Seem to find myself running both my 59(n)/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

[Reverberocket2]

The JB and 59 have 4 conductors wired to push/pulls on the tone pots. I find myself using them both in parallel mode - 10-15% less output, 10-15% less bass - sweeter, rounder, brighter sounding.

What pups have that sound in series mode: Alnico Pro II, Pearly Gates, Seth's, Antiquities?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

None.

But I like the JB in parallel too...reminds me of a strong Tele pickup.

Lew

 

[Reverberocket2]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

Humm guess I really need to get myself a tele too

I think I can live with the 59 neck but I think the JB needs to go - it just doesn't balance well with the 59 neck -- If I get the bass happening on the JB it's too much on the 59 neck. Would a '59 bridge balance better with the 59 neck? Also the JB is a great rock pup but just doesn't sound that nice clean.

I'm getting more into classic tones like: Fresh Cream, Allman Bros, Jayhawks, CCR

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

That, or try a set of TV Jones' TV'trons. They're Filter'trons made to fit in a regular 'bucker cavity.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

Humm guess I really need to get myself a tele too

I think I can live with the 59 neck but I think the JB needs to go - it just doesn't balance well with the 59 neck -- If I get the bass happening on the JB it's too much on the 59 neck. Would a '59 bridge balance better with the 59 neck? Also the JB is a great rock pup but just doesn't sound that nice clean.

I'm getting more into classic tones like: Fresh Cream, Allman Bros, Jayhawks, CCR

I often find that alnico 5 humbuckers have to much bass but it's usually the neck pickup that I feel that way about. In any case, I usually prefer alnico 2 for my neck humbucker: Seth Lover, Pearly Gates, A2Pro, etc. It allows me to dial in the bass I need to fatten up the bridge pickup without the neck pickup getting woofy. The Jazz neck is an alnico 5 neck pickup and that's the model Seymour recommends with the JB, BTW. The Jazz has a little less bass than a 59N and a lso a little more sparkle to the highs. Lew

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

If you like the 59n but want more bass from the bridge, chek out the C5. It'll balance nicely with the 59 and get you closer to the tones you described than the JB will.

 

[Reverberocket2]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

Thanks Lew and Benjy_26

Benjy_26 - I like filtertrons but not on my Paul. My Gretsch itch is secondary to my getting my Paul in shape, so Tron's will have to wait for another guitar on another day.
I'll check out the C5 - sounds like that might work

Lewguitar - For years my '84 Les Paul Standard was my only electric guitar - so I set it up to be as versatile as possible with the 59/JB(b) and push/pull series/parallel. Now I'm starting get other guitars - just got '95 Strat Plus and I've been bitten hard by the Tele bug - talk about versatile - chime, twang, rawk.

Bottom line is I now want to set the '84 Paul Std. up as a classic sounding Paul (Fresh Cream, early Allman Brothers, Free, Skynryd, Black Crowes) rather than a do everything guitar

Also the 59/JB doesn't seem to gel with my '67 Ampeg Reverberocket II - the amp has a good amount of midrange and I think the JB better with a mid-scooped amp and the 59 neck is just tad too full in the bass

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

I also like the Dimarzio Classic PAF and VV PAF in parallel. It really does sweeten the tone. Killer in the neck of a tele. I ahve a Manlius bucker in the neck of my tele now and am looking forward to doing the series/parallel/split with it. It's already so sweet in series mode it'll bring a tear to your eye.....so it should really do the trick in parallel.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

....
What pups have that sound in series mode: Alnico Pro II, Pearly Gates, Seth's, Antiquities?

EVERY humbucker will be weaker and thinner in parallel mode due to phase cancellation. In series wiring I don´t know of any...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Seem to find myself running both my 59/JB(b) in parallel rather than series

Lewguitar - For years my '84 Les Paul Standard was my only electric guitar - so I set it up to be as versatile as possible with the 59/JB(b) and push/pull series/parallel. Now I'm starting get other guitars - just got '95 Strat Plus and I've been bitten hard by the Tele bug - talk about versatile - chime, twang, rawk.

Bottom line is I now want to set the '84 Paul Std. up as a classic sounding Paul (Fresh Cream, early Allman Brothers, Free, Skynryd, Black Crowes) rather than a do everything guitar

In that case, if you like your 59N than go for a 59B for the bridge pickup. But for the ultimate in vintage 50's LP tone, like Clapton, Gibbons, Allman, Greene, etc., I'd suggest alnico 2 humbuckers: Antiquitys, Seth Lovers, or Pearly Gates.

IMO, those pickups are closest to what was in most 57 - 59 Les Pauls, and, IMO, most 50's humbuckers sound like alnico 2 was used for the magnet...although there are exceptions.

I would guess that Seymour called his alnico 5 59 the 59 because 1959 was kind of a transition year when Gibson switched from using Alnico 2 (and sometimes a3 and a5 ) to using alnico 5 exclusively for all humbuckers.

I kind of think of alnico 5 humbuckers as being the tone of most 60's Gibson humbuckers and alniso 2 as being the tone of most 50's Gibsons humbuckers.

Lew