Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

[Diocletian]

I have had a Jazz in the neck of two guitars - a Jackson RR3 and an Epiphone SG. I never liked it very much in either of them.
I have a '59 in the neck of my Epi Black Beauty. I love it.

However, I sold the SG and took the pickups out, so I have a Jazz just sitting here. I want something for the neck of my Jackson KE3.
Should I put the Jazz in it or just sell it and buy a 59 or something else?

I want something that is good for metal leads. I find the 59 to have more sustain and is just more lively than the Jazz, but maybe it's just the guitars I've had them in. I know many people love the Jazz.

Opinions?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

In all mahogany guitar the 59 tend to be a bit bass boomy. Its the merit of the JazzN to smooth this out. In most other cases i also love the 59 because of its mid scooped sound. Best neck pickup for me is a Seth Lover with an A5 and uncovered.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Well, it will be uncovered whatever it is. But I don't really want to get into mag swapping or anything like that. I just want to fire something straight in there that I'll like.
I THINK the KE3 is alder.

 

[Marshall_Abuser]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I would sell the Jazz and get the '59 if I were you.
The Jazz sounds just like a single coil in the neck IMO.
Not very fat, but quite clear and precise.

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I would sell the Jazz and get the '59 if I were you.
The Jazz sounds just like a single coil in the neck IMO.
Not very fat, but quite clear and precise.

I agree with this. That's why I love a Jazz in the neck. When you're really burning, every note comes through loud and clear.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I hear the Jazz neck as being too bassy to be really clear. A Strat single coil is exceptionally clear because it has more treble than mids and bass. A Jazz neck has strong bass as well as strong treble, so it never quite gets the same sort of clarity. But when wired in parallel its tone takes on a more glassy and transparent, but still strong and full tone. It also tends to mesh with distortion very well, because it never sounds sluggish or bottom-heavy.

The '59 does sound livelier to me than the Jazz, but I think that's because it reacts more to pick attack. Although it has more bass, it does sound very clear, because its mids are a bit more neutral, and it has sort of a flatter, bluesier sound. Artie's de-mud mod can pretty easily dial out any excessive bass. It sounds great under distortion, but I haven't compared it to the Jazz in parallel. It's definitely ballsier, though.

As for which I'd pick for myself, I'd probably go with the Jazz, and wire it in parallel if I had one around. This gives a slightly sweeter, lighter clean tone that is probably more versatile than most humbuckers and single coils. But if I wanted really warm, deep cleans like an LP, or wanted a hotter signal, I'd trade it and get a '59.

 

[mustaine-who?]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Mahogony = Full Shred!

Put a bridge Full Shred in the neck spot and be prepared to smile!

 

[Thunder]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Go 59'. Have one in my Lp neck slot with no boom issue. Just fine tune your poles and pup hieght.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I generally don't like the '59 neck much, much too boomy.

But for high-gain leads there is no question that it has more to offer. It reacts better to (my) playing to get all the screechies you want out of there.

Pickups with hex polepieces such as the demon and the full shred neck can give you both, I suppose.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Thanks for the replies guys! Looks like I'm gonna trade it with someone on here for a '59. (Thanks Stanford!)

 

[deliriumtrigger]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I don't hear the boominess in the '59 that others have mentioned, and I've got it in a THICK mahogany guitar.


I say '59 all the way.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

do a 59/jazz hybrid

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I flip my Jazz around... raise the pole pieces and lower the bass side quite low.
And I am of course doing this to achieve the exact opposite of what you want.

But this way I can play it like a Strat... just for the sake of conversation.
.

 

[Thunder]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I don't hear the boominess in the '59 that others have mentioned, and I've got it in a THICK mahogany guitar.


I say '59 all the way.

Me too. Have an MJ wound 59' neck slot of an LP that sounds beautiful. no Boominess.

 

[scottish]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Every1 loves the jazz neck and dislikes the boomy 59 in mahogany guitars. Well i hate the jazz neck with a passion, i thought it sounded too modern and a little sterile TBH. The 59 is thee neck pickup IMO. I havent heard anything that sounds better, especially for neck leads. The PG does come close though.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Why do so many people mention mahogany? My KE3 is alder.

 

[sonnyblu]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

I think because traditionally so many Humbucker guitars have Mahogany bodies...
Historically... but of course this has changed... hasn't it?
I own a PRS, a Les Paul, a Ibanez and a Washburn and they are all Mahogany/Maple.
.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

well you do own both pickups, you could try them both...

 

[JB6464]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Unpotted 59s in my 57 LPC. I can't explain it in technical terms but Unpotted pickups have a special mojo going on. You can get them at www.specialtyguitars.com without having to special ordering them. They keep them in stock.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Jazz or 59 for neck leads?

Unpotted 59s in my 57 LPC. I can't explain it in technical terms but Unpotted pickups have a special mojo going on. You can get them at www.specialtyguitars.com without having to special ordering them. They keep them in stock.

weird

what's up with those ssl-5t's?