Thunderthumbs73
New member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2025
- Messages
- 1
I'm thinking about a possible change after 10 years or so of bridge pickup in my reworked/gutted Epiphone Plus Top Les Paul. I have always had the two Seymour Duncan Jazz Model pickups- neck AND bridge (with humbucker covers) and I have the guitar set up with a series/parallel push/pull option for each pickup. I love the sound, and that series/parallel really adds a nice Fender-ish aspect when it's desired. The bridge pickup has always been a little light on midrange push, although the clarity is outstanding, and it is congruent with the idea at that time of making this the most "Fenderish" Les Paul I can while keeping Humbucker tones.
I think that's why a lot of people have gone with "The JB and the Jazz" instead of "Jazz and Jazz"- someone figured out the Jazz Model in the bridge, while clear and defined doesn't have as much midrange push as a Les Paul user typically would want, so it's almost codified into a guitarist's shorthand and catchphrase to say, suggest "The JB and the Jazz". But I'm thinking of trying to find that next step towards keeping the clarity of the Jazz Model bridge pickup as much as I can but adding a little more midrange with a Seymour Duncan "vintage output" pickup swap. I don't want the analysis paralysis of ten different suggestions from ten other great pickup makers. I just want to keep it in the Seymour Duncan area, and I would think ONE of these five pickups from Seymour ought to do it. My pickup choices are:
Jazz Model Bridge:
DCR: 8.4K
Alnico 5
I'm thinking about in descending order of what I am guessing is tonally the best and would match with this guitar the best:
1.) 59 Model Bridge:
DCR: 8:2K
Alnico 5
May consider:
2.) Seth Lover:
DCR: 8.3K
Alnico 2
(Un-wax-potted)
3.) Queenbucker
DCR: 8.3K
Alnico 3
4.) Alnico II Pro:
DCR: 8.4K
Alnico 2
5.) Antiquity Humbucker
DCR: 8.6K
Alnico 2
Some say, "Don't read into DCR too much". Ok, but don't yell at me- complain to the manufacturers and builders who continue to list DCR specs as a basis for knowledge and comparison! I do wish every company posted resonant peak of every pickup offered.
I play lots of kinds of music. Jazz, Country, Rock, Blues, Pop, etc... nothing "high gain" or hard rock/heavy metal (I'd use my Tokai or Gibson or HSS Strats for that) and this Les Paul as-is is great for all of that diversity... but... I want a LITTLE more midrange bridge pickup push while retaining as much of the existing clarity as possible. I know I can almost always get more midrange- it's keeping that clarity and balance while doing so.
Any thoughts? Any preferences with similar criterion as mine?
I think that's why a lot of people have gone with "The JB and the Jazz" instead of "Jazz and Jazz"- someone figured out the Jazz Model in the bridge, while clear and defined doesn't have as much midrange push as a Les Paul user typically would want, so it's almost codified into a guitarist's shorthand and catchphrase to say, suggest "The JB and the Jazz". But I'm thinking of trying to find that next step towards keeping the clarity of the Jazz Model bridge pickup as much as I can but adding a little more midrange with a Seymour Duncan "vintage output" pickup swap. I don't want the analysis paralysis of ten different suggestions from ten other great pickup makers. I just want to keep it in the Seymour Duncan area, and I would think ONE of these five pickups from Seymour ought to do it. My pickup choices are:
Jazz Model Bridge:
DCR: 8.4K
Alnico 5
I'm thinking about in descending order of what I am guessing is tonally the best and would match with this guitar the best:
1.) 59 Model Bridge:
DCR: 8:2K
Alnico 5
May consider:
2.) Seth Lover:
DCR: 8.3K
Alnico 2
(Un-wax-potted)
3.) Queenbucker
DCR: 8.3K
Alnico 3
4.) Alnico II Pro:
DCR: 8.4K
Alnico 2
5.) Antiquity Humbucker
DCR: 8.6K
Alnico 2
Some say, "Don't read into DCR too much". Ok, but don't yell at me- complain to the manufacturers and builders who continue to list DCR specs as a basis for knowledge and comparison! I do wish every company posted resonant peak of every pickup offered.
I play lots of kinds of music. Jazz, Country, Rock, Blues, Pop, etc... nothing "high gain" or hard rock/heavy metal (I'd use my Tokai or Gibson or HSS Strats for that) and this Les Paul as-is is great for all of that diversity... but... I want a LITTLE more midrange bridge pickup push while retaining as much of the existing clarity as possible. I know I can almost always get more midrange- it's keeping that clarity and balance while doing so.
Any thoughts? Any preferences with similar criterion as mine?
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