What's the difference between neck and bridge humbuckers?

[surfguy13]

This is probably a stupid question but......is there a physical difference between a bridge and neck pickup? Could I, for example, use a bridge in the neck position? I have a pair of Tokai MK2 humbuckers and the neck is 8.10 and the bridge is 8.25, so very close to each other in terms of output. Would the bridge sound OK in the neck?

[guitarfishbay]

I've used bridge humbuckers in the neck before. In fact, my favourite high gain neck pickup is a Dimarzio Fred. It sounds nice and fat but still has enough clarity to not be a mud fest. If you have a thick sounding high output bridge pickup in an otherwise thin/bright sounding guitar it can balance quite well.

I've heard of people using a Duncan Jazz bridge in the neck just because the slightly higher wind fattens things up a little more than a standard jazz neck pickup, which can sound thin in some guitars.

Easiest way to find out is just to try it.

[WezV]

traditionally - nothing.

these days the bridge is often higher powered to give better balance between the pickups.

On some the spacing is different too, so if you get a wide spaced bridge pickup it can look very odd in the neck position. but it will still work ok

[monquixote]

They are usually slightly different to make a matched set and hotter at the bridge so if you swapped the classic JB and Jazz pairing the neck would probably overpower the bridge a bit, but it might still sound good.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Back in the old days there was no difference at all between bridge and neck humbuckers ... the guys Gibson just used to grab whatever was in the parts bin and on it went. They weren't even 'handed' as far as which end the cable came out of like many modern buckers ... the cable exited the right side of the bridge unit and the left of the neck to allow the slug coils to be closest to each other. That's how I, and many other winders, still do traditional Pafs. The practise has grown up these days to wind the bridge a little hotter, as that's the quietest bit of string it's sitting under ... and I (and some other makers) also tend to make neck pickups with more asymmetric coil outputs than than bridge pickups to improve note definition and sparkle. Oh I personally make all my modern, short leg buckers handed too.

[surfguy13]

Thanks guys, that really does tell me exactly what I need to know!! I think it's clear that I need to use my ears rather than abide by any 'rules' and at the end of the day if it doesn't sound right it's only two solder joints to remove it!

Really appreciate the input.....

Back in the old days there was no difference at all between bridge and neck humbuckers ... the guys Gibson just used to grab whatever was in the parts bin and on it went. They weren't even 'handed' as far as which end the cable came out of like many modern buckers ... the cable exited the right side of the bridge unit and the left of the neck to allow the slug coils to be closest to each other. That's how I, and many other winders, still do traditional Pafs. The practise has grown up these days to wind the bridge a little hotter, as that's the quietest bit of string it's sitting under ... and I (and some other makers) also tend to make neck pickups with more asymmetric coil outputs than than bridge pickups to improve note definition and sparkle. Oh I personally make all my modern, short leg buckers handed too.

I've used bridge humbuckers in the neck before. In fact, my favourite high gain neck pickup is a Dimarzio Fred. It sounds nice and fat but still has enough clarity to not be a mud fest. If you have a thick sounding high output bridge pickup in an otherwise thin/bright sounding guitar it can balance quite well.

I've heard of people using a Duncan Jazz bridge in the neck just because the slightly higher wind fattens things up a little more than a standard jazz neck pickup, which can sound thin in some guitars.

Easiest way to find out is just to try it.

traditionally - nothing.

these days the bridge is often higher powered to give better balance between the pickups.

On some the spacing is different too, so if you get a wide spaced bridge pickup it can look very odd in the neck position. but it will still work ok

They are usually slightly different to make a matched set and hotter at the bridge so if you swapped the classic JB and Jazz pairing the neck would probably overpower the bridge a bit, but it might still sound good.

[pintspiller]

my rockingham has a neck pup from a berlin in the bridge. sounds fine to me

[TheGuitarWeasel]

The only thing really to watch out for is the pole spacing ... many bridge pickups are 52mm rather than 50mm or even 49.2mm. If you use a 52 on in a Gibbo spaced neck position the top and bottom E strings will fall slightly outside the pole pieces. Obviously if you use a 50mm spaced Gibbo style pickup in a 'Fender' spaced neck position the strings will fall inside the poles rather than going directly over them.This is really only cosmetic only mind.

[Guitarmonkey]

Pedantic I know but isn't that the wrong way round?

As you say it doesn't make any difference. It's not as if when you bend a string it goes loud quiet loud quiet loud as it passes over the polepieces.

[TheGuitarWeasel]

Well spotted ... I just love hangovers! the POLES will be outside with a 52 at the neck on a Gibbo ... the STRINGS will be outside with a 50mm in an F spaced bridge position. Damn poles coming in and taking all our positions!