Seymour Duncan Upgrade

JeffBlue · Mar 25, 2024

I just replaced my friend's Burstbuckers in a 2000 Gibson Les Paul Standard for Seymour Duncan Jazz/JB and the pots to 50s wiring. Sounds glorious.

jb_abides · Mar 25, 2024

What are you running it thru?

metropolis · Mar 25, 2024

You don't find many people on here talking about using the Jazz in the neck, but I've experimented with it and really like it. I've struggled to get away from mud in the neck, and find the brightness I wanted and the Jazz has been a revelation. It's higher output than I'd typically prefer but the extra brightness is really nice. I've paired it with a Dimarzio PAF in the bridge for the moment in one of my LPs.

J.D. · Mar 25, 2024

Seymour has stated this is his favorite pickup combo and has probably sold tens of thousands of them.

Jazz is simply an underwound PAF. Some find the JB a bit dark but it sounds great through a distorted amp playing heavier classic rock.

ADP · Mar 25, 2024

Strangely enough I have never given the "Jazz" the chance it deserves - I always go for the '59 Model in the neck position. I was always under the false impression that the Jazz model was the "warmest" and "dullest" with the least clarity of the bunch. I guess I need to give one a shot to know for sure, now.

The JB Model I have is wired 4 conductor and magnetically out of phase - probably one of my all-time favorite pickups. I should pair it with the Jazz as Seymour intended!

JeffBlue · Mar 25, 2024

jb_abides said:
What are you running it thru?

When my friend came over to pick up his guitar, we plugged into my 69 Bandmaster Reverb with the Fargen ODS mod. The amp he uses at home is a 50 watt Orange into a Marshall cab.

JeffBlue · Mar 25, 2024

I had a Jazz pickup in a guitar that I had either sold or traded off. I usually use a 59 in the neck of my humbucker guitars. I now need to give a rethink and purchase a Jazz for at least one of my guitars now.

metropolis · Mar 25, 2024

J.D. said:
Seymour has stated this is his favorite pickup combo and has probably sold tens of thousands of them.

Jazz is simply an underwound PAF. Some find the JB a bit dark but it sounds great through a distorted amp playing heavier classic rock.

That's interesting because it's much hotter than underwound PAF replicas I have compared it too, but has more of a chimey top end. I suspect it's underwound but has stronger magnets than what I compared to.

J.D. · Mar 25, 2024

My understanding is the Jazz neck is a sub-8K wind with a normal strength Alnico V (IIRC) magnet, a lot like a '70s T-Top. It's not a "weak" pickup by any means.

My opinion is this "Jazz" pickup was named wrong. What rocker wants anything related to jazz?

JeffBlue · Mar 25, 2024

J.D. said:
My understanding is the Jazz neck is a sub-8K wind with a normal strength Alnico V (IIRC) magnet, a lot like a '70s T-Top. It's not a "weak" pickup by any means.

My opinion is this "Jazz" pickup was named wrong. What rocker wants anything related to jazz?

Plays really clean and can get kindly dirty when pushed. The Jazz can do jazz very well.

ADP · Mar 25, 2024

I actually have the first iteration "JM - F" "Seymourized" which is technically a John Milner - Front and it's a rebuilt PAF with a different magnet. Doublewhite no-less! It's NOS which is another reason why I never tried it...

J.D. · Mar 25, 2024

Instead of "Jazz" model, how bout "T Type" or "Top T"?

JeffBlue · Mar 25, 2024

I prefer Seymour Duncans for certain.

Señor Verde · Mar 25, 2024

I found the volume difference between the Jazz Neck and JB too great for my preference. However, using a Jazz Bridge in the neck spot with a JB balanced much nicer and sounded good.

Classicplayer · Mar 27, 2024

Another good combination is a Jazz neck and C5 bridge. This pair was recommended to me in the 1990's by a shop owner near me. Duncan also recommends on their webpage for the C5. At the time, I opted for a pair ‘59's which I kept in my Classic for 12 years.

Classicplayer

J.D. · Mar 27, 2024

The "Custom" (SH-5) is like a JB (SH-4) with a ceramic magnet instead of Alnico V magnet. Good pickup but can be a bit hot.

The "Custom Custom" (SH-11) is like a JB with Alnico II instead of Alnico V magnet.

garywright · Mar 27, 2024

JeffBlue said:
I prefer Seymour Duncans for certain.

I respect Seymour for his non-gouging prices and well built/designed products.

Wilko · Mar 27, 2024

I used two JB's in my '76 custom. I found them to be awesome. JB is dark? not at all. It's known for bright upper mid and is described as such on his site.

I never have neck "mud" as people describe, but after so many years my playing adjusts when using the neck, or a combo of the two. I also used series/parallel switching, so there's that.

Elmore · Mar 27, 2024

I am really enjoying the Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker set. Neck and bridge are very appealing to me. After years of using underwound pickups for clarity, I got in a band with a great Tele player. I could not get that punch into the mix until the WLH. They push the amp harder, which works for me. They are also in the PAF zone. I have them in Two Les Pauls.

Big tuna · Mar 28, 2024

I have SD antiquity's in a guitar and really love them since 04'. I have used jazz necks and various bridge pu's of his none of which i disliked. I prefer low wound pu's myself. I can not believe all of these winders out today with the magic PAF'S for sell. I am sure most sound good. Most are for pockets deeper than i have lol! I never swap out stock Gibson pu's except one husk i bought just me i guess i like them or adjust my amp and seems to work.

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