The great mystery of the unpopularity of the Jazz Bridge.

[Empty Pockets]

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

It's a normal production model...it's just that they always advertise "JB bridge / Jazz neck!" so much (and even sell those two as a package) that i could see people thinking "JB = jazz bridge" as a really common misconception.

 

[Rusty Fingers]

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

Anyone pair a jazz neck or jazz bridge (in neck position) with a Seth bridge?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

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!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Seymour-Duncan-...ryZ41430QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Shipping's a deal-breaker here,but...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Seymour-Duncan-...ryZ41430QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm sure a dealer could get you one,I guess most places just don't stock them...

 

[theodie]

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!

They are so hard to find becasue the demand is low. After playing one, it aint becasue of the tone of it. Seriously, how many players would want to shell out the money to buy a pickup called a "Jazz" bridge? Its a VERY overlooked gem in Duncans lineup and I would wager to say, their MOST versatile pickup by a wide margin! When I played one for the first time, I knew it was pure magic and mojo!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

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

Seriously, how many players would want to shell out the money to buy a pickup called a "Jazz" bridge?

Ding-ding-ding.... this is exactly why more people don't try it. That, and most dealers pick out one or two models (typically either the Demon, JB, or Distortion) and just push those. That way, they don't have to risk stocking anything that might not sell immediately.

 

[Thurisarz]

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

How is the balance in sound with a Jazz bridge set used in both positions? Sounds like it's a gift from the sky this "jazz" pickup

 

[Pierre]

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

How much output does it have, concretelly? I'm quite happy with Custom, FullShred or Distortion level usually but the Jazz bridge seems to have way less...?

 

[Jocelyn]

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

Seriously while thinking of names for the Jazz what name would you guys think off. or what name come to your mind..
I like the way LEW describes the Jazz.. alittle less bass and little more trebel than the 59

 

[larry_emder]

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

Maybe they should change it to Jazz Fusion. That might turn a few heads!

 

[Jocelyn]

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

Pierre it is something on the lines of a 59 in terms of output... But through a nice high gain amp ( if u play higain most of the time) it will shine... you get ur gain with clarity.

 

[Pierre]

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

I play with medium gain pedals... and use the pickup to push them a bit higher up basically. If I got a jazz it seems I'd LOVE it but I'd need another distortion pedal, it wouldn't push enough otherwise...Cool thanks!

 

[Fusion1]

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

I think the confusion with the name and unpopularity is also from the other end of the spectrum. Those expecting this to be "THE" pickup for the Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt type sound were very disappointed. Calling it cold and sterile (from that vantage point) was what many have said, expecting this pickup to pull off straight ahead jazz, because of the name, they felt mislead and looked elsewhere. This pickup is pretty versatile, but it is not what I would recommend or even consider a pickup to play jazz. You'd think after all these years some jazz musician would be endorsing these if they truly were meant for jazz. I haven't heard of them yet.

Oddly enough the Benedetto line is widely accepted by jazz guitarists and they are manufactured by Seymour Duncan....

 

[LtKojak]

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

As a neck, it's got the perfect output to go with hotter bridges like the Custom/C-5/CC/JB.

+1 to that!

I've just upgraded my 1967 Emperador Guitar (Japanese-made 335 style) with a Jazz bridge in the neck and a C 5 in the bridge and now this guitar simply rocks big friggin' time. Specially slighty distorted fusion-like fast lines played by the neck pickup.

If you're looking for a more traditional Gibson-like middle-position toggle switch sound, then to have the Jazz set (Jazz n + Jazz b) is the way to go.

I'm maybe new here, but I've been traveling around the world playing music as a professional musician for over thirty years.

HTH,

Pepe aka Lt Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[Jocelyn]

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

One of my buddies who uses it in the neck, when asked to describe it said" THINK PAF WIOTHOUT THE MUD."

 

[Gearjoneser]

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

+1 to that!

I've just upgraded my 1967 Emperador Guitar (Japanese-made 335 style) with a Jazz bridge in the neck and a C 5 in the bridge and now this guitar simply rocks big friggin' time. Specially slighty distorted fusion-like fast lines played by the neck pickup.

Glad to hear you like the C-5/Jazz B set. In my opinion, that set is probably Duncan's best all around A5 set. I'm sure it'd sound great in any 335.

 

[Lewguitar]

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

The Jazz neck is my favorite alnico 5 neck humbucker. I play with a clean chord tone 99% of the time so I don't need anything hotter...

Personally, I've always felt that SD Pickups should rename the Jazz.

When I think of Jazz guitar, I think of a warm/woody tone and guys like Joe Pass or Wes Montgomery and although they could have gotten their tone from a Duncan Jazz, the Duncan Jazz has a bright clear tone with a lot of bottom and more harmonics than those kind of players tend to go for.

Renaming it something like the "Harmonic Special" or something might make more rockers give it a spin...

Lew

 

[ratherdashing]

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

They should rename it the "Emo". Not only would that be more popular than "Jazz" among your average guitarists, it would also accurately describe the love and passion some of you seem to have for it.

The Seymour Duncan Emo: a pickup for those who like to cut through the mix and cut through their wrists!

Evan, you can steal that from me if you want.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

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

Naw if it was the Emo, then I wouldn't be able to like it anymore!

 

[Fusion1]

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

Naw if it was the Emo, then I wouldn't be able to like it anymore!

hahaha +10000000000000

 

[Gearjoneser]

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

I've thought of renaming it before, but then realized it'd add confusion. Maybe if more people talk about it and use Jazz's, it'll just be a name like any other.

I hear people describing the sound they want, and it's often some variant of 59, Seth, or PAF, and funny enough, the Jazz set might be that pickup they're hearing in their head, but never wanted to try.

One thing that's for sure, the Jazz set would probably get you the best clean tones out of a humbucking guitar. The surprise bonus is that it sounds great with gain too, because the pickup is just a tone shaper, and the Jazz's are balanced sounding from low to high. With dark sounding British amps, there's no lack of low end, and it's nice having pickups that are beautiful in their mids and highs.