Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

[mjsever]

I've found that I've stopped using my other guitar due to the brightness of the JB that's in it. It's a shame cuz it plays really nice, and it's got all sorts of coil tap doodads that should help me get all sorts of cool tones.

I am very fond of the Jazz neck that's in there and would like to keep it. If I were to swap out the JB, what would be a good match for the Jazz? I use my clean channel a lot, so I'm looking for something warmer that won't overdrive my amp too much.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

Sounds like an Alnico II Pro bridge/Jazz neck set would work well for you.

Ryan

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I say Jazz set.

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I would suggest you try a Custom with that Jazz. The Custom isn't too bright and has nice mids in it which would compliment the Jazz nicely, IMO. I'm a big-time fan of the Custom and use it in two mahogany guitars I own; one with a '59 and one with a Pearly Gate, which I'm thinking about eventually swapping out for a Jazz or '59.

-Bob

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

CC does wonders in my Carvinwith 500k pots.

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

depends on the body wood and neck/fingerboard woods. what do you have on those ? An Alnico II Pro, 59, or even a Seth might be good choices depending on what woods you have.

MrHM

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I haven't tried either the Jazz or the Alnico pro II but it seems that if you go for a Jazz/APII set you will have eqs problems. Amp settings that make Jazz neck sound right may make the APII sound dark. And settings that make the APII sound right may make the Jazz sound too treble.

I think the mached set could be a good idea, so Jazz or may be a 59 bridge.

 

[59paul]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I think the Jazz is just a GREAT neck pickup !!!!
I really like a 59B with it , especially in a guitar with some Mahogany, like a Les Paul !!! Very, Very Classy ........................

 

[mjsever]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

depends on the body wood and neck/fingerboard woods. what do you have on those ? An Alnico II Pro, 59, or even a Seth might be good choices depending on what woods you have.

MrHM

It's a neck-through guitar, and the pickups are set onto the hard rock maple neck with alder 'wings'. It's a very bright guitar, which is why the JB isn't doing it for me. I've heard other guitars that the JB has sounded great in, but this guitar isn't one of them.

The only thing about a Jazz set is that the high seems to be at "9", which would make it even brighter than the JB.

Does anyone have any experience with the "Parallel Axis" pickups? They seem to also be made from A5 magnets, and have less of the high-end frequencies.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

It's a neck-through guitar, and the pickups are set onto the hard rock maple neck with alder 'wings'. It's a very bright guitar, which is why the JB isn't doing it for me. I've heard other guitars that the JB has sounded great in, but this guitar isn't one of them.

The only thing about a Jazz set is that the high seems to be at "9", which would make it even brighter than the JB.

Does anyone have any experience with the "Parallel Axis" pickups? They seem to also be made from A5 magnets, and have less of the high-end frequencies.

The PATB-3 Blues Trembucker is a good choice, I had it in a bright guitar for a while and I really liked it. You might want to look into the Rio Grande BBQ as well, it's a darker sounding A5 pickup with medium output and less treble. The Alnico II Pro would work well, as would the Custom Custom, although you said you don't want anything too hot. The Custom series may have too much output for your tastes.

Ryan

 

[mjsever]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

The PATB-3 Blues Trembucker is a good choice, I had it in a bright guitar for a while and I really liked it. You might want to look into the Rio Grande BBQ as well, it's a darker sounding A5 pickup with medium output and less treble. The Alnico II Pro would work well, as would the Custom Custom, although you said you don't want anything too hot. The Custom series may have too much output for your tastes.

Ryan

Are all of the Parallel axis series pickups 'f-spaced'? I have a fixed bridge... I'll probaby replace it with another SD for the time period while it's still under the warranty period...

 

[mjsever]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

Bump

Has anyone out there matched a Duncan Custom with a Jazz? If not, maybe I'll give the 59B a shot.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I put the Jazz/Custom combo in a friend's axe (Framus LP copy) and it rocked. It has good cleans in the middle position and awesome distortion sounds from the bridge alone. The Jazz is really cool clean, but it doesn't have enough mids when driven IMO.

 

[mjsever]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I put the Jazz/Custom combo in a friend's axe (Framus LP copy) and it rocked. It has good cleans in the middle position and awesome distortion sounds from the bridge alone. The Jazz is really cool clean, but it doesn't have enough mids when driven IMO.

It's settled then. I'm glad, because when I looked again at the '59, I noticed that it's not a 4-conductor pickup and I have coil taps on both volume knobs.

I agree with your assessment of the Jazz- it definitely needs a ballsier companion for the distortion parts, and while the JB suits the bill in most circumstances it didn't seem to do it for me.

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

Hey 59 Paul! i also like the Jazz/59b combo in my Explorer. I just would like to have a bit more power with the 59.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

I wish SD would put into production a 10k-12k pickup with Alnico II mags and unbalanced coils (like a hot PG). I think it would split the diffrence between the PAF class 'buckers and the Custom series quite well. I know I would buy a couple.

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

Bump

Has anyone out there matched a Duncan Custom with a Jazz? If not, maybe I'll give the 59B a shot.

If a JB is too bright, then a Custom will be too most likely though it has more bass. It sounds like you need a warmer bridge pup like a 59, Seth, or Alnico II Pro. I'd try the 59 first and if that wasn't dark enough, then I'd go with a Seth or Alnico II Pro. Of course, you can just stick a Jazz in the bridge and see if you like the set.

MrHM

 

[rspst14]

Re: Good match for Jazz neck besides JB

A '59 can be ordered with 4 conductor wiring at no extra charge.

Ryan

 

[mjsever]

'59 split- how does it sound?

'59 split- how does it sound?

A '59 can be ordered with 4 conductor wiring at no extra charge.

Ryan

Thank you everyone for your comments on the Custom vs. 59. Does a '59 sound okay when its split?

It is so hard to discern pickups from the sound clips. The Duncan Custom sounds so much warmer than a JB and a 59 sounds almost as bright, but people's experience (which, from reading these forums, seems to be more accurate) seems to indicate otherwise.

BTW Ryan- I like the quote at the bottom of your signature.

("Oh my God, I was wrong. It was earth all along!" Best Simpsons. Ever.)