24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

[superreverb]

i was thinking of getting the duncan set that comes with a jazz and a jb for the guitar im building. im using a carvin neck that has 24 frets and it seems like that might make the jazz really bright and the jb over powering. i was planning on comparing a prs 24 fret vs 22 fret but i sliced up one of my fingers so i though maybe some one might have experience here. thinking about my preferences i might be more in need of a custom (strong highs and mids but not too much bass) for the bridge but im more concerned about an overly bright and weak neck pickup.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

Hmm... i don't know about "too brigth", but personally i prefer the tone of the neck position in 22 fret axes. It just sounds more hollow, chimey and fatter IMO

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

To be honest comparing a PRS 24 fret to a 22 fret won't be too much of help, as they use different pickups in their 22 and 24 fret models.

The difference is really more subtle than its made out to be. I doubt the jazz would have any trouble performing in a 24 fret carvin.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

Not too bright, just not as warm of a tone IMO. More hollow sounds about right.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

The neck pickup will not sound quite as deep in the 24 fret guitar compared to the same neck pickup in a 22 fret guitar. Just like the middle pickup in a Strat does not sound quite as deep as the same pickup used in the neck position. Lew

 

[Zerberus]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

The neck pickup will not sound quite as deep in the 24 fret guitar compared to the same neck pickup in a 22 fret guitar. Just like the middle pickup in a Strat does not sound quite as deep as the same pickup used in the neck position. Lew

+1

The JB on the other hand will be totally unaffected by the position of the neck pickup or the number of frets, I´d love to know where you picked that up or if I´m just misunderstanding you

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

I've got a Jazz in the neck slot of my PRS and it's not too bright, but I'm more of an A2 man anyway so I might be switching out the mags soon as a experiement.

Luke

 

[superreverb]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

i didn't say the jb would be too bright, but maybe too powerful because of the loss of output from the neck. although i'll probably put it 1/4 an inch from the bridge rather than 1/2" otherwise the pickups will really be on top of each other. i guess i can always put an A2 or A3 mag in the jazz if it's too bright. the strat analogy helps because thats what i have now. the middle pickup isnt as deep but its not as bright as the bridge

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

What about using a bridge model at the neck position of a 24fret guitar?

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

i didn't say the jb would be too bright, but maybe too powerful because of the loss of output from the neck. although i'll probably put it 1/4 an inch from the bridge rather than 1/2" otherwise the pickups will really be on top of each other. i guess i can always put an A2 or A3 mag in the jazz if it's too bright. the strat analogy helps because thats what i have now. the middle pickup isnt as deep but its not as bright as the bridge

Why would you be losing output from the neck?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

I'm with Architect, why are you thinking you are going to lose output?

The only difference is going to be the timbre that you hear from your amp. I will be a bit brighter, or clearer. Output should be identical.

Luke

 

[superreverb]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

the closer the pickup is to the bridge, the smaller the amplitude of string vibration. thats the reason for more powerful bridge pickups, that and overwound pickups lose some of the extra high end gained from the bridge position.

The distortion neck pick up seems to be more powerful than the rest of the neck pickups in the duncan line up so maybe it was designed with a situation like this in mind, although im starting to think it will be less of a problem than i thought.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

the closer the pickup is to the bridge, the smaller the amplitude of string vibration. thats the reason for more powerful bridge pickups, that and overwound pickups lose some of the extra high end gained from the bridge position.

The distortion neck pick up seems to be more powerful than the rest of the neck pickups in the duncan line up so maybe it was designed with a situation like this in mind, although im starting to think it will be less of a problem than i thought.

I understand the string vibration, but I have a jazz in the neck slot of a Heritage LP, and my PRS, there is no noticeable difference in output. You will find more or less output can be had from the proximity of the pup to the strings. I am not quite sure how your second statement (on the overwound part) is related to the amplitude, but hey, no biggie.

The distortion neck pup is hotter simply to hit the front of your amp harder, and make more OD/Dist. The same reason the Distortion bridge uses a larger magnet than the Custom, it makes for more juice to the amp. However your tradeoff is obviously in the form of less possible sustain due to the more powerful magnetic fields. One of the reasons I hear more sustain in A2 magnet pups. Softer magnet pulll.

Hopefully something in that mess /\/\ is worth your time of reading! :laugh2:

Luke

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

the closer the pickup is to the bridge, the smaller the amplitude of string vibration. thats the reason for more powerful bridge pickups, that and overwound pickups lose some of the extra high end gained from the bridge position.

The distortion neck pick up seems to be more powerful than the rest of the neck pickups in the duncan line up so maybe it was designed with a situation like this in mind, although im starting to think it will be less of a problem than i thought.

Your only talking about 1" at the very most and likely less. Give the height adjustment screws 1/2 a turn and you have made up the difference. You are making WAY too much out of this.

 

[superreverb]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

although im starting to think it will be less of a problem than i thought.

i already acknowledged that i'm probably making too much of this. but im trying to avoid spending 500-600$ and however many hours building something just to decide after that the neck pickup should be closer to the neck. i think im just going to leave it as is because a couple people said it's worked fine for them, including someone with the same neck as me, and i don't really wanna mess with the neck.

this site expains some of my reasoning behind the questions http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponse/
the reason i said overwound bridge pickups compensate for the added highs of the bridge position is... they do. thats why lindy fralin recommends an overwound strat bridge pickup and why the telecaster bridge pick up sounds good with strat singles.

 

[madguitar26]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

jazz neck sounded louder than an invader in a cort x custom guitar i played.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 24 frets = neck pickup too bright?

...the reason i said overwound bridge pickups compensate for the added highs of the bridge position is... they do. thats why lindy fralin recommends an overwound strat bridge pickup and why the telecaster bridge pick up sounds good with strat singles.

Gotcha I was just confused by the wording. :smack:

Luke