Neck PU in Bridge Position?

[booman2112]

I have a Duncan Seth Lover neck pickup laying around and a Burst Bucker 2 in the bridge position of a LP Standard that squeals uncontrollably. I'm in a pinch for time...is it worth the trouble to swap the BB out for the Seth? There is a BB 1 in the neck of said guitar.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

It will work. But both are unpotted, so it's likely if one is squealing now in your setup and environment, any other unpotted pickup will do the same.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

welcome to the forum!

as much as i love the seth lovers i dont think id like a seth neck in the bridge. does the bb2 have a cover on it? id pull the cover if it does and see if that is the cause of the feedback

 

[Discharged]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I have a Duncan Seth Lover neck pickup laying around and a Burst Bucker 2 in the bridge position of a LP Standard that squeals uncontrollably. I'm in a pinch for time...is it worth the trouble to swap the BB out for the Seth? There is a BB 1 in the neck of said guitar.

In a nutshell, no.

But you could put the Seth in the neck position and the BB1 in the bridge, although I'm pretty certain that the squealing come from a cover that doesn't sit tight enough.

/Peter

 

[booman2112]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

It does have a cover on it. What's confusing, I have another Les Paul that has BB 1&2's in it and there are no problems what so ever. It came with BB's, the one that has the issue has "after market" BB's. I read somewhere that the gibsons that come stock with BB are wax potted, the ones you purchase and install are not. Don't know how true that is.
So it could be the cover causing the squeal? How would that be repaired? I'm ok with the tone and output of the BB2 so a fix would be welcomed.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

The Seth neck and bridge are the same, it'll make no difference. As for having a neck pickup in the bridge, Allan Holdsworth used a double screw 59n in the bridge for a while.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

Is the squealing coming at all gain levels? At what volume level?

 

[booman2112]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

Is the squealing coming at all gain levels? At what volume level?

I play mostly blues,classic rock, a few heavier songs in the set Dokken/Slash type stuff. I run my amps clean and punchy, meaning more power tube distortion tone than preamp. Usually the preamp volume is around 12 - 2 o'clock. I have a few different pedals to kick in a little more drive. It's never been an issue until I put in the BB2. Now when I step on a pedal..squeal. It's ok while I have my volume on my guitar rolled back to 8 or so and below. Wide open...squeal. I'm used to using volume and tone controls all the time while playing so not a problem...just hate the squeal!!! The other Les Paul with BB would get singing feedback, never squeal. Couldn't make it squeal.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

The Seth neck and bridge are the same, it'll make no difference.

ummm... what? different spacing and more turns on the bridge so not sure what you mean by that. holdsworth did use a double screw 59n for a while but it was the only pup in the guitar and he has a very unique style. i do love the double screws in the bridge position though.

could be the cover on the bb2 or could be it needs to be potted. ive heard the same thing that bb in guitars were potted but aftermarket were not. a quick wax bath should fix the issue

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

The Seth neck and bridge are the same, it'll make no difference. As for having a neck pickup in the bridge, Allan Holdsworth used a double screw 59n in the bridge for a while.

My Seth neck and bridge are not the same, and it does make a difference. There's at least a 1K difference in wire.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I'd say for the quickest option, try removing the cover as suggested above. It may do the trick.

If it does, and you prefer the covered look, you can try reattaching the cover with some tape inside over the slug coil to damp vibration.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I play mostly blues,classic rock, a few heavier songs in the set Dokken/Slash type stuff. I run my amps clean and punchy, meaning more power tube distortion tone than preamp. Usually the preamp volume is around 12 - 2 o'clock. I have a few different pedals to kick in a little more drive. It's never been an issue until I put in the BB2. Now when I step on a pedal..squeal. It's ok while I have my volume on my guitar rolled back to 8 or so and below. Wide open...squeal. I'm used to using volume and tone controls all the time while playing so not a problem...just hate the squeal!!! The other Les Paul with BB would get singing feedback, never squeal. Couldn't make it squeal.

Does it squeal at all volume levels? Most amps have to really be cooking to get the power tubes to distort (I like that sound, too). I am not familiar with the BB2 pickup- is it wax potted?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

My Seth neck and bridge are not the same, and it does make a difference. There's at least a 1K difference in wire.

ummm... what? different spacing and more turns on the bridge so not sure what you mean by that. holdsworth did use a double screw 59n for a while but it was the only pup in the guitar and he has a very unique style. i do love the double screws in the bridge position though.

could be the cover on the bb2 or could be it needs to be potted. ive heard the same thing that bb in guitars were potted but aftermarket were not. a quick wax bath should fix the issue

Sorry, yet another case of me confusing a Custom Shop set with the standard production affair. I ordered a pair of Seth's a while back that I wanted as vintage accurate as possible, meaning non calibrated, reliced, and a few other things. I made up for the overpowering neck by using a A3 in the neck and an A2 in the bridge.

But the production set is not the same wind.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I'm thinking this is just pedal/pup interaction honestly. Some dirt boxes shriek, others not....


Based on my thoughts as an audience member - there is NOTHING by Dokken I couldn't live without from a blues/classic rock band. I say ditch the songs.


BB1/2 is a great set.

 

[booman2112]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I believe I'll try taking the cover off and see how that works out first. Thanks!

 

[booman2112]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I ended up pulling the BB's out, as much as I liked the output and tone from them I couldn't handle the squeal. I tried a pair of 59's with nickel covers. I like the tone, but the output seems off between neck and bridge. The neck is way bassier and the bridge seems weak and thin. I'm thinking about installing the Seth neck with a SH-5 Custom in the bridge and see how that sounds.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

with a '59 set (in a les paul, is that what you have?) i like to keep the neck pup low with the pole pieces raised a bit and the bridge pup high with the pole pieces flush with the top of the bobbin. a mag swap to a4 or uoa5 helps reduce the boominess of the neck. i used to run a 59n/sh5 combo in a sg and loved it

 

[booman2112]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

It is a Les Paul Standard. The neck pickup is as low as it will go without it recessing below the ring. The bridge could probably come up a little. Both have the covers on them. I've wondered about the adjustment of pole pieces. Would they be adjusted flush with the top of cover? Is it common to go well below or above cover? I know at some point it will be too much. What is the guideline as far as tone, volume and balance? The swapping of the magnets sound interesting, where can those be purchased?

 

[gregory]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

I also like the 59 set without having to resort to a radical change in height. I also don't expect a strong bass response from the bridge or play through a non-BM style Fender amp or equivalnt, so there you go.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck PU in Bridge Position?

on the neck pup, i usually start with the top of the pup about flush with the ring, and raise the poles so they are just poking out a bit from the cover. for the bridge, i sink the screws down so you dont feel them when you run your finger across the cover, or just barely feel the top of the screw. i like covered bridge pups but usually prefer the sound of uncovered neck pups.

magnets can be purchased online at a variety of places, i buy in bulk from allstar magnetics but i dont know if thats practical for buying a few.