Hofner Jazzica Pickups

**ooglybong** · 12-16-2014, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Dearmond 1100 and similar pickups can be mounted to almost any archtop guitar.
One can mount all manner of aftermarket floating pickups to the Jazzica, New President/Vice President/Thin President, and Chancellor models, either to the end of the neck or to a pickguard.

Per the Jazzica's earliest incarnations, might a Shadow Zoller floater therefore be a good tonal choice? The original Jazzicas had Zollers, although mounted, IIRC. How might a Zoller end up sounding different from the Diamond here?

Also, on the overall topic of Jazzicas historically, what tonal shift came out of the notable change from having (1) a laminate top with mounted Zoller pickup -to- (2) the carved spruce top with a Hofner Diamond floater?

**IbanezAS100** · 12-16-2014, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by spiral

OP doesn't like floaters:

Going from a a Hofner Diamond to a Dearmond floater is the exact opposite direction of the original request, IMO.

@ Fusionman
Have you tried getting the Hofner pickup very close to the strings? If that still is too bright / traditional, ask Pete Biltoft how close he could get to a traditional PAF by using the Hofner Diamond shell, and putting new guts into it, or making a custom one that fits the mount. He should be able to be realistic with what is possible given the constraints.

I went with this option for my New Prez. Aaron Armstrong has a Hofner mould so he made me a humbucker that fits the mounting ring. Mine isn't PAF voiced (I wanted more of a fat single coil type sound)but I'm sure it could get close. Pete Biltoft could probably do this too and it's the least invasive option IMO

Not that I dislike the Hofner Diamond by the way, just experimenting. I've still got it and might put it back on at some point. As others have said it's a great pickup and doesn't sound like a typical floater to my ears.

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 01:41 PM

I finally received a Shadow SH AZ48 pickup and had it installed on my Jazzica. I was hoping to achieve a darker sound with the pickup replacement but, as I've read here on the forum, the Zoller accurately gives the acoustic sound of the guitar, just louder. What it has revealed is, the Jazzica is a very bright sounding instrument, due most likely, to the 25.5 scale length, which means the pup is much closer to the bridge and tailpiece than what I'm used to. So I'm wondering: would it be possible to replace the neck with a shorter scaled one? I know that sounds crazy, but am just wondering. I like everything else about the guitar, the exceptions being that I'd like a darker tone and, not really seeing any advantage, for me anyway, in having an archtop with 24 frets!

**Jim Soloway** · 06-10-2016, 04:36 PM

With a set neck instrument, it's way easier to sell the guitar and replace the entire instrument than it is to replace the neck. It's a huge job and what you end up with may still not make you happy (it will aso be almost impossible to sell).

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 06:15 PM

I've been rolling back the tone control to almost zero. Anymore than that and it turns to mud. Would lowering the pickup make it darker or brighter?

**neatomic** · 06-10-2016, 06:19 PM

darker

cheers

ps- but you probably don't have that much play that it would make a huge difference

pss- another "fix" might be to change the tone cap value...something that takes the highs off when you roll down the tone but doesnt go to mud

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 06:41 PM

I thought of that. I had my tech (per his suggestion) install a cap in one of my Korean D'As in order to do what you've described and it definitely helped. I cringe at the thought of how delicately one would have to work to saw off the 23rd and 24th frets! It certainly wouldn't be a circular saw would it?

**NoReply** · 06-10-2016, 06:51 PM

You're changing what a Jazzica was designed to be and sound like, why not just sell it and get a guitar designed for the sound and feel you want.

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 06:55 PM

Simply because the guitar that I would want with a solid, carved spruce top would cost much more than the $1500 I payed for the Jazzica. However, I'm open to suggestions.

**neatomic** · 06-10-2016, 07:04 PM

first off i'd give it a bit of time..sometimes the initial change seems staggering, but evolves into something ok

secondly i'd change the tone cap..so that the highs are cut but the lows don't get muddy..easy tech fix

lastly, i'd take the zoller out...and put in a regular humbucking type pickup that cuts some top end by design...isn't the orig hofner pup a mini humbucker style?

& keep the zoller for another guitar...

we learn by experience

cheers

**pubylakeg** · 06-10-2016, 07:09 PM

La Bella Black Nylon Tapewounds ? (and a little time to let your ears adjust).

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

...isn't the orig hofner pup a mini humbucker style?

It is, and I erroneously assumed it was the culprit.

It's funny that two of you have mentioned giving my ears a chance to adapt. I could swear that by some inexplicable, mysterious cause, a change happened overnight. When I played it today in my studio at home it had somehow lost a good deal of the brightness. Is it me? Or are guitars actually living, breathing entities that need to adapt too? It does seem to me now, that the Jazzica was in a state of shock at last night's gig, like it'd had a heart transplant or something. I don't know.

**neatomic** · 06-10-2016, 08:06 PM

good trick is to play it acoustically..while plugged in, but with volume rolled all way off..get used to the tone of the guitar itself..then slowly bring up the guitars volume knob..adjust tone knob..back and forth...then fine tune amp knobs..till you find your sound

new guitar works need to be figured out..each has its own way of getting to your tone

cheers

**jbucklin** · 06-10-2016, 08:26 PM

Great tip. I love the way this guitar sounds acoustically and I will try this method.

So many factors that play into amplified tone, including, among many, the room. And the room I play in twice a week is like a small gymnasium, which plays mean tricks on the ears.

**Hammertone** · 06-10-2016, 10:18 PM

The Hofner New President was introduced as a 24 fret model, and changed to a 22 fret model @ ten years ago.
The Hofner Chancellor was introduced as a 22 fret model after two prototypes were built - one with 24 fret and one with 22 frets.

The Hofner Verythin Classic was introduced as a 22 fret model after beta models were built with 24 frets.

Hofner decided to keep the Jazzica as a 24 fret guitar, as it was when introduced in @1989, given its other "modern" features.

The neck joint and heel of the Jazzica is functionally identical to that of the New President and the Chancellor, so there is no reason why it cannot be converted to a 22 fret instrument in order to move the pickup further away from the bridge to warm up the sound marginally. No circular saw required, just a Japanese backsaw and some skill.

**oldane** · 06-11-2016, 02:17 AM

I would't get into surgery on such a guitar. There's hardly that "too dark" or "too bright" problem which can't be handled with either the EQ settings on the amp or a suitable EQ pedal (for example Empress ParaEQ).

**MaxTwang** · 06-11-2016, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by oldane

I would't get into surgery on such a guitar. There's hardly that "too dark" or "too bright" problem which can't be handled with either the EQ setting s on the amp or a suitable EQ pedal (for example Empress ParaEQ). Sendt fra min SM-T810 med Tapatalk

+1

If you like the feel of the guitar then try an EQ. The Empress Para EQ is a bit pricy but it is a really great PEQ, I use one to make a Princeton sound jazzier than a Polytone. It is great for boosting the mids and getting rid of those pesky highs and extended lows!

BTW what amp are you using with the Jazzica?

**jbucklin** · 06-11-2016, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

...so there is no reason why it cannot be converted to a 22 fret instrument in order to move the pickup further away from the bridge to warm up the sound marginally. No circular saw required, just a Japanese backsaw and some skill.

If it only warms up the sound marginally then I might forego the surgery, tempting as it is.

**jbucklin** · 06-11-2016, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

+1

If you like the feel of the guitar then try an EQ. The Empress Para EQ is a bit pricy but it is a really great PEQ, I use one to make a Princeton sound jazzier than a Polytone. It is great for boosting the mids and getting rid of those pesky highs and extended lows!

BTW what amp are you using with the Jazzica?

I have 4 amps that I use interchangeably---DRRI, with Celestion Alnico Gold speaker and 5751 preamp tube; PRRI, with Weber 10f150 and 5751; Henriksen Jazzamp 110; early 80s Polytone MBIII.

I took the Jazzamp to a gig Thursday night hoping that I could take advantage of its quasi-parametric EQ but alas, I could not dial out those pesky highs. I'm curious about the Empress. What do those switches at the top of the unit do?

**Hammertone** · 06-11-2016, 12:05 PM

Or just get one of these, with the pickup placed for maximum warmth. Bwahahahahaha!

**jbucklin** · 06-11-2016, 12:32 PM

Man, that's like a football-field-distance from the bridge! Who makes that one?

Btw, my tech refuses to remove any of the fretboard extension. Says he doesn't have the tools and also warned of diminishing the value of the guitar. I found a Japanese backsaw on Amazon for under $30. All I need now is a sympathetic surgeon!

**ooglybong** · 06-11-2016, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by jbucklin

Simply because the guitar that I would want with a solid, carved spruce top would cost much more than the $1500 I payed for the Jazzica. However, I'm open to suggestions.

The Eastman AR-580 has a carved spruce top on a laminated maple body.
These can be found well underneath $1500, too.

**MaxTwang** · 06-11-2016, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by jbucklin

I have 4 amps that I use interchangeably---DRRI, with Celestion Alnico Gold speaker and 5751 preamp tube; PRRI, with Weber 10f150 and 5751; Henriksen Jazzamp 110; early 80s Polytone MBIII.

I took the Jazzamp to a gig Thursday night hoping that I could take advantage of its quasi-parametric EQ but alas, I could not dial out those pesky highs. I'm curious about the Empress. What do those switches at the top of the unit do?

3 of the switches are preset Q for each band - narrow, medium or wide. the 4th switch is an input pad. The ParaEq doesn't have shelving settings on the low/high but works well for low pass and high pass on guitar.

The Jazzica sounds thin through the Polytone? Are you sure the Jazzica is the right guitar for you? Even if you cut the fingerboard & move the pickup the construction of the body might be such that it will never give you the sound you're looking for.

**jbucklin** · 06-11-2016, 02:29 PM

I'm just weighing out different options for now. I haven't played it through the Polytone yet, since that amp has taken a backseat to my tube amps, which I love. But, I will go check that out.

Truth is, I have other guitars that give me the sound I'm looking for. There's something about obsessing over getting a guitar to do what I want it to that's fun (in a kind of sick, OCD way). I'll probably leave it the way it is and be glad to have a guitar that sounds different. Maybe I'll renew my Polytone love by trying it out with the Jazzica. I'll report on that in a bit.

**Jim Soloway** · 06-11-2016, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

3 of the switches are preset Q for each band - narrow, medium or wide. the 4th switch is an input pad. The ParaEq doesn't have shelving settings on the low/high but works well for low pass and high pass on guitar.

The Jazzica sounds thin through the Polytone? Are you sure the Jazzica is the right guitar for you? Even if you cut the fingerboard & move the pickup the construction of the body might be such that it will never give you the sound you're looking for.

I guess that's the point i was trying to make at the beginning of the thread. Cut the fingerboard and move the pickup and it will still be a 25.25" scale length with an ebony board. That's a recipe for a bright guitar. That's why I read the original post as a desire to change the scale length not just the number of frets but in wither case he'd be left with a guitar that was no longer in original condition and may or may not actually do what he wants even after the work was complete.