Best Jazz Guitar Pickups?

[Russ Kapp]

+1 for the P-90's ! Using the P-90/ Lindy Fralin P-92/ P-94 in a 335 semi with AMAZING touch response and TONES .......give 'em a try. Nothing wrong with HB's ...just different color and character and depth for me.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Yup, hard to beat the Gibson pups!

I agree. Uh, we were talking about p-90's, right?

[Funkwire]

I had to admit to a bit of shallowness here. As much as I respect the P-90 tone, the pickups, especially the white or cream "dog-ears" can look really cheap on some guitars, in a "Harmony from the Sears catalog" sort of way.

The black look much better on most guitars, imho.

I must respectfully disagree.

[Funkwire]

If you are going to go humbucker, it's hard to beat a 57 classic.

But here's my daydream: wouldn't it be cool if you could change pickups as easily as you change blades in a razor? What if a pickup manufacturer invented a holder that let you slide in a version of their P-90, Charlie Christian, '57 classic...

If it caught on, it could become a standard as other manufacturers made pickups that slid into the base as well.

As Archie pointed out, Ampeg did it years ago...and Gibson brought out a limited edition Les Paul this year called the Push Tone...interchangeable pickups can be installed from the back of the guitar.

It seems to me somebody made a guitar with one pickup mounted on two rails, so it could be moved from the neck to the bridge. THAT would be pretty cool!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

It seems to me somebody made a guitar with one pickup mounted on two rails, so it could be moved from the neck to the bridge. THAT would be pretty cool!

You mean, besides the Rhythm Chief?

[Funkwire]

That's the one! I couldn't remember the name.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

That's the one! I couldn't remember the name.

Unfortunately, originals are rare and expensive, and noone is making clones.

[Tom Karol]

You guys are killing me! I had one of those on a '66 L4-C - but mounted on a short rail attached to the bass side of the end of the fingerboard. I replaced it with a Bill Lawrence AT-170 (again attached to the end of the fingerboard but with a 'U' bracket more like a Johnny Smith) with a single volume control mounted on the pickgard. I sold the D'Armond about 10 years ago for $125. Guy had an old L7. Not the 1st time I sold something that increased greatly in value after I sold it!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Just to rub it in: 1000 euros! 1958 DeARMOND 1100 SUPER CHIEF - Other :: VINTAGEANDRARE.COM :: vintage & rare musical instruments - guitars, basses, effects, amps, drums, brass and woodwind, pianos and more from the best dealers, luthiers & custom builders all over the world

[pmgnut]

Jason make sure you check out the Atilla Zoller pickups made by Shadow electronics. I've heard this is the jazz pickup by which most other's are measured by.Shadow Electronics - professional pickups since 1971

[Tom Karol]

Attila used this pickup of his own design on his signature Framus archtop. It was a single neck pickup mounted on the top - not floating. And he used LaBella flatwounds .013 - .056, which he designed as well. His tone was dead solid perfect!

[mongrel]

I like these.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Is that twin CC's? Done with reverse polarity?

[noisetree]

Anyone tried the Bartolinis PBF?
Thank you!

[mongrel]

Is that twin CC's? Done with reverse polarity?

Yep, reverse polarity. But this one, same model, different cover, is about as quiet as the two in middle position.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Yours?

[mongrel]

Yours?

Mine.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Frankentele! Did you put it together yourself? The neck looks pretty wide. Me likey.

[mongrel]

Frankentele! Did you put it together yourself? The neck looks pretty wide. Me likey.

Naw. Just a cheap pawn shop acquisition of an early '90's Peavey Reactor AX--heavy ash body, dual blade humbuckers, see-through white poly finish and real nice 12" radius neck. I went sort of nuclear on it couple of years ago and sanded the finish off the top and routed out the neck position for a P-90. Didn't like that tone so much (Duncan SP-90 vintage, around 8 kohm), then Dremeled it out for a 'bucker where the current blade sits. It's real hi-fi--sounds big as s**t, bigger than my hollow with the same pups and my semi with PAFS. What I really would like is in the photo and can be heard on Frisell's YouTube perfermance of "Ron Carter".

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Perhaps Fender can come out with a Bill Frisell model in their Artist Series. It will look interesting next to their Joe Strummer:

[mattymel]

Yup, hard to beat the Gibson pups!

-that is until you have heard lollars, fralins, SD handwound, or pretty much any other boutique winder...
i have lollars in all my guitars. only thing i regret is not getting his charlie christian in my old epi instead of the p90s, which rock too...

[valriver40]

i have one in front of me one dearmond model 1000 rhythm chief. the cord is in brittle condition. i bought it in the late 50's. it still works. will replace the cord and plug. all i need is an acousitic archtop. am thinking of buying the godin.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

i have one in front of me one dearmond model 1000 rhythm chief. the cord is in brittle condition. i bought it in the late 50's. it still works. will replace the cord and plug. all i need is an acousitic archtop. am thinking of buying the godin.

Sweet. Do you have the "stick"?

[valriver40]

Sweet. Do you have the "stick"?

hi there thanks for the replay. i don't understand what you mean if i have the "stick"? i guess i am to old.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Do you have a setup like the 1100 with a clamp and a rail?


Colloquially, the pickup was known as the "monkey on the stick". I've heard of 1100's going for $2000 ON ebAY.