Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

[Gearjoneser]

I remember Jolly (forum's biggest proponent of the Jazz Model) claimed that a Jazz Bridge is an even better neck pickup than the Jazz N, so I figured it might be the best neck to go with a hotter bridge pickup.

I tried it out today in my LP Goldtop....nickel Custom 5 and Jazz B neck.....and there's pullup tonepots to split everything. The Jazz B in the neck has a tone that's in between the Jazz neck and 59 neck, making it a great toned pickup for both clean rhythm and singing solos. It's very glassy and clear like a strat or tele pickup when split, and sounds round and clear when humbucking. A little less low end boom than the 59, and surprisingly, the single notes high on the neck sound fuller than the 59N. I guess the Jazz bridge's 8.25K output gives it the perfect amount of volume to jive nicely with any of the Customs or JB.

When I get the Brobucker bridge this week, I'll replace the C-5, and give that guitar some time with the Brobucker/Jazz B. It'll likely be the most pure and articulate Les Paul I've ever heard.

 

[theodie]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Did you have the Screw coil facing its normal position like a standard neck pickup?

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Gerjoneser sounds like a good combo with the BroBucker. I am doing something similar. Brobucker bridge and a Jazz bridge/59 bridge hybrid for the neck. The hotter neck will match better than a garden variety 59 or Jazz neck pickup. Just to make it more unique I think an A4 for the hybrid like John Spina loves so much will be perfect. If there's not enough grit with the dunaged A5 in the Brobucker I will slap an Alnico 8 there instead. This is all going in a Washburn HB32 semi hollow and should scream!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

8.2K is about what most Gibson HB's measured in the 60's.

I've always wondered what was differant about the Jazz that makes it clearer and brighter than the 59.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

You know what guys? I've been playing all afternoon with this Jazz B in the neck. I think I've stumbled on my favorite neck pickup ever! I like this pickup better than the 59, Seth, Pearly Gates, and APH, and Jazz N. The Jazz B really sounds great. It's a perfect match for the Custom 5, and I'd imagine it would go nice with most other hot humbuckers.

I just installed it like I would any neck pickup, and there's no phase issue.

It's got the most natural clean neck tone imagineable, and it has great articulation under gain. You gotta make the Jazz Bridge your next neck pickup in a LP or other similar guitar.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

This is good to know. I love the Jazz neck. It's my favorite neck humbucker. You've got me curious now.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

I like the Jazz neck too, but it seems to sound a little beefier if it's the bridge version in the neck. I'm glad I know this now, because I may use nothing else in the neck anymore on LP's or PRS.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Come to think of it, since I put the stock pickups back in my Epi LP as part of an experiment, I've noticed that the neck is a little beefier than the Jazz neck I had in there. It measures ~8.5k and since I de-waxed it, it's a little more open now, more responsive and articulate. Sounds really sweet and smooth. It reminds me of the Jazz with more beef. Sure, the stock neck is no Duncan but it's in that same output range as the Jazz bridge.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

I just checked the specs of the Jazz Bridge and it's supposed to be 7.9K, which seems about perfect for a neck pickup, especially one that has a slightly hotter bridge pickup. I really like the C-5/Jazz B. If that Brobucker ends up being better for me than the C-5, I'm going to be really excited. The Goldtop is my #1 LP for regular playing, so it'll be hooked up to my liking even more than before.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Told ya

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

I've too got one, measuring 8.20K. It worked great in the neck. I adjusted it pretty low tho, the bass had to be washed off on the amp. Anyways, it works great with a bridge bucker with strong bass.

B

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Yeah, I did lower it a bit, just to get it to sound perfect. I prefer it that way anyway, so there's less magnetic string-pull. The Jazz B matches up nicely with a CC, C-5, Custom, or JB, which means the middle position sounds nice and bold too.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Dammit, GJ, did ya have to say it goes good with the CC. Now I'm going to have to get one. :laugh2:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Considering how few Jazz Bridges get sold, it'd be ironic if both Jazz Models ended up being popular neck pickups.

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

I used to use a JAZZ B in the Neck of an old Kramer Pacer Imperial paired with a Custom Custom in the Bridge and it was a great match!

Of course, that guitar now has a 59/Custom Hybrid in the Bridge and a 59/Jazz Hybrid in the Neck...

 

[Artie]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Hey GJ. Nice report. How do suppose the Jazz(b) would sound in a non-LP type guitar? Like a Double-Fat Strat for example. (Jazz too for that matter.)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Hey GJ. Nice report. How do suppose the Jazz(b) would sound in a non-LP type guitar? Like a Double-Fat Strat for example. (Jazz too for that matter.)

I can tell you from experience that the Jazz sounds great in a Double-Fat Strat type guitar. I can only imaging what the bridge version would sound like. :shivers: Wow!

 

[Artie]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Thanks Erik. Just what I needed . . . more pup GAS.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Jazz Bridge as your Neck Pickup!!

Thanks Erik. Just what I needed . . . more pup GAS.

Exactly. :laugh2: