One Pickup or Two on a Jazz Guitar?

**ronjazz** · 08-20-2012, 07:43 PM

The bridge pickup muted and hit hard with the pick, makes a great percussion sound. Still, my fave archtop jazzer has just the one mini-humbucker, with just a volume pot on the pickguard.

**ruger9** · 08-20-2012, 09:21 PM

I'm coming from a different direction; I'm not the "true jazzer" (whatever that is) that alot of the people here seem to be. While I would love a carved top with a floater exclusively for jazz, I LOVE western swing, jump blues, and rockabilly... and the bridge pickup comes in mighty handy for those styles, especially rockabilly and traditional rock-n-roll. So the bridge pup certainly does have it's place in a guitar meant to be used for many styles.

But if I had the money to burn, I'd get an old Johnny Smith JUST for jazz ('cause that's all I'd be able to use it for.)

**Playerizor** · 08-21-2012, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I have absolutely no use at all for a bridge pickup (and I'm really too clumsy to switch on the fly anyway). I'm in the midst of putting together a short scale Tele partscaster and I've been talking to my wife about whether I should stick a pickup in the bridge position. Unless I decide to sell it some day, the bridge pickup would just be decorative anyway. The body came pre-routed. The control plate is pre-cut for the blade switch and of course the Tele bridge has the opening for the pickup, but I may just leave it empty and not bother installing a switch.

Your chances of selling a partscaster for anywhere near what you put into it is about nil. So you might as well do to it whatever you prefer.

My self assembled partscaster is the best guitar I have, (and i have some pretty expensive guitars) and I know I will never sell it but I also know that I will never get more than a couple hundred bucks for it.

**Playerizor** · 08-21-2012, 09:49 AM

I recently bought a Heritage 575 Custom with a spruce top. I was really surprised when it showed up with one pick-up. I never considered that it wouldn't have two. I immediately realized I only needed the neck pu and have been very happy with it.

If you are considering an arch top jazz box that is close to an acoustic consider a solid spruce top instead of the laminates.

**2bornot2bop** · 08-21-2012, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Playerizor

I recently bought a Heritage 575 Custom with a spruce top. I was really surprised when it showed up with one pick-up. I never considered that it wouldn't have two. I immediately realized I only needed the neck pu and have been very happy with it.

If you are considering an arch top jazz box that is close to an acoustic consider a solid spruce top instead of the laminates.

You bought the guitar that was supposed to be mine. You need the 2 pickup model. Sell that one to me and you'll fit right in with those that want to play rock on a jazz guitar.

I can't believe there were 2 spruce top customs recently acquired...this one sold locally on craigs...it was an '06 model that had a floater to boot, and sold for the ridiculous price of $1400. I'm still pissed I missed it obviously.

**oldane** · 08-21-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I'm going to have the bridge pickup on my Heritage replaced with a dummy holkow pickup. it will be filled with bourbon.

Make it Ardbeg Uigedail or Corryvreckan, and I too will have one installed on my 175D. (it may be possible to enlarge it to an extension under the top)

**2bornot2bop** · 08-21-2012, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by oldane

Make it Ardbeg Uigedail or Corryvreckan, and I too will have one installed on my 175D. (it may be possible to enlarge it to an extension under the top)

Hey, what's that rubber tube goin' from the corner of his mouth to his bridge pickup???

**cmajor9** · 08-22-2012, 12:52 PM

If you're going to be playing jazz, the neck pickup is all you need. And even with only one pickup, you can get a variety of sounds just by adjusting where you hold your picking hand - from the end of the fretboard for a more mellow, "vocal" tone, to near the bridge, for a brighter, aggressive one.

**Playerizor** · 08-22-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

You bought the guitar that was supposed to be mine. You need the 2 pickup model. Sell that one to me and you'll fit right in with those that want to play rock on a jazz guitar.

I can't believe there were 2 spruce top customs recently acquired...this one sold locally on craigs...it was an '06 model that had a floater to boot, and sold for the ridiculous price of $1400. I'm still pissed I missed it obviously.

I paid a lot more than $1400 but I got it new and with the expectation that if I ever sell it I will take a bath.

**ESCC** · 08-22-2012, 01:27 PM

I was listening to some George Benson tunes this morning and he definitely uses both pick-ups on occasion.

**2bornot2bop** · 08-22-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Playerizor

I paid a lot more than $1400 but I got it new and with the expectation that if I ever sell it I will take a bath.

Good 4U! There's nothing like breaking in your own axe! Congrat's!

**fep** · 08-22-2012, 04:18 PM

Two pups are good, that way they can keep each other company.

**kenbennett** · 08-22-2012, 06:34 PM

It's really your choice. If you know that will use the bridge pickup, even if only occasionally, and you don't want to cart around an extra guitar for that purpose, get the damn two pickup model. If you are only going to play jazz with a traditional jazz tone, unlike Scofield, then just get one pickup.