Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

[benjammin420]

I've read online of people using bridge pickups in the neck position (specifically Super Ds, JBs), I'm curious about the pros and cons of this kind of configuration from people who use or have used them.

I have a short scale guitar with 24 frets, I'm thinking of upgrading the pickups, and because the neck position doesn't sound like a traditional neck (sounds more like the middle position on a Strat) I started thinking about using a medium-output bridge style pickup in that slot, and a higher output pickup in the bridge slot.

Any opinions would be appreciated (I know it's a cheap guitar, but I like it enough to invest some money into it)

 

[Demanic]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I suppose that it depends on how hot your bridge pickup is.
The Dimebucker is paired with a 59b in it's official set.

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[Blille]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I'm happy with a stag mag in the neck. I did it because there was no neck equivalent.

Remember that differentiating between neck and bridge is relatively recent, as long as you think of balancing them like you are, you'll be fine.


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[Derpottsie]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I have a jb in the neck of an sg. Simply for my own amusement to pair it with a custom 8 made from a custom 5. And to my surprise it pairs extreeemely well and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who reads this that plays an sg

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[Spyder328]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I have 59B in the neck position of my Dean V79 (22 frets, Gibson scale length), paired with a Bill and Becky L500XL. I tried the 59N but it didn't have enough volume. The 59B in the neck was louder, more clear and was a perfect match for the L500XL. Definitely going to keep that combo in that guitar.

 

[EAProwlerB]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I was having problems with getting a nice overdrive tone out of P-Rails and somebody here suggested switching bridge and neck. Did it, Bridge in neck position and sounds great. The neck P-Rial also sounds great in the bridge position. Looks sorta upside down funny but it works and thats what matters.

 

[benjammin420]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Thanks for the responses

I have 59B in the neck position of my Dean V79 (22 frets, Gibson scale length), paired with a Bill and Becky L500XL. I tried the 59N but it didn't have enough volume. The 59B in the neck was louder, more clear and was a perfect match for the L500XL. Definitely going to keep that combo in that guitar.

I've been thinking about getting a set of Wilde L500s, if for no other reason than the price and look. I've never actually used them though, only the Dimebucker

 

[EDX]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

if your bridge pickup is hot enough you can slap anything on the neck slot, the dimebucker is so hot that it can handle a jb and maybe even a distortion, a Lace Deathbucker is so infernal hot that it can handle a dimebucker on the neck.......

 

[Diego]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I've used a Screamin' Demon a lot in the neck position.

In output, it matches well with a JB bridge for reference.
It's very clear with bell-like highs, even mids and a very tight, but present low end that does NOT get flabby no matter what.

I'd use it if I wanted a John Petrucci-like lead tone with plenty of bite, but with a bit lower output than his signature pickups, and not Dimarzios. :1:

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

81/81, Super D/Super D, and JB/JB are all known and used combos, sometimes even coming stock in guitars.

I believe the Duncan Distortion neck started out being sold as a bridge pickup.

The Jazz bridge is known to be a good neck pickup.

A 24 fret guitar often requires a hotter neck pickup than usual to approach the usual juiciness of a neck pickup in a 22 fret one. So the bridge version of a typical neck pickup might indeed be the solution for you.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

One of my country's best guitar players, Youri De Groote, uses the Duncan Custom humbucker in the neck spot of his Vigier Excalibur (paired with a Custom in the bridge and a Custom single coil in the middle). It's his favourite setup and his signature Vigier came with those pickups too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7zrq_nBHgM

 

[dave74]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Fast2 in the neck with an x2n at the bridge is actually a real good match for blended and neck-only leads.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

'Bridge' and 'neck' are just names. Didn't Epiphone make a Kiss signature with 3 JBs? If the pickups give you the tone and balance you want, go for it.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Air Norton is one of my favorite neck pickups, although some people (not me) like to use them at the bridge.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

'Bridge' and 'neck' are just names. Didn't Epiphone make a Kiss signature with 3 JBs? If the pickups give you the tone and balance you want, go for it.

what ARE you talking about Dave?

A lot of guys, in the way-back-olden-days used to use two super-D's in a guitar

 

[Diego]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

I forgot I also used a JB in the neck for a while, paired with a Dimarzio Breed in the bridge, in a Ibanez RG.

That was a crazy combo, but it worked.

 

[toowrongfoo]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Not sure if it counts, but I had an ibby with 85 neck and 81 bridge that swapped. Actually, before I sold it, I put a 60 in the neck which was cool.

 

[PrawiraChrnsArdhana]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

i had an ibby with dimarzio dominion at neck position, paired with dimarzio d act at bridge position, its okay if you balance the power from both side, if u dont, you will find volumedrop when you switch it.
dont forget about pup bandwidth

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

Sure it works, especially with a "vintage" set like Jazz bridge/neck, either could conceivably take the neck or bridge position, and the output tweak between is more for balance when using both in the same guitar. But other than that... For the most part, why? Most "hot" bridge humbuckers would be far too muddy/overwhelming in the neck spot, and most people don't want to use a lower output bridge pickup anyway let alone a neck spec'd pickup. Again, their are historic reasons it doesn't matter, but it's not like there's any good reason to make a conscious plan to stick a 59 neck in the bridge, or a Dimebucker in the neck. Seems like this is mostly done on a 'make-do' basis.

 

[Blille]

Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

'Bridge' and 'neck' are just names. Didn't Epiphone make a Kiss signature with 3 JBs? If the pickups give you the tone and balance you want, go for it.

I remember this one with two JBs.

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