Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

kingsxman

kingsxman

New member
I've currently got 2 59's (bridge and neck) in my ES 335 copy. As per another post, I'm looking for more output and "drive" from my bridge pickup so I'm probably going to trade in one of my 59's for a Custom 5.

The question is, which should keep and put in the neck position? The 59n or 59b? On the surface it might seem like a silly question since one supposedly was made for the neck...but I've heard from a few different places (one a very high end vintage guitar shop) that when they install the 59's...they put a 59b in the bridge AND neck. They say "why put a preweakened pickup in a guitar". They're results, according to thier clients, is great.

So...which is the good match for a custom 5 in the bridge?
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

Intresting comment on the "pre-weakened" pickup... Pickups are usually "pre-weakened" specifically to obtain a vintage sound.

I would probably choose a 59n in the neck if I was using a 59b in the bridge, regardless of what any custom shop told me, because I like less output in the neck position (to clean the sound up a bit when switch from bridge to neck, without altering and guitar/amp controls). It's up to you man.

Having said that, the specs are not that different between the neck and bridge models of the 59, so if your worried that the Custom 5 will over power the 59n by too much, by all means the 59b would be appropriate for the neck position. (don't know the output of the Custom 5).

Good luck!
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

kingsxman said:
but I've heard from a few different places (one a very high end vintage guitar shop) that when they install the 59's...they put a 59b in the bridge AND neck. They say "why put a preweakened pickup in a guitar". They're results, according to thier clients, is great.

So...which is the good match for a custom 5 in the bridge?
Click to expand...

They actually said this? My business would be going else where. They sound pretty clueless to me. If you like the bridge model in the neck thats fine but to cook up a story like that sound a little dubious at best.
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

Believe you me, the neck 59 has enough push to keep up with anything you might want to put in the bridge.
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

"They actually said this? My business would be going else where. They sound pretty clueless to me. If you like the bridge model in the neck thats fine but to cook up a story like that sound a little dubious at best."

Yep, they said it. I didnt see a big issue with it as the dc resistances, etc. are all relative to the other pickup....but thats why I asked the question. And, they DO know their business. They do alot of business. High buck vintage stuff.
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

"Why put a preweakened pickup in a guitar?" So that when you install a 59 set the pickups are matched in percieved output. It's done for balance, not for teh sake of weakening a pickup.

That said, for use with a C5, I'd go with the slightly less weak 59b in the neck position to try to keep the output a little closer to that of the C5.
 
Re: Mixing 59 with custom 5: Should I put 59 Bridge in neck position?

C-5/59N is my favorite humbucker set by Duncan. Of course, I also like the CC/APH and Seth Lover set too, but I've used the C-5/59 combo in LP's, PRS, and strats, and it sounds great in everything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top