Match of a late 90’s Jag-Stang neck pickup

RominRonin

I really like the neck pickup of my Jag-Stang and would like to get a pickup that sounds close to it. I think it is listed as a ’Vintage Style’ pickup over here - https://www.jag-stang.com/guitars/jagstang/jagstang-technical-specs/

Fender sell multiple strat single coils that might qualify as vintage style. Are they really that different from one another? Can anyone comment on which might sound closest to my target?

I also don’t mind going for a budget option - I’ve been happy with the tonerider Classic Blues set for a Strat style guitar, although I think they’re a little on the hot side.

I know I do not want a hot output - I’m beyond that chase now, I definitely prefer lower output (used synonymously with vintage style it seems) - I just want to hear from people who have also tried getting a similar sound - what worked, what didn’t, what can you recommend?

Thanks

Vendetagainst

Vintage strat pickup is referring to a 60s style single coil. Texas Special would also suffice.

RominRonin

Vendetagainst I’ve never tried a Texas special - though I’ve heard a lot about them. I’ve also seen a few YouTube videos highlighting their sound, some that compare them to tex mex pickups, which are the budget equivalent from fender.

Since posting this, I actually settled on a budget offering for my latest guitar: tonerider pure vintage. I’ve not been disappointed with tonerider (or Roswell for that matter) pickups. Although the pure vintage is NOT an exact match, it is definitely in the area where I want to be.

The bass is more authoritative with the jag Stang pickup I have, the pure vintage is a little sharp (in a pleasant, good for finger picking way, not in that ear piercing, kill-the-tone-dial way).

Thanks for the response though. I wish it was easier to find a Texas special for just the neck, they tend to be sold in threes. As happy as I am with what I now have, I’m still curious and would be willing to try it out at the right cost 😂

Vendetagainst

https://planettone.com/collections/pickups-for-strat%C2%AE/products/1962-scooped-mids-pickup-for-strat%C2%AE
This pickup has a good tone comparison I found. Also Seymour Duncan has 60s style pickup. I would say a neck pickup of a early 60s strat is gonna be the clear thing. I know the humbucker is a 59 bridge clone that fender made specifically for the jag-stang in the first run of jag-stangs. I know this from seeing the pieces of wood in the pickup surrounding the bobbins(I could be wrong but that is how they made the 59 Les Paul goldtop bridge humbuckers back then). I find it funny people complain about the pickups because of the 250k tone and volume pots not giving adequate output to their liking. They're nice unique pickups in my opinion. But ya the neck pickup I'm guessing a early 60s strat pickup trying to capture Lennon vibes of his sonic blue strat.