Putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position is a popular modification among guitarists who want a brighter, more aggressive sound from their bridge pickup. Neck humbuckers are typically brighter than bridge humbuckers, so putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position can give your guitar a more versatile sound.
Benefits
There are a few benefits to putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position:
- Brighter sound: Neck humbuckers are typically brighter than bridge humbuckers, so putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position can give you a brighter, more articulate sound. This can be useful for lead guitar playing, or for getting a more cutting sound for rhythm playing.
- More aggressive sound: Neck humbuckers are also typically hotter than bridge humbuckers, so putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position can give you a more aggressive sound. This can be useful for playing heavier genres of music, such as metal or hard rock.
- More versatility: Putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position can give your guitar more versatility. You can now get a wide range of sounds from your guitar, from warm and mellow to bright and aggressive.
- Unique sound: Putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position can also give your guitar a unique sound. This is because the sound of a neck humbucker in the bridge position will be different from the sound of a neck humbucker in the neck position.
Considerations
There are a few things to keep in mind if you are considering putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position:
- Output: Neck humbuckers typically have a lower output than bridge humbuckers, so you may need to adjust the gain on your amp to avoid clipping.
- Balance: It is important to balance the output of the neck humbucker with the output of the bridge pickup. You can do this by adjusting the pickup height or by using a volume knob.
- Feedback: Neck humbuckers are more prone to feedback than bridge humbuckers, 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 humbucker in the bridge position to get the best sound. This is because the strings vibrate less at the neck of the guitar, so you may need to raise the pickup height to get a good signal.
- Amp settings: You may also need to adjust the amp settings to get the best sound from a neck humbucker in the bridge position. For example, you may need to turn down the treble setting or increase the gain setting.
Examples
Here are some examples of guitarists who have used a neck humbucker 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.
Putting a neck humbucker 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 humbucker in the bridge position, I recommend experimenting with different pickup heights and amp settings to find the sound that you like.
Here are some additional tips for putting a neck humbucker in the bridge position:
- Choose a humbucker that is specifically designed for the bridge position. Bridge humbuckers are typically hotter and brighter than neck humbuckers.
- Make sure that the humbucker is compatible with your guitar. Some humbuckers are only compatible with certain types of guitars.
- Have the humbucker installed by a qualified luthier. This will ensure that the humbucker