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Duncan '59 or Jazz?

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bob7point7 said:
Sorry, somehow I missed where you mentioned putting a resistor accross the bridge pickup. I hope I didn't insult your intelligence with my post.  :sad1:

Be sure to post the results once you get it together!

-Bobbie

No, totally cool. I was waiting for someone to catch that part of my question and respond to it. Glad to know it's not an unheard-of idea.
 
I was thinking of putting a '59 in the neck and jazz bridge pickup on my hollowbody project, an L5 with 3 f holes, maple body and neck with rosewood top and fretboard. However, after reading these comments it seems the 59 might be better suited to the bridge (to add some treble) and the jazz pickup in the neck (for warmth). I'd like a warm jazz sound that stays articulate through a wide range, currently my Les Paul tends to get very muddy if the tone is rolled down for rhythm work - this is something I'd like to avoid. I also like a bit of bluesy attack in my tone. What do you guys think of the pickup selection? Should I put the '59 in the neck or the bridge?
 
seagulc said:
I was thinking of putting a '59 in the neck and jazz bridge pickup on my hollowbody project, an L5 with 3 f holes, maple body and neck with rosewood top and fretboard. However, after reading these comments it seems the 59 might be better suited to the bridge (to add some treble) and the jazz pickup in the neck (for warmth). I'd like a warm jazz sound that stays articulate through a wide range, currently my Les Paul tends to get very muddy if the tone is rolled down for rhythm work - this is something I'd like to avoid. I also like a bit of bluesy attack in my tone. What do you guys think of the pickup selection? Should I put the '59 in the neck or the bridge?
3 F holes? Good luck.

 
The Jazz is very bright - - a Jazz/Jazz combo would be excellent, IMO. I've been thinking about getting one for the bridge on my LP.
 
2 f-holes, sorry that was a typo of course.

Jazz/jazz? You don't think that would be too bright, what with all of the maple on my guitar?

edit: I'll be playing clean almost exclusively, by the way.
 
It might be, but you said you roll your tone down anyway. The 59 and Jazz are both pretty bright pickups. The SD site claims that the Jazz works well in hollow and semi-hollow body guitars. But I don't think you'd go wrong with any combo of the two.
 
Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't want the sound to be so bright that I'll have it rolled to 0 all the time to enjoy it though, that wouldn't be very versatile. I guess they're pretty similar pickups either way. If it helps at all I'm going for a Kenny Burrell/Wes Montgomery or Charlie Christian kind of sound, maybe a little less bassy though.
 
seagulc said:
Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't want the sound to be so bright that I'll have it rolled to 0 all the time to enjoy it though, that wouldn't be very versatile. I guess they're pretty similar pickups either way. If it helps at all I'm going for a Kenny Burrell/Wes Montgomery or Charlie Christian kind of sound, maybe a little less bassy though.

Maybe you'd like the SD Seth Lover model - they're more vintage correct and not wax potted.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/humbucker/vintage/sh55_seth_lover/
 
Hmm, that sounds pretty good. It sounds like it might be better for what I'm looking for since it's more of a vintage pickup. At first I wanted to stay away from Alnico II because I have Gibson Alnicos on my Les Paul and it gets pretty muddy on the bassy notes and the high notes tend to be quiet. However, it is a whole different manufacturer so I'm not sure of the similarities, I don't know much about pickups.

edit: Just watched a review video on youtube for that pickup, damn it sounds good. Likely going to go for that one in the the neck, the only thing that scares me is that the site reccomends it for bright toned instruments. Thanks for the reccomendation.
 
I just ordered a SD Jazz bridge with nickel cover for my LP. I'll be sure to post about it when I get it and hook it up.
 
GoDrex said:
I just ordered a SD Jazz bridge with nickel cover for my LP. I'll be sure to post about it when I get it and hook it up.
What's your current setup, then? I thought you already had a Jazz...
 
Max said:
GoDrex said:
I just ordered a SD Jazz bridge with nickel cover for my LP. I'll be sure to post about it when I get it and hook it up.
What's your current setup, then? I thought you already had a Jazz...

I do but it's in the neck position. I have a SD Custom - nickel covered - in the bridge position. I ordered the bridge version of the Jazz. So I'll have a Jazz in both positions.
 
Well I got my SH-2b today and put it in the LP. I'm not completely sold on it, but it's already a huge improvement. My only problem with it is it seems to not have much thickness or meat to it. BUT, this might sound ridiculous to some, but I find it easier to play the guitar now. I was ripping with this thing and liking the feel of it a lot more, whereas with the Custom I felt like I was fighting it half the time. Plus, with the Custom it was like my low E was under a blanket. Now I can hear it. Clean, the Jazz is 100 times better. It actually sounds good - before I never would use the bridge pickup for a clean tone. it's got to be one of the brightest humbucker pickups ever - and it's very sensitive to how hard or soft you play. Even with a tone of gain you can play softly and it will clean up. BUT I find that win tons of gain it's kind of buzzy, or it's lacking mid-range. But regardless I'm enjoying it for now. I'm thinking I should have tried the JB I have before the Jazz, just to see how it would sound, and I may still try that (I was saving it for a build that may never come). For now I'm going to keep the Jazz in there and tweak my amp settings and see if I can be even happier with it. It's a definite improvement, but not quite where I want to be I think.
 
Yeah, the clips I've heard of the Jazz sound a little buzzy (or lack of mid-range punch) with gain. That's where the 59's excel, I think. At least from clips and my friend's guitar, that's what I can hear.
 
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