Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
Usually the neck is just an underwound version of the bridge, but on some sets like the SH-6 (The Distortion set) they have little in common other than the fact that they go well together.
Usually the neck is just an underwound version of the bridge, but on some sets like the SH-6 (The Distortion set) they have little in common other than the fact that they go well together.
gregory
New member
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
...and the SH-6N Distortion Neck began life as a bridge pickup, the SH-7 Seymourizer II.
So, it goes to show you can use a bridge pickup in the neck spot.
The hailed Air Norton, so often used in the neck was originally intended to go in the bridge position.
...and the SH-6N Distortion Neck began life as a bridge pickup, the SH-7 Seymourizer II.
So, it goes to show you can use a bridge pickup in the neck spot.
The hailed Air Norton, so often used in the neck was originally intended to go in the bridge position.
PierceOkken
New member
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
The bridge pickup usually has a higher resistance and output giving it a clearer, more defined sound which works well for gain. The neck is darker and looser, it is placed at the point where the string vibrates over the most distance. The neck has less resistance and output (usually). Switching up where you put the pickups is fine, you just have to experiment a lot to find what you like. It will not hurt the guitar or amp at all, so it is safe to screw around with.
The bridge pickup usually has a higher resistance and output giving it a clearer, more defined sound which works well for gain. The neck is darker and looser, it is placed at the point where the string vibrates over the most distance. The neck has less resistance and output (usually). Switching up where you put the pickups is fine, you just have to experiment a lot to find what you like. It will not hurt the guitar or amp at all, so it is safe to screw around with.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
The neck is wound to a lower resistance in order to combat excess bass and lack of treble and the bridge is wound hotter to prevent ice pick highs and to create a thicker tone. This is done to prevent excess of what is states above.
The neck is wound to a lower resistance in order to combat excess bass and lack of treble and the bridge is wound hotter to prevent ice pick highs and to create a thicker tone. This is done to prevent excess of what is states above.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
In neck v. bridge a higher DCR meaning more output is more likely to be true than in most cases. This is of course only true If the neck is simply an underwound bridge. Not in the case of the SH-6 set.
In neck v. bridge a higher DCR meaning more output is more likely to be true than in most cases. This is of course only true If the neck is simply an underwound bridge. Not in the case of the SH-6 set.
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
There are a number of desirable things to try and achieve with a calibrated set. However, not all are addressed by "calibrated" sets and some of the goals are contradictory:
1) Eliminate volume mismatch between the positions. The neck position creates more output due to the wider vibrational arc of the string. So you want more voltage from the bridge than the neck.
2) Wider bridge pole spacing and narrower neck pole spacing for more precise string sensing. The wider spacing makes sense from the bridge perspective, but it doesn't make much sense for a neck pickup because the vibrational arc is wider at the neck than at the bridge. Basically all you're doing is making the strings line up with the poles at the neck position while at rest and decreasing their coverage zone at the outsides of the vibrational arc.
3) More bass/less treble for bridge and less bass/more treble for the neck.
4) Reduce magnetic pull from the neck position to enhance sustain. Magnetic pull at the neck position can cause intonation problems on upper frets and choke string vibrations.
There are a number of desirable things to try and achieve with a calibrated set. However, not all are addressed by "calibrated" sets and some of the goals are contradictory:
1) Eliminate volume mismatch between the positions. The neck position creates more output due to the wider vibrational arc of the string. So you want more voltage from the bridge than the neck.
2) Wider bridge pole spacing and narrower neck pole spacing for more precise string sensing. The wider spacing makes sense from the bridge perspective, but it doesn't make much sense for a neck pickup because the vibrational arc is wider at the neck than at the bridge. Basically all you're doing is making the strings line up with the poles at the neck position while at rest and decreasing their coverage zone at the outsides of the vibrational arc.
3) More bass/less treble for bridge and less bass/more treble for the neck.
4) Reduce magnetic pull from the neck position to enhance sustain. Magnetic pull at the neck position can cause intonation problems on upper frets and choke string vibrations.
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
These four reasons are also why for a set that comes stock with two A2 magnets, I usually test out an A3 in the neck and UOA5 in the bridge. It helps to calibrate them in all of the regards above except the second.
These four reasons are also why for a set that comes stock with two A2 magnets, I usually test out an A3 in the neck and UOA5 in the bridge. It helps to calibrate them in all of the regards above except the second.
Discharged
New member
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
Awww, man! It hurts seeing so much speculation and assumption and so little actual knowledge and understanding about the laws of Physics.
The so-called "calibrated set" was born out of the necessity of balancing the output of the same p'up used in both the neck and the bridge position. The concept behind the solution to this "issue" was devised by eletrical engineers in the first place, but it took actual musicians with practical, hands-on knowledge to "fine tune" the actual solution to the issue. A guy named Seymour Duncan comes to mind (and Larry Di Marzio, meaning actually Steve Blucher as well, to be fair)... never heard of them, isn't it?
Gibson followed later with the 490R/498T aka the "dread set", solution created by completely tone-deaf engineers meeting the generation of baby boomers that used their eyes and wallets to judge tone. Which was a move that revealed itself to be be very lucrative... but it couldn't work forever. And the fact that Gibson is actually dying, this quote from Abraham Lincoln proved to be true: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time"
AFAIK, the first real "calibrated" set on the market was the '59 set, fine-tuned by ear by you-know-who. But preceeding that, the most successful pairing of two different p'ups meant to be used as a set was the PAF Pro/Super Distortion by Di Marzio., followed by the Jazz/JB, which it actually is the most sold, even to this day.
Where's Frank Falbo when you need him?
/Peter
Awww, man! It hurts seeing so much speculation and assumption and so little actual knowledge and understanding about the laws of Physics.
The so-called "calibrated set" was born out of the necessity of balancing the output of the same p'up used in both the neck and the bridge position. The concept behind the solution to this "issue" was devised by eletrical engineers in the first place, but it took actual musicians with practical, hands-on knowledge to "fine tune" the actual solution to the issue. A guy named Seymour Duncan comes to mind (and Larry Di Marzio, meaning actually Steve Blucher as well, to be fair)... never heard of them, isn't it?
Gibson followed later with the 490R/498T aka the "dread set", solution created by completely tone-deaf engineers meeting the generation of baby boomers that used their eyes and wallets to judge tone. Which was a move that revealed itself to be be very lucrative... but it couldn't work forever. And the fact that Gibson is actually dying, this quote from Abraham Lincoln proved to be true: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time"
AFAIK, the first real "calibrated" set on the market was the '59 set, fine-tuned by ear by you-know-who. But preceeding that, the most successful pairing of two different p'ups meant to be used as a set was the PAF Pro/Super Distortion by Di Marzio., followed by the Jazz/JB, which it actually is the most sold, even to this day.
Where's Frank Falbo when you need him?
/Peter
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BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
Hi esteve, and welcome to the forum!
You've received a lot of answers here that are great, but it just seems like all this info could now be brought down into simpler terms. So, to answer your REAL question...
There's no reason in the world why you can't put a bridge p'up in the neck position or vice versa.
That being said, there are some consideration you would want to keep in mind when doing so...
I hope that this (and the other answers you've received) help with your search. What pickup are you thinking about using in the neck and why? We're always interested in hearing new ideas and will be glad to help in any way!
Hi esteve, and welcome to the forum!
You've received a lot of answers here that are great, but it just seems like all this info could now be brought down into simpler terms. So, to answer your REAL question...
There's no reason in the world why you can't put a bridge p'up in the neck position or vice versa.
That being said, there are some consideration you would want to keep in mind when doing so...
- The strings vibrate substantially more at their center (neck position) than at their ends (bridge position). If you were to say put two identical pickups in the bridge and neck at exactly the same height, the neck pickup would be louder and bassier simply because of the difference in how the string vibrates at that position. You could compensate by lowering the neck p'up and/or raising the bridge p'up.
- This is the root cause of the reason why you see calibrated sets... to compensate for the difference that comes from the positioning of the pickups. The bridge pickup is (generally speaking) wound "hotter" than the neck version. There will be other differences in (electrical) design as well, but output is the biggest.
- This means that, if you're putting a bridge pickup in the neck position, in order to compensate you probably need to select a pickup for your bridge position that has more output than the one you've selected for your neck... and you'll have to find it for yourself because there isn't going to be a "suggested" pickup from the manufacturer.
- You can use DC resistance as a loose guide for output, but it's not the only consideration (although many see it that way).
I hope that this (and the other answers you've received) help with your search. What pickup are you thinking about using in the neck and why? We're always interested in hearing new ideas and will be glad to help in any way!
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
An excellent example of this would be the El Diablo made by the Custom Shop. It's a pretty high output bridge pickup with a tone that wouldn't too well in the neck. It does have 22k of resistance and two A2 magnets almost touching the string after all. The only thing to do is put an even louder and hotter pickup in the bridge. The SLUG is 48k with two ceramic magnets almost touching the string. Even fatter and louder than the El Diablo.
Then there are some pickups that you don't need to compensate your bridge pickup. The 59n and 59b commonly switch position, usually in a 59n is used in the bridge of many HSS guitars and the 59b is used in the neck of 24 fret guitars.
And if you wanna really mess with people's heads, you can put a really hot pickup in the bridge and put the same one in the neck in parallel. I've done this with the Custom series. I put a Custom Custom in the bridge and a Custom Custom in parallel in the neck. It was an amazing set, but I did a few mag swaps later on.
An excellent example of this would be the El Diablo made by the Custom Shop. It's a pretty high output bridge pickup with a tone that wouldn't too well in the neck. It does have 22k of resistance and two A2 magnets almost touching the string after all. The only thing to do is put an even louder and hotter pickup in the bridge. The SLUG is 48k with two ceramic magnets almost touching the string. Even fatter and louder than the El Diablo.
Then there are some pickups that you don't need to compensate your bridge pickup. The 59n and 59b commonly switch position, usually in a 59n is used in the bridge of many HSS guitars and the 59b is used in the neck of 24 fret guitars.
And if you wanna really mess with people's heads, you can put a really hot pickup in the bridge and put the same one in the neck in parallel. I've done this with the Custom series. I put a Custom Custom in the bridge and a Custom Custom in parallel in the neck. It was an amazing set, but I did a few mag swaps later on.
B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
I know you disagree with that? I am just an ME, but there is a fairly strong correlation between the 2. Is it 100%? No, but when a company gives you that stat as its criteria, what else are most people supposed to think?
I know you disagree with that? I am just an ME, but there is a fairly strong correlation between the 2. Is it 100%? No, but when a company gives you that stat as its criteria, what else are most people supposed to think?
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
Could you clarify what you mean by this? I have no idea what you're referring to.
Could you clarify what you mean by this? I have no idea what you're referring to.
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
I’m not sure to whom you’re directing the question, but I think you’re talking about DC resistance. If so, you’re absolutely correct... higher DC resistance correlates to higher output more times than not. Also you’re right about the fact that most companies don’t give you anything else to go by so you’re limited to using it as a guide even though it’s not foolproof. It’s really kind of a shame that there’s not a more universal way to compare pickups in terms of output used by the manufacturers.
I’m not sure to whom you’re directing the question, but I think you’re talking about DC resistance. If so, you’re absolutely correct... higher DC resistance correlates to higher output more times than not. Also you’re right about the fact that most companies don’t give you anything else to go by so you’re limited to using it as a guide even though it’s not foolproof. It’s really kind of a shame that there’s not a more universal way to compare pickups in terms of output used by the manufacturers.
B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
Go on Duncans site, they list the resistance as the main statistic. For the MOST part, not ALL, the higher the resistance, the higher or "hotter" the output. There are other factors such as Inductance, and the like. Gregory is an Electrical Engineer but most of us arent. So my point is that Duncan implies that the resistance does indicate output. BTW, I am trying a Screaming Demon in the neck soon myself, just havent had the time. Happy New Year!! Welcome to the forum!
Go on Duncans site, they list the resistance as the main statistic. For the MOST part, not ALL, the higher the resistance, the higher or "hotter" the output. There are other factors such as Inductance, and the like. Gregory is an Electrical Engineer but most of us arent. So my point is that Duncan implies that the resistance does indicate output. BTW, I am trying a Screaming Demon in the neck soon myself, just havent had the time. Happy New Year!! Welcome to the forum!
B
Ben1962
Guest
Re: Bridge VS Neck.....basically what is the design difference ??
I was referring to Gregory. He is an Electrical Engineer, most of us arent. I know there are other factors than how many winds, but again, what are most of us to use as a guideline? Happy New Year
I was referring to Gregory. He is an Electrical Engineer, most of us arent. I know there are other factors than how many winds, but again, what are most of us to use as a guideline? Happy New Year
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