59b in the Neck?

[mirrormind]

Has anyone tried this?
How would this sound?
I'm guessing there might be a bit more bass and it will be a little higher output.

I think I remember reading somewhere that the original PAFs were not neck/bridge calibrated, so I guess a 59b in the Neck would sound close to the original neck sound.

I'll probably have a Custom in the bridge in the bridge (I might put an AlNiCo 8 magnet in it).

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: 59b in the Neck?

I put a 59b in the neck of my old telecaster for awhile. I had a 59n in there before that, but the bridge pickup (sh-6b) always over powered it, so I thought since the 59b was slightly higher output it would balance better.

It really wasn't noticably louder than the 59n, but it did sound really terrible. Well, it sounded good for dirty leads, but clean it basically sounded like I had the tone control rolled completely down. Just muddy, and really just really muffled.

So I ended up putting it in the bridge of that telecaster, and the 59n in the neck. And felt like a retard for not thinking of that in the first place. The 59b sounded way better in the bridge than the SH-6 did anyways.

I'de suggest trying to get a 59n instead, cause I doubt you'll like the 59b in the neck. If ya start a thread in the tradeing post, chances are pretty good you'll be able to find someone who'll trade you a 59n for your 59n.

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59b in the Neck?

Depends on the guitar design, wood, and your preferences. A '59B can work well in the neck. If you want a bright, highly useable neck tone, the '59N will give you a little more of that. Likewise, a neck PU that is wound a little hotter, can work as a bridge PU. Look at the ohms rating, and decide. Bridges should have a resistance higher than the neck to balance their volumes. Remember, the higher the ohms rating, the more mids & less treble. At some point, a neck will become too dark & muffled. High output PU's are almost always for the bridge position because of this.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: 59b in the Neck?

I've never used a 59neck model. I love the 59b in the neck as it gives a "smokey bluesy" tone that I love! I have a 59b in the neck of my Explorer, my Rg570 and a paul. It cleans up nicely, rocks leads well and does a creamy blues excellently!

I dont have any balance issues with a Custom in the explorer and a c5 in the RG.

 

[jmh151]

Re: 59b in the Neck?

I put a '59'b in ther neck of my Korina superstrat (Floyd equipped) to balance with the Bill Lawrence XL-500 in the bridge.

The '59b gives me the sweetest vintage PAF tone you could imagine on this particular guitar- so much that the XL-500 is no match for it, I'm trying to find a bridge pickup that'll be a better match for the '59b

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59b in the Neck?

I dont have any balance issues with a Custom in the explorer and a c5 in the RG.

I would hope not. Both the C & C5 are overwound and high output. It's a classic example of balancing neck & bridge volumes.