Neck Pup In Bridge

[Jeff_H]

I know a bridge pup in the neck can often be muddy....how about a neck pup in the bridge? I just bought a 59' from Kev, and was planning on putting a cover on it and trying it in my hardtail, but then I thought about replacing the PAF Pro in my Alvarez with it. Would it be too weak? I'm not into super high output pups anyhow.

Opinions?

 

[neosadist]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

The reason bridge pickups are "hotter" than neck is because there's more string vibration towards the neck. Therefore bridge pickups need to be hotter than neck pickups in order to "hear" what's going on.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

Good to see you back Jeff.

At around 7.43K the '59n is still in the vintage PAF ballpark, albeit at the lower end. There must be plenty of old Lesters out there with bridge pups under 7.5K. I reckon it's worth a try - could sound really sweet!

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

I've used a '59 neck in the bridge position before...I like cold pickups too, but in this case I didn't dig it. Just sounded a little too weak and thin for my liking.

That's not to say it wouldn't sound great in your guitar. I say give it a shot.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

Is this for a Strat? If so, I recall Seymour or somebody high up around here recommended a neck model pu in the bridge to balance better with vintage Strat singles in the middle and neck. You would have to get an F-spaced version which they don't sell over the counter -- but you can order them directly from Duncan as a "Shop Floor Custom" at no extra cost.

If it's for a 2-bucker guitar, the 59n would sound kind of ice-picky by comparison with almost anything in the neck. I recommend an Alnico 2 Pro...

 

[larry_emder]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

Got a Jazz neck in the bridge of my parker, with 2 singles in middle and neck. They work well together and i'm not changing it out anytime soon

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Neck Pup In Bridge

I think the Jazz should get a lot more talk than it does on here. To me it's like a hard and tight 59, which really sounds big and glassy through a highgain amp, which is ironic since rock/metal guys almost never try it. I've used a Jazz bridge before as a HSS strat bridge, and it's great in a strat. Jolly gets great tones with it in the bridge and neck of a Les Paul too.

The nice thing about the Jazz Bridge is that you can use it as a bridge or neck model interchangeably, so it's a nice pickup to have sitting around waiting for a place to use it. Right now, I have mine in the neck of my LP with a Brobucker bridge, and it's the best I've ever heard a Les Paul sound.