Jazzmaster flatwork

[Zhangliqun]

Got a customer interested in some Jazzmaster pu's.

I'm assuming that Jazzmaster pu construction is basically the same as Tele or Strat, just a different shape. Does anyone sell such flatwork, and since they probably don't, does anyone have a diagram with specs/measurements for Jazzmaster pu flatwork?

[David Schwab]

I have a set off a '59 Jazzmaster somewhere... they don't work anymore, but I could measure the size of the bobbin. I have to find them first...

it's not hard to figure out if you have some covers. Just make it fit in the cover, along with the pole spacing.

They were made just like every other Fender single coil... just wide and squat.

[Zhangliqun]

That's what I figured, something like a P90 with rod mags but Fender-style: no center, just top and bottom flatwork held together by the rods.

How is a Jazzmaster mounted anyway? Is there an "ear" on each end of the bottom flat like on Strat pu's or are there screws in the middle like a P90 soapbar?

And does anyone have some more or less ballpark on the usual specs like Alnico grade and DCR, both vintage and whatever Fender's making now?

[David Schwab]

That's what I figured, something like a P90 with rod mags but Fender-style: no center, just top and bottom flatwork held together by the rods.

That's it.

How is a Jazzmaster mounted anyway? Is there an "ear" on each end of the bottom flat like on Strat pu's or are there screws in the middle like a P90 soapbar?

The cover:

[Zhangliqun]

Got some specs from the Duncan site on their vintage JM -- high 7's low 8's, definitely P90 territory, with A5 rods as I assumed.

Anyway, how does the pickup itself mount to the cover and/or to the wood? Duncan's picture of pickup without cover doesn't show 4 ears to match the ears on the JM cover in your photo, or anything else that gives a clue how it's mounted.

[Spence]

The most widely changed pickup Fender made. There was a brief period when they used Formvar. Otherwize plain enamel. The slugs invariably stick out the bottom flat more than the top too.

[David Schwab]

Anyway, how does the pickup itself mount to the cover and/or to the wood? Duncan's picture of pickup without cover doesn't show 4 ears to match the ears on the JM cover in your photo, or anything else that gives a clue how it's mounted.

It just sits under the cover with some rubber foam on the copper grounding plate underneath the pickup. The bobbin is just a rectangle with no ears. Think of a Jazz Bass or P-Bass pickup. A P-Bass pickup is very similar to a Jazzmaster unit. It's just a rectangle that presses into the cover. The ears on the cover screw into the wood.

[David Schwab]

I found this picture just now:

[David Schwab]

Another view.

[Zhangliqun]

That's what I mean, can't see how it's mounted. Does it just sit flat on the wood and the cover is screwed down over it to hold it in position?

[Spence]

Not quite. The whole assembly including the cover fits in a rout the same shape as the cover. The four screws go directly into the wood through the cover.

[Zhangliqun]

So the JM is not a pickup you can height adjust then?

[David Schwab]

So the JM is not a pickup you can height adjust then?

You adjust it just as you do a Jazz Bass, or a P-Bass. It has foam rubber under the pickup to push it up, and the screw hold it down. It's not mounted to the pickguard.

[Zhangliqun]

Okay, got it, kinda/sorta like a dogear P90, though not 100%.

Thanks for your patience, gentlemen...

[David Schwab]

Okay, got it, kinda/sorta like a dogear P90, though not 100%.

Thanks for your patience, gentlemen...

The dogear is not hight adjustable though.. just the poles are. But that's the way it's put together... more-or-less.

Just think of a Jazz bass pickup. Only wider.