Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

[Pick_n_grin]

I was a little trigger happy at the end of an ebay auction for an SH-1, and didn't realize that it was a neck, not the bridge I needed, until after I bid. Being the respectable ebayer I am, I honored my bid ;-)
Anyhow, I understand that in general, bridge versions of a pickup have a hotter output, but looking at the Duncan spec chart, to my naive eyes the difference seems pretty marginal. I've got a '59 neck version in the neck.
Would you recommend me going ahead and using the new neck '59 as my bridge pickup? Or is it worth getting a hold of a designated bridge '59?

Thanks!

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

You may just want to try it. I hear good things in the first place about doing it, also, the pickups in the original gibsons were about the same. It was only later that a hotter one started being used for the bridge.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

I don't mind lower output pickups in the bridge. I just installed a 7.9k bridge pickup in an Alder superstrat, and it's great. BUT I did put an Alnico 4 magnet in there.

If you have access to an ohms meter, then read both pickups, and see which one has a lower wind. All pups, no matter how tight the tolerance, will read a little differently. Then use the one with higher resistance in the bridge. Gibsons had "equal" neck and bridge pickups for quite awhile, and people adjusted the height to compensate for the volume difference.

Another suggestion I have would be to lower the bridge pickup screw poles nearly flush with the top of the pickup. Then raise the pickup very close to the strings. On the neck pickup, do the opposite. Get the poles up so that they make a nice crown on top of the bobbin. This will make the neck side coil a little more present in the neck pickup, and also clean up the sound a little because of the mismatch.

Any or all of these things combined will help differentiate between two equal pickups neck and bridge.

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

Neck humbuckers work well is strats with 250k pots... they match up better tone & output wise than most bridge buckers... the 250k pots keep it warm & smooth.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

It works well in a brighter guitar, or if you like a smoother sound. I actually have a 59' in the bridge of my Les Paul. I liked it for quite a while, but lately it lacks the bite I've grown to like. I've got a 59'(b) sitting in my drawer, along with a Brobucker. One of those will go in the bridge of my Lester soon.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

Just don't cut the lead short. If you ever want to resell it, a neck pickup with 3" of lead is not going to be popular.

 

[Pick_n_grin]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

Thanks... I definitely won't cut the lead short... and I'll give it a shot. The pickup hasn't arrived yet, unfortunately...

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

Heh, I just moved that Alnico IV, 7.9k humbucker from the afforementioned Alder superstrat to a Mahogany, and it's even better. It's crunchy when you dig in, but still aggressive in the high end because of the lower winds. Output is not a problem at all.

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

I've got a 59'(b) sitting in my drawer, along with a Brobucker.

A BroBucker and a 59b hanging out in a drawer???

That just doesn't seem right. LOL

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Using a '59 neck humbucker in the bridge position?

A BroBucker and a 59b hanging out in a drawer???

That just doesn't seem right. LOL

What's worse is the fact that they're both double cream. I bought the brobucker in the first run they did (standard spaced) and I've never installed it. :smack: