Difference between bridge and neck pickup

[UberMetalDood]

What is the difference between a bridge and neck pickup of the same set? In some places it says that the difference is only the length of the lead wire, and other places say it's different winding, etc... So what really makes the difference between a set, like a PG set or Full Shred set?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

On vintage guitars such as Gibson archtops and Fender Stratocasters, there would have been no difference at all.

Eventually, somebody realised that winding the bridge position pickup a little hotter than the neck position evened out the differences in output due to different degrees of string excursion above the two pickup positions.

On a modern calibrated pickup set, the bridge/treble pickup can afford to be a hotter wind and to put out more mid and low frequencies. The neck/rhythm pickup would be wound for clarity.

Having said all of this, there are no absolute hard and fast rules. I, for instance, use a SP90-3n as the bridge/treble pickup in a Les Paul.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

On vintage guitars such as Gibson archtops and Fender Stratocasters, there would have been no difference at all.

Eventually, somebody realised that winding the bridge position pickup a little hotter than the neck position evened out the differences in output due to different degrees of string excursion above the two pickup positions.

On a modern calibrated pickup set, the bridge/treble pickup can afford to be a hotter wind and to put out more mid and low frequencies. The neck/rhythm pickup would be wound for clarity.

Having said all of this, there are no absolute hard and fast rules. I, for instance, use a SP90-3n as the bridge/treble pickup in a Les Paul.

Thanks for explaining. So it's basically the winding then. Could I conclude then that a vintage output, mid-scooped bridge pickup might make a good neck pickup then?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

Could I conclude then that a vintage output, mid-scooped bridge pickup might make a good neck pickup?

Well, you could spend all day theorising OR you can spend half an hour with your soldering iron and screwdrivers, giving the pickup in question a test drive.

Only you can decide the merits of how the mystery pickup sounds in your guitar, played your way, through your amp.

 

[WhooHoo]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

I use a neck SD 59 in the bridge of one of my Strats and use a neck Tonerider Classic Alnico 4 in the bridge of another Strat and I also use bridge pickups in the bridge position as well, like a bridge SD JB in the bridge position of another guitar.

Doesn't worry me if they are neck or bridge pickups or what brand they are, as long as they match the guitar they are in, everythings ok.

 

[dominus]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

I use a few of the "hotter" neck pickups in the bridge positions of Strats. They work great, and give more medium output options.

 

[Varg]

Re: Difference between bridge and neck pickup

Thanks for explaining. So it's basically the winding then. Could I conclude then that a vintage output, mid-scooped bridge pickup might make a good neck pickup then?

Yes. The old DiMarzio PAF is exceptional in either neck or bridge position. I expect the PG, 59 and Alnico II Pro bridge models would also sound good in the neck.