Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

[Voodoods]

I've been trying to figure out which route to take to try to smooth out/warm up my neck tone.

I have a Peavey HP Signature EXP with the original electronics, but with a SD hot rodded humbucker set - which is a Jazz neck and a JB bridge. The guitar specs are here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/peavey-hp-signature-exp-electric-guitar

The issue I have is that for my tastes, the cleanish neck tone on the Jazz pickup is too trebly and has a nasal quality when I'm up on the higher frets on the E-B-G strings. I was surprised by that because the Jazz is touted as this very nice, clean sounding pickup, but to my ears its too bright/nasal. I'm looking for a smoother.... rounded(?) tone. Not muffled, but clear, smooth, singing. I've adjusted pup heights but not poles. I wanted to check before I got too experimental.

I have a Les Paul style guitar with a Pearly Gates Neck and that thing just sings. But I was looking for perhaps something a little different. Maybe PG is the right answer, but I figured I'd ask here. This video of the Alnico II Pro is intriguing too - but I have no experience with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIHnP5xtz5s

I wonder if I should just swap out the pots/caps first and then look at the pups. I'm open to suggestions.

And as to musical genres - I'm looking for blue/classic rock and vintage hard rock for this one. Amps - I have a few - Line 6 DT25, A Laney Cub head, Fender Super Champ X2. 100% Bedroom Warrior here =)

Also the tone wizard recommended the Jazz neck or the 59

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

Try putting in a UOA5 magnet.

 

[swissmountain]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

It's a 24 fret guitar so the neck humbucker is in a different position than it would be in a Les Paul with only 22 frets. The different position makes it sound thinner than on a LP style guitar. A pickup that is bright in itself like the Jazz neck can be too much. The 59 could work well in this situation, or a hybrid pickup with a stronger screw coil. Production models I know of which include this feature would be the DiMarzio Bluesbucker and the Bare Knuckle VHII neck model.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

I would lower the treble side of the pickup first, then try Dimarzio if you want a smooth, clear and fat neck humbucker.

 

[Voodoods]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

I would lower the treble side of the pickup first, then try Dimarzio if you want a smooth, clear and fat neck humbucker.

Do you mean the same Bluesbucker mentioned above?

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

swap out the A5 magnet for an A2. a jazz with an A2 is a Alnico 2 pro IIRC , If you don't want to swap the mag try screwing the poles down and/or try 300k or even 250k pots. There's no need to splash out on another pickup without trying those things first at least.

 

[bagouser]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

I found the Full Shred neck to be very clear and articulate and great for both cleans or saturated soloing....don't let the name scare you away....

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

I second the Alnico II Pro, and you are correct Jake, the it's the same pickup as a Jazz, but with A2 mags instead of A5s.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

Before you do any magnet swaps or Pickup change. Check if it is wired properly. While the Jazz is a bright Humbucker, I would not call it as Nasal. Its still sounds like Humbucker i.e thick and warm.

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

I found the Full Shred neck to be very clear and articulate and great for both cleans or saturated soloing....don't let the name scare you away....

The FS neck is essentally a Jazz wind with hex heads to my knowledge. The highs might be smoothed out a bit more in comparison, but I wouldn't expect it to be warmer sounding than the Jazz the OP currently has.
I'd vote APH-1 (which you could close to with an A2 mag swap) or Whole Lotta Humbucker.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

Try a 250K vol pot first (easiest thing to do), then try an A2 mag if you still don't get enough smoothness/warmth. If that doesn't do it, a great match for the JB would be a Screamin Demon in the neck.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

If your neck pickup has its own tone control, try turning that down.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

does tha jazz sound bad through all 3 amps?
Does the les paul sound good through all 3 amps?
Have you tried putting the pg from your les paul style axe into your peavey as a trial?

 

[DreX]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

Try turning the tone knob down about 1/4th. That seems to put a lot of the nasally sounding pickups right where they ought to be. It's similar in effect to switching from 500k pots to 250k pots.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Pickup recommendations - Jazz neck too 'nasal'/trebly.

Before you do any magnet swaps or Pickup change. Check if it is wired properly. While the Jazz is a bright Humbucker, I would not call it as Nasal. Its still sounds like Humbucker i.e thick and warm.

I think this is the first thing to check as well. I use a Jazz neck and it is not nasal sounding at all.