This will probably sound crazy.

[Nordhauser]

As you may know, I own a '91 Ibanez Jem77FP with Evos in the neck and bridge and the standard Jem single coil. I was *thinking* of replacing my bridge pup with a TZ to get that Gilbert, EVH, Ron Thal sound -- which may be blasphemous for a Jem (or possibly an Evo 2 to keep Vai in there ). I love my neck pup, but the bridge isn't as full rhythm-wise as I thought it would be. However, thanks to Ron Thal, I had a crazy idea.

In his guitars (think Bumblefoot), he uses a TZ with a chopper. His volume knob is push/pull switching the humbuckers into single coils. I dig his sound, so i thought this was intruiging. My single coil doesn't sound too great mixed with the Evos since it was made to utilize PAF pros. I was wondering if it could be possible to use the 5-way toggle switch as 5 seperate single coils when the knob is pulled on the Jem, but still keep the original 5-way when the knob is pushed/normal.

I don't install my own pups generally because I don't trust myself and the fact that I don't know much about doing so. Can this be done? Would you guys recommend this at all (especially on a Jem)? And lastly, would you even recommend a TZ in a Jem77fp in the first place?

Sorry for the long post. I hope I made that explanation clear. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Nordhauser

[kennydoe]

It's your guitar...do what you want with it.

People put EMGs in Jems. Now THAT'S gross.

~K

[ChopTart]

Originally Posted by kennydoe

It's your guitar...do what you want with it.

People put EMGs in Jems. Now THAT'S gross.

~K

INDEED. EMG + Jem = ew.

i think thats a fine idea for a modified jem, but just realize that its going to take a LOT of wiring and thus..a LOT of planning. good luck

[Nordhauser]

Originally Posted by kennydoe

It's your guitar...do what you want with it.

People put EMGs in Jems. Now THAT'S gross.

~K

I hear that. I loathe EMGs with all my being.

Would it be possible to do what i proposed though?

[Nordhauser]

Originally Posted by ChopTart

INDEED. EMG + Jem = ew.

i think thats a fine idea for a modified jem, but just realize that its going to take a LOT of wiring and thus..a LOT of planning. good luck

Haha fun. If it's possible, hopefully it won't f*ck up my Jem in the process. From what I've heard, a TZ seems be ok at the least. At the moment, the mod seems to be a bit of a reach haha. Well, thanks!

[David McCarroll]

I don't think the standard Ibanez 5-way will let you select the five different coils, if that is what you are saying, however there is no reason why with a push/pull pot (use the tone pot, the P/P pots are sometimes quite stiff to turn BTW) you couldn't turn your JEM into basically a Strat (S/S/S instead of H/S/H) - I thought EVOs were about the hottest Humbucker Dimarzio make - they should be the thickest sounding in that case (ie: more windings = higher inductance = less top end, more or less), so I don't know that a TZ will solve that issue for you..... amp settings perhaps?

[red5]

Originally Posted by kennydoe

People put EMGs in Jems. Now THAT'S gross.~K

That should be reason to put someone in jail IMO. You know they're going to hell for it anyway

[red5]

Hey Tone Zones are good sounding pickups. The PG pickup config (TZ-PAF Pro) is a good one, as is just 2 PAF Pros. You could put in 2 Breeds if you want too. If I didn't like the Evos I might do the Breed thing

There are many options. It's not wrecking the guitar with EMGs, so you won't burn in hell for it.

[Nordhauser]

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

I don't think the standard Ibanez 5-way will let you select the five different coils, if that is what you are saying, however there is no reason why with a push/pull pot (use the tone pot, the P/P pots are sometimes quite stiff to turn BTW) you couldn't turn your JEM into basically a Strat (S/S/S instead of H/S/H) - I thought EVOs were about the hottest Humbucker Dimarzio make - they should be the thickest sounding in that case (ie: more windings = higher inductance = less top end, more or less), so I don't know that a TZ will solve that issue for you..... amp settings perhaps?

Maybe. I have messed around with the settings, but as I have said in other threads, my bridge pup seems to cause an ungodly amount of feedback making it almost impossible to mess around with; therefore, I have to get it looked at. However, it sounded fine on a Marshall. Then again, they are two different beast. But this is not the point of this thread so i'll stop.

the S/S/S push/pull sounds like a great idea. That sounds less complicated and more of what I'm looking for. Thanks. The ability to switch from H/S/H to S/S/S would be a great mix. There have probably been many other threads reguarding a mod like this (that i was too blind too look at it seems ), butI really appreciate your help. Thanks again.

Nordhauser

[kennydoe]

The most important thing to remember is that Dimarzio's return policy is very lenient. As long as you don't destroy the pickup, they'll take it back if you don't like it for up to 30 days.

Whatever pickups you end up with, worst comes to worse, you'll have a lot of soldering experience under your belt. Just don't melt your switch. They're very delicate!

~K

[Nordhauser]

Originally Posted by kennydoe

The most important thing to remember is that Dimarzio's return policy is very lenient. As long as you don't destroy the pickup, they'll take it back if you don't like it for up to 30 days.

Whatever pickups you end up with, worst comes to worse, you'll have a lot of soldering experience under your belt. Just don't melt your switch. They're very delicate!

~K

Hehe being the reason I'll let a pro handle it at the moment! I don't trust myself with a soldering iron. I'll try to get my Evo in order before i try anything!

[lyconxero]

Your best bet would be to get a Dimarzio multi-pole switch AND a push-pull tone knob. If you're going with an Evo neck/Chopper/Tone Zone combo then you could wire them on the Dimarzio switch as an H-H-H pickup config which would be hum-cancelling in all positions and then have the push-pull tone knob to split all the pickups. Now THAT would be like the ultimate in versatility because you'd be able to get like every tone imaginable. Dimarzio should have wiring diagrams to do this. Just email them at tech@dimarzio.com and they should get back to you when they get back from NAMM.

[Shredcows]

hmmm.. lyconxero, a push pull with a DPDT switch can handle splitting 3 humbuckers? I thought 2 humbuckers is max?

[rgr]

You can split as many pups as you can solder to it, all you are doing is shorting one side of the pickup to ground, so they can all be switched using the same tab on the switch.

Roger

[Roadstar]

in a jem i would vote air zone/ air norton
the stock tone zone is very loose and with the jems basswood body and rosewood board needs a brighter tighter pup and that is the AZ