Just wondering if anyone has changed the pickups in one of the JP models? If so, what did you replace them with, and how did you find it? Also, did you have to rout the guitar or make any modifications to get the new pickups to fit? I have been looking at replacing the pickups in my JP15 but it looks like nothing else will fit in there apart from the stock pickups (well, nothing in the boutique/scatter wound/hand wound end of the market). Any ideas or comments hugely appreciated. Big thanks!
- Thread starter andrew_k
- Start date
Your good with about anything that is standard on the market. There is nothing special about the dimensions of the stock PUPs. Now if you get into people building stuff in their garage all bets are off but more often than not most guys aren't going to vary a ton on the dimensions. They would size themselves out of the market. I would, just in case, get the dimensions from them and compare to the stock PUPS just to be safe. We have installed Seymour Duncans, BareKnuckles and other Dimarzio's in some customer EBMM JPs that have came in. The biggest thing we have had to do is drill out the mounting holes in the pickups because usually they are a little small for the direct mounting screws.
PeteDuBaldo
Well-known member
I've had to trim the screw "ears" on pickups before, as those that are square shaped don't fit in the triangular holes on the JP
As mentioned above, drilling out the screw holes is common for direct mounting.
As mentioned above, drilling out the screw holes is common for direct mounting.
Ahh yeah, I forgot about trimming the ears.
Big thanks for your reply. I will follow your advice and get the dimensions from the manufacturer prior to purchase. The legs on the front pickup in the JP15 look almost non existent, so would definitely pay to check. Thanks again.
AgustinJP50
Well-known member
Hi guys, just a heads up for any of you that haven't changed the pickups on recent JPs (this could also mean what the OP is talking about if he's got a newer JP15). I don't know when EBMM started doing this, but they've changed the way they route the cavities for the pickups. In this picture, you can clearly see the old routing style, as the edges of the pickups' cavities are right angled: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Aokdx2wGI9Q/maxresdefault.jpg
In these two pictures however, you can see the new routing style, which was first implemented in the Majesty if I'm not mistaken. The angles of the cavities follow the shape of the pickup: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/...site/images/instruments/slides-6/slide-30.jpg https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/...site/images/instruments/slides-2/slide-30.jpg
This is also true for the JP16 IIRC. The new routing design means you can only replace the pickups with uncovered pickups, without having to modify the pickups' cavities.
In these two pictures however, you can see the new routing style, which was first implemented in the Majesty if I'm not mistaken. The angles of the cavities follow the shape of the pickup: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/...site/images/instruments/slides-6/slide-30.jpg https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/...site/images/instruments/slides-2/slide-30.jpg
This is also true for the JP16 IIRC. The new routing design means you can only replace the pickups with uncovered pickups, without having to modify the pickups' cavities.
This is correct - mine has the newer routing style.
Just to add, I have been inflicting a massive series of demands on David Plummer at Zhangbucker pickups. He has been hugely accommodating - well beyond the call of duty - and it looks like I may end up with a set of pure handwound humbuckers in my JP15. Getting them to fit has been the big hassle, but David has come up with a few ideas. I couldn't recommend him more highly, so helpful and incredibly knowledgeable. The reviews of his pickups speak for themselves.
AgustinJP50
Well-known member
Then the only thing you should take into account is to make sure you order/buy pickups that are uncovered, and also note that, unless you're putting DiMarzios in there, you'll have to trim the screw "ears". I've seen people that have changed the pickups in their Majesties (same kind of routing) for covered pickups, but I don't know how they installed them, I guess they had to route the body, as covered pickups definitely don't fit in the new routing.
Chaka5150
Well-known member
Necro bump on this thread here. I have a 2018 JP15 and I'm wanting to replace the Illuminators with some Bare Knuckle Pickups. it seems I'd have the newer routing style in mine and therefore can't get covered pickups. I am wondering though about general cavity depth and supporting other brands of pickups. Also, i need to confirm whether or not mine has the quick connects.
edit: i'm now thinking of sticking to Dimarzios for simplicity sake. Strongly leaning towards Steve's special in the bridge. For the neck I"m looking at the Air Nortons, PAF pro or Joe and maybe the Liquifire. I'd want something to pair nicely with Steve's special and when do coil taps give me that clean sparkly nearly strat like sound. Any thoughts?
edit: i'm now thinking of sticking to Dimarzios for simplicity sake. Strongly leaning towards Steve's special in the bridge. For the neck I"m looking at the Air Nortons, PAF pro or Joe and maybe the Liquifire. I'd want something to pair nicely with Steve's special and when do coil taps give me that clean sparkly nearly strat like sound. Any thoughts?
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Hi there ,
Curious did you proceed with the swap and how did the end result turn out?
