The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Gearjoneser

Gear Ho
There's a mystery in the Seymour Duncan line, and it's the Jazz Bridge Model.
First of all, the name Jazz scares off most rocker types, even though it's just a name. Second, SD has always touted the Jazz Neck Model as the perfect compliment to OTHER pickups, always neglecting the matched set. This automatically has made people ignore the bridge model, while focusing solely on the Jazz neck.

Years ago, Jolly made the Jazz set his 'go to' set for most of his Gibsons, and he has a LOT of them. He even posted clips, outlining the fact that the Jazz set does rock/metal perfectly.....most of them in a style similar to Jerry Cantrell or King's X.

As a generous gesture, and proof that Jolly is a genuinely nice guy, he gave me a Jazz Bridge he had lying around. My first move was to try it in a US Strat's bridge position, where it beat out my C-5, JB, or 59. Since I restored that strat to SSS, I moved it to the neck position in a LP, along with a Brobucker, C-5, and Custom as bridge pickups. There, the Jazz Bridge convinced me that it's one of the very best, if not the best, A5 neck pickup.

Since then, Jolly, Stevo, and myself have continued to use the Jazz Bridge as a killer LP neck pickup. I even have a pullup tone on that LP to split it, and it sounds amazing in split mode....very stratty. Next, Theodie decided to give it a chance as a rock/metal bridge pickup, and now swears by it.

Now, I've come to realize that out of every single Duncan I've tried, the Jazz Bridge is the ONE pickup that could be put in ANY guitar, in ANY position, for ANY style of music, and the user would agree that it's a great toneful pickup.

I think it's time to let everyone know about this, since it's also the most ignored and least selling Duncan. I see people constantly unhappy with their neck pickups, and feel compelled to tell you that the Jazz Bridge is the #$#$%. And on top of that, if you have an HSS strat, you really should try it out.....it works perfectly with single coils. Try it in a Jackson instead of a 59, C5, JB, or Custom, and see if you like it. What you should expect is a tight focused bottom end, neutral mids like a 59 and C5, and an extended top end with a lot of clarity and detail. If you find it bright at all, just back down your tone to control it, but overall, you'll have a very natural sounding bridge pickup in ANY guitar.

I know, I know....the word Jazz. Ignore it for a minute, and discover perhaps one of the best pickups in the SD line.
 
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Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Count me in as well. ;)

Jazz-b is a ~8.00K (#42 plain enamel) a5 pickup that is very clear (has a resonant peak of 7, and the neck is like 8). That is when used in the neck, its resonant peak is the same as a 59n, and jazz-b is a little more powerful. Thus, it is a GREAT PAF type of neck pickup.

In the bridge nothing can do what it can. It is almost like a beefed up single coil pickup. Very clear but still HB. And if you know what you are doing, naturally that means, this pickup can do anything from metal to 'jazz'. And it is the BEST pickup to put into the bridge of HSS fat strats.

BTW I also think that it has an bad name.

B
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Maybe all they need to do is just change the descrption a bit.
may be something like this:
application:- Classic moderate output humbucker. Especially popular in neck position., BUT ROCKS IN THE BRIDGE AS WELL. Don’t let the name fool you; it’s not only great for jazz, but also country, blues, funk, classic rock and heavy rock.

description: Provides an articulate and clear tone. Great for fast runs. The brighter tone has slightly less output and is a good match with most bridge pickups. When distorted, the tone is full and bright. Smooth sustain. Compared to the SH-1 ‘59 Model, the Jazz has slightly less output and a more detailed treble response,AND A LITTLE LESS BASS. Comes with four-conductor hookup cable.

complete setup: Available in both neck and bridge models. Often a Jazz neck is paired with an SH-4 JB (Seymour’s favorite combination) or SH-5 Duncan Custom in the bridge position for diverse tones . Also works excellent as a complete set. Or in your Fat Srat with a pair of SSL1 or 2s
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

It absolutely killed in an LP copy I had. I wish I had kept it after selling the guitar. I can think of a few things I'd like to try with it. It would take alot for me to think it would be better than a PATB3 in a Strat though. Now I need to find another :)
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Like Gearjoneseer says, it shines in about any guitar for almost any style in any position. I bet most folks would be VERY happy with this pickup! Bridge or neck, Jazz to Metal, super strat to LP, this pickup flat out gets the job done with style.

The Jazz bridge and the PATB-3 are 2 of the MOST overlooked Duncans by most players but, they are 2 of the VERY best. I have played/owned nearly every Duncan bucker (if not all of them) and I am sure Gearjoneseer, Jolly and a few others have in the same boat. Got to trust expereince folks.

Evan and Seymour, can you guys change the name of the Jazz bridge already? That is just not a good name for it at all!
 
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Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

all this time i thought the JB was the Jazz Bridge
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

all this time i thought the JB was the Jazz Bridge

:smack:, seriously?

No wonder the JB is the best selling Duncan pickup and some think it is so versatile. They are getting it confused with the Jazz bridge. LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Like I said, they need to change the name of the Jazz bridge in a bad way.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

i really did... i thought i read that one here actually . weird
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Hmm...I was just about to post a thread asking what a good PAF-style humbucker would be for the bridge in my SG.

The split tones are Stratty, even tho they'd only be like 4k? I like my single coil tone to have a bit of a OOMPH and snap to it, so i've thought i'd need a hotter humbucker to provide a more 'true' single coil tone.

If it's as good as you guys say it is, tho, it must rock...and I've wasted money by not following your advicei n the past so...maybe a jazz bridge is all i need.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Been trying to wrangle one on the cheap,thanx to you guys...

VERY high on the list when I get back to work,tho...
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Been trying to wrangle one on the cheap,thanx to you guys...

Wont happen. They are hard to come by.

If you want one, just open up that wallet and get it done.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Yeah I've only been floored by two pickups. The first was the Jazz bridge, in either position, and the second was the PG bridge in the bridge position. I reckon that might be the perfect combo.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

If you have a bunch of HH guitars, your money won't be wasted by buying a Jazz Bridge Model. You can always find a place for it, because it's output sits right on the dividing line between a bridge and neck, so you can use it for either.

As a neck, it's got the perfect output to go with hotter bridges like the Custom/C-5/CC/JB. Rather than buying the Jazz N, get a Jazz B instead, since it's basically a beefed up Jazz neck, but not tubby sounding like the 59N.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Can anyone compare the Jazz set with the AII Pro set?

Thanks.
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Wont happen. They are hard to come by.

If you want one, just open up that wallet and get it done.

Like I said,"When I get back to work"...

One of the local SD dealers does a bit of work for me occasionally,I'm sure he'll give me a good price...
 
Re: The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

Why are they so hard to find? Most online stores carry the neck version but I've never seen the bridge version. Is it a custom shop model? I'm willing to give it a try one of these days based on this thread!
 
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