If you only had a bridge pickup ...

[AllanAllen]

[Bobby Timmons]

Awww man, I love the Walkmen.

Me too. They're one of my all time favorite bands. My little mind was blown when they came out when I was in high school because how much I relate to their style. They never achieved mainstream success but I think they're up there with the greatest 00s indie bands. Their whole discography is good, from 02-12.

[John A.]

^^^

Ella did not do it. Frankie Boy did not do it. Nat Cole did not do it. Elvis did not do it. Miles did not do it. Not even Elvis Costello did do it.

John A. I am looking forward to your jazzy recording with your own lyrics on your bridge pickup. Or you owe me a set of strings (see above).

I think my work on this thread is done.

[Oscar67]

I own one of these and <gasp> a Soldano amplifier as well. I think we are allowed to like and play other styles of music, but I always forget to check with the gatekeeper on the current set of rules.

Malcolm’s my hero. Always has been. His tone and timing are magical. No frills. Just lock in with the drummer and serve the song.

I recently got a guitar with just a bridge pickup. And love it. Guitar volume and tone both on five, plug into a Fender-esque tube amp, pump the bass a bit and it sounds just great.

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

[...] Just lock in with the drummer and serve the song. [...]

That's what you always should do. Everything else is nonsense.

[Irishmuso]

Just lock in with the drummer and serve the song.

Of course there are drummers who, on live gigs, have been known to set the wrong tempo or even worse, the wrong rhythm. Lock in with them or not? Would deciding not to 'lock in with them' be 'nonsense'? Don't dodge the question by saying that you shouldn't play with drummers like that. We all have and they are not necessarily bad drummers. They just don't know the song. Do you still 'lock in' with them, bearing in mind that not to do so may be seen as 'nonsense'?

[Hep To The Jive]

Of course there are drummers who, on live gigs, have been known to set the wrong tempo or even worse, the wrong rhythm. Lock in with them or not? Would deciding not to 'lock in with them' be 'nonsense'? Don't dodge the question by saying that you shouldn't play with drummers like that. We all have and they are not necessarily bad drummers. They just don't know the song. Do you still 'lock in' with them, bearing in mind that not to do so may be seen as 'nonsense'?

If it's really wrong stop the song, try again. Otherwise yes, lock in with, you don't have a choice.

[Lionelsax]

If you've got a brain, you can do whatever you want with a bridge pickup maybe more than a lonely neck pickup.
The neck pickup is the shorter way to get a "jazz" sound...
Sure it will sound a bit different but playable and quite pleasant.

[mr. beaumont]

Jimmy appears to be using both here.

[AllanAllen]

Jimmy appears to be using both here.

Carlie Baty said the key is to have both pickups on and roll the tone to 0 and the volume to 5 on the bridge pickup. Works for me on blues gigs, then I can switch to a wide open neck pickup for solos and get a boost without a pedal.

I don't like the bridge pickup alone, never did, doubt I ever will.

[wolflen]

well I would not fight it...hook up TWO twin reverb..everything on 10

and play everything Leslie West did
Gibson Les Paul Junior Electric Guitar Vintage Tobacco | Guitar Center

[Question]

I am cheating slightly, using the bridge pickup full on and the neck at about 10%.

I love the sound of the bridge pickup! If you are going for a warm jazz tone of course using the bridge PU alone will make it much more difficult, but that is generally not the only sound that I like to use.

[frabarmus]

@Question: Very "piercing" tone on Inner Urge (slightly more neck-PU on Goodbye Pork Pie Hat?)

Very nice playing! Congrats.

[Question]

Ciao Frabarmus,

I recorded those videos last year for other threads on this forum related to these songs, so I don't remember the exact settings.

The bridge PU has more dynamic range for me, especially with a bit of boost, so I just set them until it sounds the way I like.

For these two videos the Bridge PU is on full, it could be that Pork Pie Hat has a bit more neck PU mixed in or I am just playing with less attack.

I posted these videos because I always thought that players with a two pickup guitar who only use the neck PU are missing out on many interesting tone colors.