Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

[SunIsLoco]

So I recently swapped out the Burstbucker Pros in my Les Paul Studio for a PGB and JazzN. I'm not quite sure if I like them, particularly the Jazz does not have the brightness and clarity that I thought it would.

Its been 2 months since I switched them, and I honestly don't know if I actually prefer the BBPro or if I just don't fully remember what it sounded like in comparison.

So before I devote an afternoon to swapping them, can anyone comment on a comparison between the two?

I'd also be interested in hearing comparisons between the PGB and BBPro.

 

[chadd]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I actually prefer the BB Pro neck and BB1 to the Jazz in the neck of my Les Pauls and 335. There's more sparkle and jangle.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

That's what I'm remembering too, I just wasn't sure if I remembered correctly or not

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

Has anyone else found the Jazz neck not up to their expectations? Its very muddy to my ears, not a lot of chime and not nearly as bright as I thought it would be, I have to have the tone knob on my amp around 3 o'clock just to get the sound I like, and then I have to roll the PG bridge tone down to 5 on the guitar.

 

[gregory]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

It could just be that the guitar is particularly dark. That body probably would have benefited from a maple top.

That there's a Pearly Gates Bridge in there doesn't help the situation, either. In fact the bright and weak bridge pickup is the real problem as I see it. Put a Slash Bridge in there and the Jazz would fare better. A Custom Custom in the bridge and your problem is solved. This is assuming you're insist on having an A2 in the bridge and an A5 in the neck.

If you're looking for alternatives, I'd point to the Full Shred Neck and Humbucker From Hell. Alternatively you could stuff a polished A3 in a Jazz Bridge or Pearly Gates Bridge. I mention the bridge models specifically in order to address the drop in output from the weak magnet. Still though, the voicing and weaker output of the PGb isn't going to do my suggested A3 bridge pickup in the neck options any favors. Maybe an A3 in a PG Neck model. The idea of an A3 in a Jazz Neck frightens me a little, to be honest.

Sorry for all the edits. I didn't consider the pair until after I started posting.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

My Studio is carved maple top, not laminate. Not sure if they recently changed that but I know mine is.

I know I liked the BB Pro in the neck - from descriptions, I thought the Jazz would be even more of what I loved about it. I might just have to swap it back.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

That there's a Pearly Gates Bridge in the bridge position doesn't help the situation, either. Put a Slash Bridge in there and the Jazz would probably fare better.

Do you mean that the Jazz would sound brighter to me with a different comparison, or that the bridge pickup would actually have an effect?

 

[gregory]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I'm assuming that you have your amp dialed in so the bridge sounds good. The A2 PGb was designed to go with the A2 PGn, not the A5 SH-2n. You should be using a hotter bridge pickup. Re-read my post, since my edits may have made this clearer.

Who here suggested a Jazz Neck with a PGb? I hope it wasn't me.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I dial in for the neck, then tone down the bridge to match.

Nobody suggested it actually, they were just the two I liked the sound of the most. The middle position is actually my favorite part of the combo, I think they go pretty well together.

 

[gregory]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

If you're dialing it in for the neck and can't make it sound good then you're either doing it wrong or you need to change something in your signal chain.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I can make it sound good, the treble control is just way higher than I thought it would have to be. I didn't think I would need to EQ so heavily to get the neck to sound how I want.

 

[gregory]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

That's when I point to the guitar and it also depends heavily on what frequency your treble control is affecting, which is dependent on the design of the amp and where you have the other controls since they're usually interactive.

The Jazz has a nice hi-fi top-end, but no prominent push at a frequency that is perceived as having bite, at least that's been my experience and the sole reason I don't use it. Still, I think its pristine cleans are great as is its crunchy rhythm tone.

You could just put an A2 in there and transform it into this pickup. You'll lose the hi-fi and get a vocal push with a smooth top-end.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

Yeah, that sounds about right. No real chime to it, even through an AC30. Thats one of the reasons I like the middle position, you get the attack of the PG with the fullness of the Jazz.

 

[gregory]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

If you don't already know what to expect from an APH-1N and are willing to experiment I'd stuff a polished A2 in there, otherwise I'd pull it.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

The Jazz is one of the few Duncan necks that I like.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

Sounds like you'd be better off with the BBP back in there, and see how it works with the PGB. It shouldn't take an afternoon. To change out a neck PU is maybe a half hour job.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

Has anyone else found the Jazz neck not up to their expectations? Its very muddy to my ears, not a lot of chime and not nearly as bright as I thought it would be.

Then the p'ups' setup is to blame. You'll be surprise that the difference between average and great in certain cases is a 1/8 or a screw's turn away.

Bottom line: the p'up's is too close to the strings.

/Peter

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I rhought so too, but its buried now, almost 5mm down from the low E, 3.5mm from the high e!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I've been using a PGBJ and 35th Anniversary Jazz N in my SG for months now and they are amazing together. Almost don't want to ever take them out. Great chime, plenty of top end I can use or dial out as needed. My BB Pros sounded midrange honking like my Seths, but much less clear. I wouldn't consider putting them back in anything. I have a Les Paul Studio around also, I should try moving the PG/Jazz over and see if they are different in that one.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Burstbucker Pro vs Jazz in the Neck

I rhought so too, but its buried now, almost 5mm down from the low E, 3.5mm from the high e!

The jazz is a flat eq type pickup. Its usually good for gain as it doesn't become mids congested. A lot of the 'brightness' in a neck pickup is the honky upper mids, which the more PAF-esque BB will have over the jazz.