TrevorR Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) So after over 10 years since I last tweaked, I decided that it was time to upgrade the pickups for my Frankenjazz bass and some side-by-side Jazz humbuckers sounded like they fitted the bill. Having Googled a bit and read some comments here (not least from @ahpook ) I rather fancied the sound of Catswhisker pickups. Hand made, British, custom made... perfect. So I ordered a pair of their side by side (two poles + two poles) humbucking Jazz pickups after some very helpful emails back and forth with the guy who makes them, Allan Price, checking out exactly what I wanted, specs, sizes etc. Made the whole ordering process hassle free and full of confidence that they’d fit and work properly. Amazingly the cost was only about £120 including postage - which is about half the price of Aguilar or Seymour Duncan Jazz humbuckers. Result! They arrived after about a week - over the Easter break - and to my eyes look really nicely made. Well packaged for postage. Very neat and tidy. Popped them in the Jazz tonight - the solderless connection on the Audere preamp that I’ve got on the bass made that the most doddly of doddles! Got some nice black screws off Amazon for a bit of a stealthy look too. Having hooked them up the sound is lovely. A real step up from the stock pickups which were on there. Very open and airy sounding while retaining real solidity and punch on both pickups and all settings. And absolutely silent too. Very very impressed and very very chuffed. Just can’t wait to get out and try them out in anger in the real world some time. Bet they sound great at volume through a proper amp. But dead chuffed with them and now top of my list should I need some bass or guitar pickups at any time in the future! https://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/bass.htm Edited April 20, 2021 by TrevorR 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) That's great news, I'm really glad you were as impressed as I was. Edited April 19, 2021 by ahpook 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 Nice! I'm looking to get Allan to make me a P90 sized humbucker for my Bronco project 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I have used Allan for various projects and he always comes up trumps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 We all love to to believe that our favourite makers have that special sauce, but pickups are magnets and wire wound around them. Allan does this really well and for a good price compared to lots of the "names" out there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attackbass Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 Hi @TrevorR How are you finding these pickups? Im looking at replacing the pickups in my 70s jazz which after some time of not playing this particular bass find the bass sounds thin, very bright and almost hollow, especially the bridge pickup. The current pickups are vintage wound single coil types which I don't think are a good match for a light swnap ash body, roasted maple neck, badass bridge and 70s bridge pickup spacing!! Looking for a fuller, warmer sound with a sweeter top end whilst retaining the clarity of the jazz bass sound and noiseles would be a plus. Was looking at the nordstrand vintage hum cancelling ones but I'm intrigued by these... Just wish there were sound clips somewhere! Would you recommend them? What were the pickups you swapped out for these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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