Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

[Masta' C]

I'm building a Charvel style super-strat (dual hum, floyd rose) with a solid Swamp Ash body and a maple/maple neck.

I love the JB in my Alder-bodied Charvels, but I could go either way with the '59 it's usually paired with. Wouldn't mind something in the neck position that adds a little more bottom end clarity under gain, while still being reasonably "warm" feeling with decent clean tones.

1) Any experience using the JB and/or Distortion neck in a Swamp Ash body?

2) Any experience pairing the Distortion Neck with the JB in the same guitar?

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

The JB is recommended under the SD Tone Wizard for your specs. Besides, I own a JB in a USA Jackson (it's alder, but still) and it sounds good, a li'l bluesy, but solid for what you're probably going to try and play.

 

[grapeskeletons]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

Can't help you with alder, but my DD neck goes GREAT with my JB in mahogany/maple! I love the sound of it. I had to make some height adjustments to balance them out and I raised the DDn poles TWO FULL TURNS. But I am very happy with this set in my Ibanez SZ720FM (25.1" scale). You get a lot more cut and mids, and it's more full than the '59n. It's not as vintage, but it's not as dark. And it is fairly sweet and full-range, which is what I wanted. I can use it for rock rhythm. It's got more of a "thack" sound than a "snap" sound, if you can hear what I mean.

I have the JB/'59n in my SZ520. I pretty much only use the '59n for soloing there, otherwise I have to use a pedal to re-E.Q. But the vintage "snap" is nice.

 

[57-classic]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

the JB will make that perfect for hard rock/heavy metal. that guit sounds like a singer

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

That's what I'm hoping...everyone keeps referencing Alder, but it's a Swamp Ash body (semi-lightweight with visible dark grain streaks).

Some say Swamp Ash is similar in tone to Alder, some say Swamp Ash is brighter, snappier, different in the mids, etc...these discrepancies leave a lot to consider when sorting out pickup choices! Of course, every piece of wood is its own thing, but I've got a feel for common woods like Alder and Mahogany and generally know what works and doesn't work in them...not so with Swamp Ash.

The last Swamp Ash guitar I played was a Parker Fly NightFly, which was pretty non-standard with its thin body, graphite neck, stainless frets, etc. and that was several years ago.

I'm definitely leaning towards the JB/SH6n combo...just looking for someone with firsthand experience.

Anyone else? Experience with combining Swamp Ash body wood with the JB and/or Distortion Neck?

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

That's what I'm hoping...everyone keeps referencing Alder, but it's a Swamp Ash body (semi-lightweight with visible dark grain streaks).

Some say Swamp Ash is similar in tone to Alder, some say Swamp Ash is brighter, snappier, different in the mids, etc...these discrepancies leave a lot to consider when sorting out pickup choices! Of course, every piece of wood is its own thing, but I've got a feel for common woods like Alder and Mahogany and generally know what works and doesn't work in them...not so with Swamp Ash.

The last Swamp Ash guitar I played was a Parker Fly NightFly, which was pretty non-standard with its thin body, graphite neck, stainless frets, etc. and that was several years ago.

I'm definitely leaning towards the JB/SH6n combo...just looking for someone with firsthand experience.

Anyone else? Experience with combining Swamp Ash body wood with the JB and/or Distortion Neck?

For what it's worth, even the SD Tone Wizard lumps Ash and Alder together when choosing suitable pickups for them.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

I rarely consult the "Tone Wizard" anymore...I'm pretty sure it would suggest a "JB/Custom" and "59/Jazz" combo for a dual-humbucker guitar made of asphalt roofing shingles with a turkey baster neck and rubber band strings playing Saturday morning cartoon theme songs!

HA HA!

Here's what others have said:

"I prefer alder...It has a deeper,warmer sound than the ash"

"alder is all mids, whereas swamp ash is all low's and highs"

"Alder is smoother and mellow. Ash is more aggressive"

"Ash in a strat just seems too snappy and thin"

"Some ash strats have a big full low end"


...sounds like every piece is noticably different from the next. I'll take a chance, start with the JB/Distortion and go from there

Thanks guys.

 

[dominus]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

I had a swamp ash strat with a Parallel Axis Distortion in the bridge. Before you sell yours, try it in that guitar.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Distotion Neck/JB Bridge in Swamp Ash SuperStrat = Thoughts?

I have that in an alder Kramer. Good combo (Seymourizer II, in my case).