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Seymour Duncan Upgrade

metropolis

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
483
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.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,062
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

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
691
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

Active member
Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
352
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

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
483
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.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,062
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

Active member
Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
352
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

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
691
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.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,062
Instead of "Jazz" model, how bout "T Type" or "Top T"?
 

Señor Verde

Active member
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
639
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

Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2002
Messages
230
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.

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
10,062
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.
 

Wilko

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
21,010
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

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
1,885
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. FullSizeRender-compressed.jpeg
 

Big tuna

New member
Joined
Jan 28, 2024
Messages
4
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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