24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

[Lewguitar]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

I guess I'm the only one that really prefers the neck pup being closer to the bridge. I really feel that way about buckers but on singles I could go either way. I just think that all 22 fret guitar neck slots seem too dark.

Luke

PS I use the strat #3 position as well!

There's a picture or two of Wes Montgomery where you can clearly see that he took the neck humbucker on his Gibson L-5 out and turned it around so the adjustable polepieces are closer to the bridge. Peter green did the same thing to his Les Paul. So you're in good company! :laugh2:

It's all just personal preference really.

But having the neck pickup closer to the neck and further from the bridge gives a fuller and deeper tone with more bass. No doubt about it.

lew

 

[JeffB]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

+1

Made the same experience. I just like it more. I throw the neck in for the warm sound and that's what the 22 fret position gives me better/more than the 24fret pos. There's also a slightly bigger difference to the bridge pup...

+2. I'm with Lew.

I like the way a 24 fret neck feels and plays..nice to be able to get up there and have some room to move, but there def is a tone diff, and the 22 fret necks always sound "correct" to me.

 

[AStarUpInTheSky]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

when it comes down to it..most things just depend on your ears..it wouldnt hurt to go to a guitar store and check out 22 vs 24 fret guitars and see how they sound to you.. i never really had a problem playing 22 fret guitars untill i was stuck without one for a while ( repainting ) and a fried was kind enough to lend me a 24 fret jackson V he had...after i got my guitar back i just kinda lost interest in the tone that it had...i guess it is a little more " bass " but what some ppl see as deep, creamy, rich, warm..whatever..i saw as mud and a little too much growl..of course im not a fan of things sounding brittle or glassy, but i do favor my highs over my lows. theres nothing wrong with trying new things though

 

[Zerberus]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

there's a reason why necks are 22 frets or 21 frets long-the exact spot where the neck pickup should be is the beginning of the 3rd octave. It's where the 24th fret should be, and being an octave higher than the 12th fret, it is harmonically rich. Lightly touch above that spot and pick and you'll hear a harmonic. That's a reason why neck pickups are placed there so often.

I just read that garbage from ed roman. It's not sheer coincidence that all the great classic guitars have their neck pickups at the 24th fret area, this guy's just trying to sell his stuff.

And as I´ve said a thousand times: As soon as you touch the fretboard that harmonic is moved up the string. This statement isn´t one that lasts very long among luthiers and techs

To settle this argument all you really have to do is compare the tone of the neck pickup in a 22 fret PRS to the neck pickup in a 24 fret PRS. I did.

The neck pickup in the 22 fret guitar always sounds better to me.

Deeper...richer...better.

Lew

This is exactly what I hear, are you sure your ears are screwed up, buddy?

Then again, mine are for sure, forget I asked

In reality, its all about where the pickup is: Closer to the bridge = Brighter, closer to the nut = fuller and Rounder, some would say darker.

Little known fact: This is one of the things that makes Jackson special, the bridge pickup is minimally closer to the neck than on most other guitars, giving a bit of extra "oomph" to the sound

 

[MDS]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

I've been down this road. I totally wanted a 24 fret guitar when I was in high school. I needed that high E and I hated how the 5th fret harmonic didn't work in the neck position. After getting one, I soon became very aware of how different the tone is on the neck pup when you move it closer to the bridge. That high E is cool, but the tone of a neck position is seriously comprimised by moving the pickup.

For big, fat, neck pup tone, 22 frets is the limit. Of course, this is just my opinion based on buying and selling WAY to many guitars....



Mike

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

Besides everything that's been said about tone, another reason is that it makes the neck feel longer, which some people like, but it's a different feel from the rest of your guitars.

As for Ed Roman... Only someone who has a warped love of 24 fret guitars would buy out the amazing Baker Custom Guitar line, then F it up by making it a Korean made 24 fret model nobody wanted.
Imagine if he'd just taken the original Baker guitar and had it produced overseas?
People would have clamored for it. The original Baker was around $3K and his knockoffs are around $900. What a fool!!! We should give him a 24 gauge shotgun to shoot himself in the foot with! hahahaha

 

[Quencho092]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

i wasn't saying that the actual harmonic improved the tone. There must be some sort of connection to having a deep, rich, full tone with the pickup in that EXACT spot though. I don't think that it's a coincidence that this harmonic also marks the spot where you get the 'best' sounding neck pup tone-I just might make an SRV style 1 pickup strat some time just to enjoy the absence of string pull and the quality of sound that the 24th fret location offers

And no offense Ed, you're a total d$#%$@bag in my book. All of the rants on his site are arranged systematically so that he could make more cash. "All the other strat makers suck compared to my 'pearcaster'", "Never get stainless steel frets because the tone is too bright (Hint hint-stainless steel never wears out, that means ill be making less cash off of fret jobs!!!)", "Don't buy guitars that come stock with the buzz feiten system, get one that doesn't have it and I'll install one for you(Hint hint-i make money by installing buzz feiten systems!) "Never buy at guitar center or samash, even if they're cheaper-come to my store instead!", "Les pauls suck for rhythm playing! Buy some of my 24 fret guitars instead!"

I seriously hope this guy goes out of business. He talks about how bad big companies are and how they brainwash you....im pretty sure he's trying to brainwash everyone with his pseudo science rants about why his guitars are better than any other guitar ever made and why you should always get stuff from his store...ARGHHHHH!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

I guess I'm the only one that really prefers the neck pup being closer to the bridge. I really feel that way about buckers but on singles I could go either way. I just think that all 22 fret guitar neck slots seem too dark.

Luke

PS I use the strat #3 position as well!

I love the #3 position on strats, but my favorite is the neck position while picking near the 22nd fret almost. That sweet, hollow hendrix tone.....ahhh

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

Little known fact: This is one of the things that makes Jackson special, the bridge pickup is minimally closer to the neck than on most other guitars, giving a bit of extra "oomph" to the sound

Is there an exact distance declared somewhere? I've seen some Samicks & ESPs who's bridge pickups are pretty darn far away from the bridge.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: 24 vs 22 fret neck pickup sound argument.

Little known fact: This is one of the things that makes Jackson special, the bridge pickup is minimally closer to the neck than on most other guitars, giving a bit of extra "oomph" to the sound

I remember you posting this a while ago, and it's definately true! About 1/8" farther from the bridge than normal.