Neck pickup for clean jazz

[efnaka]

Hi, I would like to ask what would be the best pickups, for the neck position os a solid body, having in mind a nice jazz clean tone. I wonder how close can we get to a hollow body tone. Is it possible with any single coil sized hum cancelling pickups?

I am aware that is not perfectly achievable, but how close can we get to that?

 

[DonP]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

Maybe start with the lil 59?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

i would get a cool rails, similar to the lil 59 but more even response. it wont sound anything like a hollow body but it should be a cool tone for clean jazz

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

there are as many hollowbody electric tones as there are hollowbody guitars. Dont worry too much about getting this tone or that tone. Just go for a cool sound that will put a smile on your face when you play.
The right amp is the key ingredient in getting a killer jazz tone IMO.
But fwiw a stock 59n sounds great for jazz in a solidbody because it gives plenty of bottom but still has a clear bell like tone.
A nice kinda "hollow" sound for jazz can also be accessed if you get the 4 conductor version and split the bridge pickup and combine that with the neck humbucker.

 

[efnaka]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

A nice kinda "hollow" sound for jazz can also be accessed if you get the 4 conductor version and split the bridge pickup and combine that with the neck humbucker.

Like outter or inner coils (bridge and neck) in series?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

I like a P-90 for my neck Jazz.

But an A2p is nice also.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

Like outter or inner coils (bridge and neck) in series?

nah....just really simple. Both pickups "on" and Coil tap (split) the bridge humbucker. So the neck is running as a normal humbucker and the bridge is running as a single coil.
Push pull pots are handy for this kind of stuff.

 

[atreidesheir]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

i would get a cool rails, similar to the lil 59 but more even response. it wont sound anything like a hollow body but it should be a cool tone for clean jazz

Probably the best advice.
I played a jazz hand's tele with a dimarzio virtual vintage solo in the neck slot. That was a great sound too. Also matched up with the 59 bridge pickup really well.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

Mike stern uses a 59 in the neck.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

For "jazz tones," I think the '57 Classic in the neck of my MIJ Epi SG sounds the best out of all my guitars...and that includes a classic hollowbody, albeit a thinline ('68 ES-330). That '57 with the tone on about 5 makes for a beautiful jazz tone for melodies and partial chords. Turn up the tone for solos and full chords for some more bite.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

I really love the cool rails, it has a warmth and bigness to it that a hollowbody has, I run one on my main strat and I really adore the tone (keep in mind that I almost exclusively play jazz).

Heres a good example of what the pickup can sound like in a jazz setting played by one of my professors (incidentally the guy who inspired me to try it).

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

For a full-size humbucker in a good quality instrument, i reckon the 59/Jazz hybrid would be the best option due to the articulation and complexity of tone it can reproduce, and the 'three-dimensional' aspect.

Foe single-coil, probably a scatterwound Strat pickup with A3 pole pieces.

 

[efnaka]

Re: Neck pickup for clean jazz

I really love the cool rails, it has a warmth and bigness to it that a hollowbody has, I run one on my main strat and I really adore the tone (keep in mind that I almost exclusively play jazz).

Heres a good example of what the pickup can sound like in a jazz setting played by one of my professors (incidentally the guy who inspired me to try it).

Nice sound!

For a full-size humbucker in a good quality instrument, i reckon the 59/Jazz hybrid would be the best option due to the articulation and complexity of tone it can reproduce, and the 'three-dimensional' aspect.

Foe single-coil, probably a scatterwound Strat pickup with A3 pole pieces.

That combination sounds good to me too.