Newbie matching pickups

[Nicholasdaniel]

So I dont usually play electric guitar more of an acoustic guy so i dont know much about electric guitars.
I am going to be making my first one. I'm not really into heavy metal type stuff. More jazz and bluesy kinda like Mayer and such type.

Would this be a good match of pickups.
Seymour Duncan Sh4 Jb in the bridge
with a Seymour Duncan Sh2 Jazz model in the neck
What kind of tone would i get?

 

[tfarny]

The Jazz is a great all around neck pickup for lots of styles. It's got more treble than most humbuckers and presents your tone very clearly. Some people think it sounds odd when distorted, I like it personally.
JB is usually for hard rock / metal guys, that's what it's pretty much for. The "high output" pickups like JB or the Custom generally help an amp go into distortion faster, that's what they were designed to do. You might be better off, if you're going Seymour Duncan, with a '59, Seth Lover, or Antiquity. As a general rule, for classic low-gain tones in humbuckers you want to get something with alnico magnets #s 2 thru 5 (not 8 ). Fralin and Lollar are two pickup makers you should know about, they are the big boys of boutique vintage output pickups. When you are ready to buy and know what kind of guitar they are going in, I would phone either of them up, they are great and very accessible.  

 

[Nicholasdaniel]

Alright thank you.
I have been looking at the tonerider rock songs http://www.tonerider.com/pickups/humbuckers.html
Which combination from Seymour Duncan would be similar?

 

[tfarny]

hard to say, I've never hear the tonerider pickups. But I'm surprised you're looking at the high output / hard rock set of those three - if Mayer is the most distorted you normally get, the lighter winds will definitely suit you better. As a general rule, you can always make a lower output pickup go into distortion (see: every classic rock album from Beano to Hendrix and on down the line) but it's harder to get a good clean tone out of a high output pickup. If I were building a HH guitar for jazz to bluesy rock, a set of SD 59s or a2 pros might be a good starting place.

 

[Nicholasdaniel]

I get what your saying. My guitar teacher was talking about splitting the pickups or something to get that tone. I am just not sure what i want to sound like yet so i want versatility before i make a sure decision.

 

[blue313]

I agree with tfarny.  It sounds like you aren't going to be playing anything requiring high output pickups.  It'd be a shame to lose some of that low wound goodness without cause.

I am just not sure what i want to sound like yet so i want versatility before i make a sure decision.

I humbly suggest a trip to every music shop in a semi-reasonable distance, and play every electric in the joint.  Check out Schecter guitars for a taste of Seymour Duncans.  Also try every amp while you're there.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Nicholasdaniel]

Duncan Stagmag is that more what i should be looking for?

 

[Nicholasdaniel]

I am just so overwhelmed with all this

 

[tfarny]

Generally speaking, and especially if you're just getting into the parts guitar game, matching pickups with guitar and player is only guesswork. Just read the descriptions, listen to the sound clips on their website, and lay down that credit card when you can't stand the indecision any more. It's not a matter of "the Pearly Gates sucks, the Stagmag is the one" - they are all well designed pickups that have slightly different frequency responses and outputs. Just asking "which one is best" is like going on the internet and asking someone to choose your ice cream for you at Baskin Robbins.

Alternatively, just buy a set of '59s and put your attention elsewhere - they are very good pickups and you'll probably love them, if you hate them there's always ebay and a new set. Choosing pickups is a quick way to go insane.