Yes, you can put a neck pickup in the bridge position. In fact, many guitarists do this to get a brighter, more aggressive sound from their bridge pickup. Neck pickups are typically brighter than bridge pickups because they are closer to the neck of the guitar, where the strings vibrate less. When you put a neck pickup in the bridge position, it is closer to the bridge, where the strings vibrate more. This increased vibration results in a brighter, more articulate sound.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering putting a neck pickup in the bridge position:
- Output: Neck pickups typically have a lower output than bridge pickups. This means that they produce a weaker signal, which may require you to adjust the gain on your amp to avoid clipping.
- Balance: It is important to balance the output of the neck pickup with the output of the bridge pickup. You can do this by adjusting the pickup height or by using a volume knob.
- Feedback: Neck pickups are less prone to feedback than bridge pickups, so you may need to be more careful when playing with high gain.
- Pickup height: You may need to adjust the pickup height of the neck pickup in the bridge position to get the best sound. This is because the strings vibrate more at the bridge of the guitar, so you may need to lower the pickup height to avoid clipping.
- Amp settings: You may also need to adjust the amp settings to get the best sound from a neck pickup in the bridge position. For example, you may need to turn up the treble setting or decrease the gain setting.
Here are some examples of guitarists who have used a neck pickup in the bridge position:
- Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix used a Seymour Duncan JB humbucker in the neck position of his Stratocaster. This gave his guitar a brighter, more aggressive sound than a traditional Strat.
- Eddie Van Halen: Van Halen used a DiMarzio PAF Pro humbucker in the neck position of his Kramer EVH guitar. This gave his guitar a more versatile sound, as he could switch between the neck pickup and the bridge pickup to get different sounds.
- Kirk Hammett: Hammett uses an EMG 81 humbucker in the neck position of his ESP Custom Shop guitars. This gives his guitar a very hot and aggressive sound, which is ideal for playing heavy metal music.
- James Hetfield: Hetfield uses an EMG 81 humbucker in the neck position of his ESP Custom Shop guitars. This gives his guitar a very thick and powerful sound, which is ideal for playing heavy metal music.
- Slash: Slash uses a Gibson Burstbucker humbucker in the neck position of his Les Paul guitars. This gives his guitar a warm and mellow sound, which is ideal for playing blues and rock music.
Overall, putting a neck pickup in the bridge position is a great way to get a brighter, more aggressive sound from your bridge pickup. It can also give your guitar more versatility and a unique sound. If you are considering putting a neck pickup in the bridge position, I recommend experimenting with different pickup heights and amp settings to find the sound that you like.
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I hope this article is informative. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
