Replacing JB & 59'?

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MrFlexx

New member
I have a Charvel with maple fretboard and alder body and a set of JB & 59' and I'm thinking about changing pickups to something warmer. I love the JB because of it articulation but want a warmer sounding bridge pickup. Never been a fan of the 59' neck pickup and would love to have a SD close to DiMarzio's Air Norton which in my opinion is the best neck humbucker ever made. But I want SD all the way and maybe someone here knows which one to get?

On my Les Paul I'm using a set of Saturday Night Special and they are ridiculously good. After getting these pickups I replaced the bridge pickup on all of my guitars to Saturday Night Special…all except for my Charvel. I’d like to put something different on that guitar. Think a hybrid of JB and Saturday Night Special for bridge position.

Any suggestions?
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

The Perpetual Burn comes to mind for the bridge. Someone has recently posted a review in here with a sound clip.

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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

Custom Custom and Pearly Gates Neck or hotter WLH Neck.

WLH Set might be an even better choice.
 
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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

MrFlexx said:
I have a Charvel with maple fretboard and alder body and a set of JB & 59' and I'm thinking about changing pickups to something warmer. I love the JB because of it articulation but want a warmer sounding bridge pickup. Never been a fan of the 59' neck pickup and would love to have a SD close to DiMarzio's Air Norton which in my opinion is the best neck humbucker ever made. But I want SD all the way and maybe someone here knows which one to get?

On my Les Paul I'm using a set of Saturday Night Special and they are ridiculously good. After getting these pickups I replaced the bridge pickup on all of my guitars to Saturday Night Special…all except for my Charvel. I’d like to put something different on that guitar. Think a hybrid of JB and Saturday Night Special for bridge position.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Tell me what you like about the Saturday Night Special set? How does the SNS neck beat the 59?

for neck, I would suggest to you a Full Shred or StagMag! Bridge, I am at a loss.

SCRATCH my neck suggestions. The airNorton is a mid heavy high output neck pickup?
 
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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

As much as I think the WLH set will warm up that guitar, if you like the AN, why not get one? There really is no Duncan equivalent.

If it's a matter of sticking with one brand, I'd pair the AN with an AT-1.
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

If, in your opinion, the AN is "the best neck humbucker ever made", then that's what you need to get. Anything else would be a compromise or a downgrade and you won't be happy.

You say you want "warmer", but do you want cleaner than the JB, dirtier, more aggressive, more articulate, higher or lower output, etc? There are a lot of pups that are warmer than the JB, but we need to know some other parameters that you have in mind.
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

GuitarDoc said:
If, in your opinion, the AN is "the best neck humbucker ever made", then that's what you need to get. Anything else would be a compromise or a downgrade and you won't be happy.

You say you want "warmer", but do you want cleaner than the JB, dirtier, more aggressive, more articulate, higher or lower output, etc? There are a lot of pups that are warmer than the JB, but we need to know some other parameters that you have in mind.
Click to expand...
I want it a bit cleaner, more articulate less compressed and a bit lower output.
 
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Replacing JB & 59'?

Replacing JB & 59'?

At the suggestion of fellow forumites, on my Parker Nitefly Mojo, I swapped out the stock A5 in the JB for an A2 to do exactly what you’re describing - it worked really, really well - I essentially got a new pickup for less than $10. And I paired it with the A2P neck (never much cared for the stock Jazz neck)

Great tones, and worth consideration.

If you do decide to swap pickups, don’t forget the 59/Custom.

Edited: just for reference Parker Nitefly Mojo is bolt-on, Mahogany body, basswood (I think) with carbon fibre neck. Snappy attack and bright cleans, the Jazz/JB were just to teeth-on-edge for my tastes, especially when split.


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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

gregory said:
As much as I think the WLH set will warm up that guitar, if you like the AN, why not get one? There really is no Duncan equivalent.

If it's a matter of sticking with one brand, I'd pair the AN with an AT-1.
Click to expand...
Maybe I should try the WLH set then.
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

VinceT said:
At the suggestion of fellow forumites, on my Parker Nitefly Mojo, I swapped out the stock A5 in the JB for an A2 to do exactly what you’re describing - it worked really, really well - I essentially got a new pickup for less than $10. And I paired it with the A2P neck (never much cared for the stock Jazz neck)

Great tones, and worth consideration.

If you do decide to swap pickups, don’t forget the 59/Custom.

Edited: just for reference Parker Nitefly Mojo is bolt-on, Mahogany body, basswood (I think) with carbon fibre neck. Snappy attack and bright cleans, the Jazz/JB were just to teeth-on-edge for my tastes, especially when split.


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Click to expand...

+1. I was going to suggest the magnet swap before buying a brand nee pickup. The A2 is a warmer mag. And after that if you like the sound of your JB, you will try to pair it with PG or a APH1
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

EmiAba said:
+1. I was going to suggest the magnet swap before buying a brand nee pickup. The A2 is a warmer mag. And after that if you like the sound of your JB, you will try to pair it with PG or a APH1
Click to expand...

Is it hard to swap magnet?
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

No, there are tutorials on this forum and elsewhere online. As far as pickups, consider the 59/Custom Hybrid to replace the JB. For the neck, I'd go with an Alnico II Pro to contrast what you have in there now- it will be much warmer, and blend well with the Hybrid.
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

MrFlexx said:
Is it hard to swap magnet?
Click to expand...
Easy. As much as I liked a JB with an A2, an A2 will not take the compression out of a JB.

I'm surprised Demanic didn't suggest putting an A4 in the 59N.
 
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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

Regarding the APH-1N, despite the A2 magnet this is quite a bright pickup because of the type of insulation used on the wire. The Pearly Gates Neck will be warmer. While it is much more articulate than the JB, I wouldn't characterize the 59/Custom hybrid as particularly warm, either.

I think we really need to back up and ask what articulate actually means. AFAIK the most articulate neck humbucker that Seymour Duncan makes is the Full Shred. I don't see how anyone could describe it as warm.
 
Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

gregory said:
Easy. As much as I liked a JB with an A2, an A2 will not take the compression out of a JB.

I'm surprised Demanic didn't suggest putting an A4 in the 59N.
Click to expand...
I figured that someone else would eventually mention it.

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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

MrFlexx said:
I want it a bit cleaner, more articulate less compressed and a bit lower output.
Click to expand...

I’m not sure I would have described that as warmer, I’m glad you clarified. I swapped the JB in my Charvel with maple neck and alder body with a 59/custom hybrid and I feel like I got the three things you asked for.


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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

audiocheck said:
Tell me what you like about the Saturday Night Special set? How does the SNS neck beat the 59?

for neck, I would suggest to you a Full Shred or StagMag! Bridge, I am at a loss.

SCRATCH my neck suggestions. The airNorton is a mid heavy high output neck pickup?
Click to expand...

I like it because it's not so compressed, it's warm and extremely clear sounding. This goes for both bridge and neck
 
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Re: Replacing JB & 59'?

Blille said:
I’m not sure I would have described that as warmer, I’m glad you clarified. I swapped the JB in my Charvel with maple neck and alder body with a 59/custom hybrid and I feel like I got the three things you asked for.


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Click to expand...
I want all of the above plus warmer
 
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