn't be happier. Top
JetBlue Joined: May 30, 2006 Posts: 746 Cool, CA	Posted on Feb 09 2007 10:41 AM Swanky pic. Congrats and enjoy! — Don Top

SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Stock CIJ Jazzmaster pickup, any opinions?