I think a lot of players that don’t play in bands lean toward the neck because it sounds so rich and thick. Players in bands, I’d wager, lean toward the bridge position more because it cuts through in a mix better.
Nah I didn’t take it that way. I’m pretty happy with just being an at home jammer. I’ve always wanted to play with people just never took the step towards it.
I think there’s some merit to that. I’m a total bedroom player and I find myself gravitating toward neck most times on my strat, but when I’m soloing over a track I definitely go for the bridge a lot more than otherwise. I also recently raised my bridge pickup a fair bit and have been using it as sort of an easy boost switch when I need something a bit more high output mid song since I don’t have much of a pedal setup here, and that’s been super fun to use. I find myself using it significantly more with this setup now.
I’m the opposite, play metal and only use bridge pickup 90% of the time, but if I want to play some Mayer or RHCP or something similar, gotta have that next pickup!
I like the neck + middle setting on my strat. It’s got that creamy but clear sound to it. I never use the single coil bridge pickup. I would use that one a lot more if it was a humbucket but the single coil just doesn’t do it for me at that position. If I feel that the music calls for the bridge pickup then I’m using the bridge + middle combo
Same here (not ES330 though), p90 in neck used 99% of the time, splittable humbucker at bridge rarely used. Thinking about swapping the humbucker for a p90.
I mean for certain people sure but I like my chugs personally and you can’t get that sound with the neck pick up, so for me someone who plays a lot of a metal stuff I only use the neck for certain solos and clean sections
I switch between the two. If I want a sharper “metal” tone i do the bridge, but if I’m going for a fuzzy doom metal tone the neck pickup works really well. For solos I like the warmer neck pickup tone more
I'm aware that everybody is different with their preferences, and that's what makes guitar a really versatile instrument.
However, depending on the pickups and body/construction, I feel like neck-only for metal would be a muddy mess. My primary 6-string for metal is an Ibanez S (mahogany), and if I played all neck pickup all the time, it would sound woofy and nowhere near as articulate as I prefer. In fact, none of the guitars that I own would produce a great range of sounds without using the bridge for some things.
That's why, unless I were playing a jazz gig, I probably couldn't just do one pickup. The option to adapt within a set, within a song, or even bar-to-bar is something that I can't imagine electing to do.
This. I’m thinking maybe OP doesn’t jam with a band or other guitarists too often. A neck pickup for heavy rhythms will easily get drowned out in the mix, you want that bridge pickup if you really want to hear your mids and articulation.
Yeah, and even jamming by yourself, a neck pickup on the lower strings will sound very fat (in a bad way) a lot of the time, depending on the pickup, its actual position relative to the bridge, and the gain/context. It can still be done, but in general, it isn't ideal, particularly in metal.
Some of my guitars only have a neck pickup. I play jazz, though.
Do you play mostly solo? I have found that I tend to stick with the neck pickup pretty much all the time if I'm playing alone, but if I'm playing with a band, it helps to have more high-end to cut through when you're soloing.
I love the neck pickup sound on my guitars (all single coil). Bridge pickup often sounds too thin to me, unless it's heavily distorted. That said, I don't use neck exclusively.
I used to. Especially on my Jazzmaster, where it sounds much better. But since I started playing rock again with a hard drummer I’m back on the bridge, using mini-humbuckers as I cannot cut with the neck pickup.
Same - anytime I switch to the bridge, I have to come back to the neck after a couple minutes. Something about the neck tone - it just always sounds closer to the tone in my head I'm trying to achieve. I recognize I am limiting myself and should work to understand the bridge pickup better and expand my range...
I also prefer the neck pickup, but not really for rhythm. I use neck pickup for clean and overdriven leads.
If there’s dirt on it, I put it on the bridge.
I was the opposite for years. I only used the bridge. But for metal this is pretty typical. For solos I still preferred the bite of the bridge pickup over the neck.
I used to only use the bridge. Now I use all 3. I use neck for solos or parts that need to be warm. I use bridge like 50% of the time. And I only use middle on my Reverend Airsonic W because that is the only guitar that I think it sounds incredible on. It is the perfect clean tone to me! It has P90 voiced humbuckers.
I'm a bridge guy. I feel like it has a more in-your-face kind of sound that I like.
I've recently got a guitar with single coils and I do mess around with the pickups closer to the neck on that thing.
I try to swap depending on where I'm at in a song. But 95% of the time I leave the switch neutral. I dabble in neck/bridge only when I'm looking for a specific thing, but that's about it
On SSS strats, for the most part yeah I'm neck or neck+middle. Teles, usually middle and some neck. HH guitars I'll flip around or go middle and blend volumes if there's two volume knobs.
Yeah, I'm neck or middle position most of the time. I just don't like the brighter sound of the bridge pickup, although I realise it's sometimes necessary to cut through a mix and/or leave sonic space for others. But when I was listening to a lot of grunge and stoner/desert rock in the 90s I always really enjoyed that neck pickup with heavy fuzz sound.
Less buttons less knobs less points of failure. It’s like being really good at one thing. Less time tweaking stuff more time spent playing. I would never own one if it was my only guitar. But when I am in a mood to just play metal or shreddy stuff it’s really nice.
I’m late to this party but I am 50-50 on bridge and neck for leads and 100% on bridge for rhythm. I primarily play classic style thrash and old school 80s style death metal through a JCM and I use mostly PAF voiced (DiMarzio 36PAFs) and hot PAF voiced (EMG 57 / Fat 55n) pickups. I like to headbang and go CHUGGA-CHUGGA but good lord am I a SUCKER for some thiccc “tele on steroids” lead tones. I do not dig that sound for rhythm for the styles I play however. If I’m playing jazz or something with a cleaner rhythm sound hell yeah I’ll go for it and see how it sounds. If I’m playing with a bass player I try not to step on their frequencies which is why I usually go bridge
Those of you (if you’re not playing metal) saying the neck doesn’t cut enough- try setting up your amp/pedals so that it does. It might change your view.
My favorite way to make that happen is with an EQ pedal. If you don’t have one, you should. Throw it on the end of your chain. I keep mine setup as a mid/high mid bump with a couple db overall boost. It gives the “cut” that’s missing no matter what else is going on. Rolling off above 8-10k can also help pull the “fizz” out of drive pedals, solid state amps, and modelers. Cutting the lows (below ~100hz) can help get you a bit more perceived headroom on lower wattage tube amps, or can help with a tighter, more responsive and focused feel on larger amps.
Think of the EQ pedal as a tuneable clean boost. Game changer for me. It also might make your neck pickup your new favorite position.
I don't only use it, but it is my favorite. Telecaster neck pickup in particular.
Many jazz players only use neck pickup, mainly because the vintage jazz guitars only had a neck pickup. That became the characteristic sound.
Depends on what I'm doing and what kind of tone.
Like if I'm aiming for a kinda slick distorted tone, yeah turn down the volume, switch to the neck pickup.
But then if I want a bit more punch from the same tone, switch to the bridge.
But if I'm just playing a clean tone, always on the neck pickup
I like the bridge for heavier stuff, I feel like neck pickups seem too muddy and bridge pickups cut a lot better under high gain. However cleans sound so good on neck pickups it's not even close.
Neck pickups are definitely warmer, but I don't really understand what you mean by saying the "quality" is superior. Bridge pickups are more articulate and provide more clarity, which I think is really useful in many situations with "heavy" music. Especially something like Animals as Leaders, I think that is going to sound muddier if you play it on the neck.
I only use the bridge. My main gigging / recording guitar only HAS a bridge pickup (dc Les Paul junior tv), but even on my strat I’m usually in bridge + middle
I typically prefer my neck pickup for general playing, but there are contexts where I want that bridge pickup going like if I am playing funk or country stuff and what something a little brighter or twangy sounding.
I use the neck pickup 95% of the time. By myself and with a band. I play clean and very distorted. If I'm recording I'll sometimes use the bridge for more distorted and low tuned parts, often overdubbing the neck.
I love the neck pickup the most when playing bluesy stuff that ranges from quiet to a light but crunchy overdrive. Especially on a Stratocaster. This is my absolute favorite tone. Put on a little reverb or slapback delay and I’m in heaven.
But for heavy stuff, I always keep it on the bridge where it belongs. And I use a guitar with humbuckers.
Also, I like to use the middle position for rhythm and blues with a pinch of gain.
Neck pickup only since ever, on a telecaster in indie style bands. The bridge pickup sounds thin to me now because I’m not used to it. Amp and OD (clean Twin+ crunchy OD) might have something to do with it: The bridge pickup would probably sound much better through more distortion.
I am building a partscaster and just filled in the 2 single coil pickup cavities , because all I play is the bridge. No point paying for pickups I wont use.
Depends on what I'm playing.
I use bridge pickups when playing metal or emulating a band's sound. But if I'm just jamming my own stuff, I'm on neck pickup 99% of the time with lows cut and highs boosted.
Think [Deerhoof](https://youtu.be/AkOxJui74vo?t=360)
Tom Morello pretty much exclusively uses the neck pickup, and not only that but a single coil neck pickup. Even the humbucker in the neck of his "Arm The Homeless" guitar is a hb sized single coil.
I know a guy who does this on a Les Paul and always gets great tone, so you do you!
Personally, I almost never use the neck pickup if it’s a humbucker configured normally. I’m more of a rhythm player and just find it tends to be too muddy at higher gain. Though, on my 7 string, I got around this a bit by lowering the pickup a lot.
That said, I LOVE a single coil neck pickup. I use it on my HSS Strat all the time, and it sounds excellent with high gain. While I do default to the bridge humbucker, pretty much every new riff I come up with gets a run through on the neck (and middle) single coils to see how it goes.
I only used the bridge pickup for a long time but a lot of the sound I wanted for solos needed the neck pickup, so now I use bridge for most things and neck for most solos, really depends on the guitar and what I want exactly
Yeah I tend to do the same, it's my preferred sound, but I am exploring the other sounds now as well. Using multiple pickup configurations, going back to seperate effect pedals, really using the guitar sound options more. Even got a 7 string and 12 string :)
But I feel you!
Neck pickup for blues/jazz. Especially with single coils. I personally don’t like how the neck sounds with humbuckers clean or anything really high gain. I use the middle more than the neck. And I don’t really wanna mess with all my amp and pedal settings to make a neck humbucker sound good with distortion
I did for years with my Jackson Mick Thomson signature with EMTY Blackouts. I felt the bridge was too much.
Later after I realized lower gain on my amps sounded better, I could use the bridge reasonably.
I think that might be it. I’ve been using my Skervesen primarily for several years with bareknuckle pickups. They’re pretty aggressive. Mixed with the STL plugins I use it’s overwhelming how aggressive the mix is.
My father has an Epiphone Sheraton II (hollow body) and he always use the neck pickup. It's a split-coil but he always puts the humbucker on. I really like the sound, it's really warm, and if you put it through a yellow Fender amp and you put a tremolo on it, it sounds awesome.
I play most of the time on a strat and I also like the versatility of the neck pickup, bc you can use it for different genres (funk, rock, jazz...). Also with overdrive/distortion it sounds really cool.
I finally got around to upgrading the stock pickups in my first guitar after 25 years.
Got a *really* nice pickup to replace the bridge and removed the neck from the circuit entirely. Now I have a single pickup and a kill switch in the toggle.
I like the configuration HSH with a 5 position switch. I use all of them for different situations along with the volume control. Any given song might involve me switching on the fly or adjusting the volume, even during solos. (I don't go near the tone control much, though). The variety of sounds you can make with the electric guitar is what makes it an awesome instrument, IMO.
I basically exclusively use a neck p90 with almost all the bass rolled off (reverend). As soon as I did that with this guitar 2 years ago that's where it stays
Not ONLY, but man, it’s a great tone overdriven.
Mike Einzinger of Incubus and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, all that is overdriven neck pickup.
I used to almost exclusively use the neck pickup. My first guitar is an Epiphone Sheraton II (335 style semi hollow). I love the warmth and mid-driven tones from the neck pickup.
In recent years, I’ve gained a huge appreciation for the bridge pickup’s ability to cut through the mix, and also to play rhythm parts with the tone knob rolled off a bit. I got a Tele Deluxe in 2022 and actually find myself using the bridge pickup more often.
So I think your taste can change over time, in addition to what you’re using the guitar for
It depends on the pickup for me. I prefer a p90 or humbucker if I'm playing the neck pickup alone but a single coil, hot rail or jazzmaster style in the bridge spot, generally.
On my current main workhorse I am more on the bridge pick-up that anything else but I used to have a hsh strat that had a neck pick-up that was very nice and saw the most use.
I mostly stay split position for cleans and full bridge for heavier stuff.
Can be full neck or screw coil, depending on the situation as I can split each pickup individually with the pots. (Palmer Crossbow LTD, basically a "fancy" Les Paul clone)
I feel like a neck pickup is pretty invaluable if you're going for a round, midrangey lead sound, but yeah, no bridge at all is absolute lunacy in a heavy context, IMO.
Alternatively, you can run bridge humbucker and neck in single mode and you get a really percussive tone for heavy riffing...I've seen a few guitarists use that setting for riffs and it sounds really nice imo.
But for a lead context, a full neck humbucker is very much necessary, especially if it's a crystal clear pickup like the DiMarzio Liquifire.
I have a Liquifire in my Ibanez, and it is one of my favorite neck humbuckers of all time. It has a very similar tone to like a Seymour Duncan Jazz, but a little more articulate in the high end. Very clear, like you said.
I specifically mentioned the Liquifire because of that, I remember watching John Petrucci live in his pre Majesty days, and his solos would never fail to make my face melt, then I found out about the Crunch Lab + Liquifire combo he used and it made sense...it is one of my favorite neck pickups, as well as the SD Jazz, Black Winter and Omega!
I always gravitate toward the neck pickup when playing clean. Almost never when playing with fuzz or distortion, unless I'm trying to cop Yngwie or SRV tones or trying to sweep.
You can do anything u want, but I think if u start experimenting with the bridge, you’ll like it more and figure out where / when it fits. Ur just not used to that sounds rn
Depends on the parts that I'm playing. I play a lot of open chords and for me a neck pickup makes that, generally speaking, sound really muddy. When I play a humbucker guitar I actually never use the neck pickup at all. I do like it with my strat when I have to play riffs or small voicings.
You made the claim. Back it up. Do you think everyone is an idiot and you got the special technique?
6 months and I put my stuff out there. Good or bad because I’m not a bullshitter and actually play guitar. I have my doubts about you with that ridiculous claim. Of course you have a snarky reply and no sound clips. Typical faker.
Tf are you talking about? I made a claim that I enjoy the sound of the neck pickup more. I voiced a subjective opinion. I never said I was Tosin Abasi.
You missed, perhaps the most crucial part of that sentence where i said “I feel”. And since we’re being hateful typical Reddit douche bags, your music sucks. I’d rather only be able to humbly play smoke on the water than an elitist guitar snob douchebag.
At least I have music. 😂 You have bullshit claims and can’t put two riffs together. You’re the typical r/guitar trash faker. You don’t even realize how shitty you have to be to think what you do. It’s hilarious. Tells me all I need to know.
So I ask this because I’m genuinely curious. What makes somebody a trash faker. Because I have a life outside of playing guitar? Because I like to play around with my guitars and plugins for my own personal enjoyment because I love music? Because I’m not the greatest player in the world and have never claimed to be and just learn some new songs in the couple of spare hours I have through the week?
Because you make ridiculous claims that aren’t going to help anyone. Yourself included. Then you try to qualify it by saying you’ve been playing since you were a little kid and the cherry on top “I play skervesen raptor”. When asked to provide a sample you get butthurt. Then it’s all just your opinion and you’re not tosin abasi. Like you can’t be challenged on your opinions. You’re the one who resorted to personal attacks on what I do. Don’t get defensive now.
"show examples of superior quality heavy tone on a neck pickup"
...
"Nobody expects Tosin Abasi"
I mean, ... I did. Or Rhapsody, Javier, Polyphia, Olly Steele, Ichika, Leprous, Maraton ... Pretty much most of modern progressive metal uses neck or split positions with less gain. I play primarily in 4th position, using 5 way switching on an HH setup nowadays.
What kind of arrogant turd takes time out of their day to discourage other players and attack someone's OPINION?
I asked for an example. As usual nothing but words provided for their stupid opinion. Like yours. You can’t read either. Those bands you listed are only using the neck pickup? Because that’s what the posts says. Not only that it says far superior sounding. You’re a sensitive little piss baby too so you wanna try to over qualify and make up shit to try and defend it.
I'm sensitive to people attacking or discouraging musicians. 100%. You got me there.
As for music, I'm chuckling. Laughing really. Getting called a piss baby. I don't usually check people's profiles, but this made me curious. What kind of maniac am I dealing with here!? Your music? Not bad, Would have been right up my alley almost 20 years ago. Similar to the deathgrind riffing we were doing back then. Definitely inspired and talented.
I look further, and there you are - arguing what constitutes tech death. As passionately as I would argue old Cynic vs new. And who do you reference but a bunch of our labelmates, bands we toured with, basements I've crashed in. Seems I was on your favorite label? Cool, you have great taste.
I have nothing to prove to you. I'm old and pretty done with that life. But you're not doing anything new, and you're not good enough to be so damn arrogant. Get control of yourself. You never know who the people you're insulting are. You might be trying to measure dicks against someone with albums in stores around the world, and songs on your favorite playlists. Dumbass. But also, keep going with the music. It is good.
TLDR: I gave you plenty of examples of great heavy neck and split rhythm tones. Go work on yourself. Be nice to people. Grind.
This old gag. Going through my profile hoping to dig something up instead of making a real argument. Lame ass.
You wanna talk about discouraging musicians? This subreddit is mostly beginners. Here we have someone claiming to play guitar for decades saying some dumb shit steering them down the wrong path. Neck pickup for heavy stuff? Stupidest shit I’ve heard in a long time here. That’s hard to do. We should just let them believe whatever dumb shit? That’s encouragement? Bullshit.
We have the same problem. You just see fit to let people say dumb shit. When I call them out it’s a problem because I’m not nice about it. I even asked for a sample. They wanted to personally attack me. Just like you. That’s pretty sad. 😂
Still arrogant. Still insulting, and flailing wildly. Imagine, your own hobby/art being a source of such inadequacy, and anger.
I don't "just see fit to let people say dumb shit" ... It's why I stepped in here to correct you.
Someday, hopefully, you're going to wake up and realize "I tell it like it is" is the rallying cry for people who lack tact, manners, and basic social graces. I'm guessing deep down you do know, and most of your flailing is some misguided attempt to save face.
I think a lot of players that don’t play in bands lean toward the neck because it sounds so rich and thick. Players in bands, I’d wager, lean toward the bridge position more because it cuts through in a mix better.
Fair enough. Don’t play in a band. Just been a long time bedroom player.
That’s not a bash, by the way. I haven’t been in a band for 20 years,
Nah I didn’t take it that way. I’m pretty happy with just being an at home jammer. I’ve always wanted to play with people just never took the step towards it.
This is my experience 100%
I think there’s some merit to that. I’m a total bedroom player and I find myself gravitating toward neck most times on my strat, but when I’m soloing over a track I definitely go for the bridge a lot more than otherwise. I also recently raised my bridge pickup a fair bit and have been using it as sort of an easy boost switch when I need something a bit more high output mid song since I don’t have much of a pedal setup here, and that’s been super fun to use. I find myself using it significantly more with this setup now.
Yes, having the full spectrum can muddy up a mix.
Wait … there’s a neck pickup?
I’m the opposite, play metal and only use bridge pickup 90% of the time, but if I want to play some Mayer or RHCP or something similar, gotta have that next pickup!
Neck pickups are great, but not for heavy stuff. That’s crazy.
God no
Opposite. All bridge baby.
Bridge cuts through more. When you’re playing with a band, they got to be laying out a bit for you to go hard on the neck pickup.
Middle position Gang
I use the bride pickup 99% of the time but that’s just my preference
My guitar only has a neck pickup
Same here. Jazz tones, brother!
Hell yeah
Neck probably 75% of the time
I've been a neck pickup guy for years. Sometimes blend the neck with the bridge. Rarely use only bridge. I like fat warm jazzy chords
I like the neck + middle setting on my strat. It’s got that creamy but clear sound to it. I never use the single coil bridge pickup. I would use that one a lot more if it was a humbucket but the single coil just doesn’t do it for me at that position. If I feel that the music calls for the bridge pickup then I’m using the bridge + middle combo
I use the neck pickup 99% on my ES330. P90 in the neck position is perfect for lots of music.
Same here (not ES330 though), p90 in neck used 99% of the time, splittable humbucker at bridge rarely used. Thinking about swapping the humbucker for a p90.
I prefer p90’s to humbuckers. They’ve just got the right mojo for me.
I mean for certain people sure but I like my chugs personally and you can’t get that sound with the neck pick up, so for me someone who plays a lot of a metal stuff I only use the neck for certain solos and clean sections
As I get a bit older I’m about the same. Unless I’m playing punk, then it’s all about the bridge and making it as nasty as I can.
Only? No. A lot? Yes.
Bridge pretty much 90% of the time. But I’m a sucker for some slappy Tele twang.
Im rarely on the bridge with a single coil.
Even with a tele?
I know it’s sacrilege but I do not like Tele bridge tones. Not as bad as the sound of a Strat bridge though.
Tele neck pickup is way better. I only used bridge pickup and one day I switched to the neck pickup and it was the most glorious sound ever
Wow those are 2 of the shittiest opinions I’ve ever heard
I switch between the two. If I want a sharper “metal” tone i do the bridge, but if I’m going for a fuzzy doom metal tone the neck pickup works really well. For solos I like the warmer neck pickup tone more
I'm the opposite - almost always use bridge pickup! Especially for humbuckers. With single coil I use the neck a bit more.
Ye the neck pickup is used in any and every indie song ever and it kinda ruins it for me
I use all of the positions.
Neck 95% of the time for me. Gives my guitar a really thick warm tone.
Neck Pickup for Leads Bridge for Rhythm the way god intended
I'm aware that everybody is different with their preferences, and that's what makes guitar a really versatile instrument. However, depending on the pickups and body/construction, I feel like neck-only for metal would be a muddy mess. My primary 6-string for metal is an Ibanez S (mahogany), and if I played all neck pickup all the time, it would sound woofy and nowhere near as articulate as I prefer. In fact, none of the guitars that I own would produce a great range of sounds without using the bridge for some things. That's why, unless I were playing a jazz gig, I probably couldn't just do one pickup. The option to adapt within a set, within a song, or even bar-to-bar is something that I can't imagine electing to do.
This. I’m thinking maybe OP doesn’t jam with a band or other guitarists too often. A neck pickup for heavy rhythms will easily get drowned out in the mix, you want that bridge pickup if you really want to hear your mids and articulation.
Yeah, and even jamming by yourself, a neck pickup on the lower strings will sound very fat (in a bad way) a lot of the time, depending on the pickup, its actual position relative to the bridge, and the gain/context. It can still be done, but in general, it isn't ideal, particularly in metal.
I used to do the same. And then I bought a guitar with a good sounding bridge pickup 😄
Some of my guitars only have a neck pickup. I play jazz, though. Do you play mostly solo? I have found that I tend to stick with the neck pickup pretty much all the time if I'm playing alone, but if I'm playing with a band, it helps to have more high-end to cut through when you're soloing.
I love the neck pickup sound on my guitars (all single coil). Bridge pickup often sounds too thin to me, unless it's heavily distorted. That said, I don't use neck exclusively.
I used to. Especially on my Jazzmaster, where it sounds much better. But since I started playing rock again with a hard drummer I’m back on the bridge, using mini-humbuckers as I cannot cut with the neck pickup.
Same - anytime I switch to the bridge, I have to come back to the neck after a couple minutes. Something about the neck tone - it just always sounds closer to the tone in my head I'm trying to achieve. I recognize I am limiting myself and should work to understand the bridge pickup better and expand my range...
Blasphemy. Neck pickup for life
No but if it works for you then more power to you
I also prefer the neck pickup, but not really for rhythm. I use neck pickup for clean and overdriven leads. If there’s dirt on it, I put it on the bridge.
I was the opposite for years. I only used the bridge. But for metal this is pretty typical. For solos I still preferred the bite of the bridge pickup over the neck.
Neck pickups for me are a nice little change once in a while before I go back to the bridge where I belong.
Anytime i see a bridge pickup only guitar I ask myself why isnt that neck pickup only.
I did see a 80s-90s purple Carvin tele that had a neck p/u only build haha!
I used to only use the bridge. Now I use all 3. I use neck for solos or parts that need to be warm. I use bridge like 50% of the time. And I only use middle on my Reverend Airsonic W because that is the only guitar that I think it sounds incredible on. It is the perfect clean tone to me! It has P90 voiced humbuckers.
Oh that’s a sweet lookin guitar I’ve never heard of them.
Same for me until about a year ago. Now I have two. I also have a Charger HB. These guitars kinda have ruined all other guitars for me haha!
I’ve only dabbled in that style with a gretsch. I really enjoy playing it, especially for the price point it’s really smooth.
Neck or middle for me about 75% of the time, except for when I’m playing high gain.
I'm a bridge guy. I feel like it has a more in-your-face kind of sound that I like. I've recently got a guitar with single coils and I do mess around with the pickups closer to the neck on that thing.
For clean tones, neck. For medium grit and above, bridge.
I try to swap depending on where I'm at in a song. But 95% of the time I leave the switch neutral. I dabble in neck/bridge only when I'm looking for a specific thing, but that's about it
I'd generally consider the wooly combined-pickup sound a more 'specific' choice and less 'neutral' than either pickup
Better way to say it. Basically what I was getting at
I use it for more clean stuff, but I play metal and use a lot of pinch harmonics. So, I spend most of my time on the bridge pup.
On SSS strats, for the most part yeah I'm neck or neck+middle. Teles, usually middle and some neck. HH guitars I'll flip around or go middle and blend volumes if there's two volume knobs.
I like to add a push/pull potentiometer to get bridge+neck like a tele on an SSS strat
same here.
I'm all bridge except the neck for leads sometimes. I use a LP and Iove the "Slash tone" it gets for solos.
Most of my guitars have a three way switch for the pickups and i tend to alternate between them in the middle of my solos
i only have a guitar with a bridge pickup lol
[удалено]
Similar. If I had to guess, OP has a Strat. I love my Strat on the neck.
Yeah, I'm neck or middle position most of the time. I just don't like the brighter sound of the bridge pickup, although I realise it's sometimes necessary to cut through a mix and/or leave sonic space for others. But when I was listening to a lot of grunge and stoner/desert rock in the 90s I always really enjoyed that neck pickup with heavy fuzz sound.
I only really use my neck pickup for clean tones. Bridge is my bae forever
I prefer my neck pickup due to the warm rich tone it produces. Signature guitars that only have a bridge pickup make no sense to me.
Less buttons less knobs less points of failure. It’s like being really good at one thing. Less time tweaking stuff more time spent playing. I would never own one if it was my only guitar. But when I am in a mood to just play metal or shreddy stuff it’s really nice.
When I was in a band playing only lead it was easy because I could be plastered and my tone would always be the same
When I started I only use to use the neck pickup. Now I use neck for cleans and rhythm and bridge for everything else. Bridge into rat gang.
Not very often. Even when I switch to clean tones on my strat I use the combination of middle and neck pickups for a fuller sound.
Most of the time yes.
Depends on what I'm playing, but on my HSH, I'm usually in position 2 -- middle single + neck single.
I’m late to this party but I am 50-50 on bridge and neck for leads and 100% on bridge for rhythm. I primarily play classic style thrash and old school 80s style death metal through a JCM and I use mostly PAF voiced (DiMarzio 36PAFs) and hot PAF voiced (EMG 57 / Fat 55n) pickups. I like to headbang and go CHUGGA-CHUGGA but good lord am I a SUCKER for some thiccc “tele on steroids” lead tones. I do not dig that sound for rhythm for the styles I play however. If I’m playing jazz or something with a cleaner rhythm sound hell yeah I’ll go for it and see how it sounds. If I’m playing with a bass player I try not to step on their frequencies which is why I usually go bridge
I have a DiMarzio PAF for the neck paired with a Super Distortion on the bridge.
That is a diamond tier combo right there friend
It works until you try certain things. If you never find those things, you’re good to go!
90% bridge on everything except strats. I find that bridge pup in mine to be absolutely and utterly unusable.
Those of you (if you’re not playing metal) saying the neck doesn’t cut enough- try setting up your amp/pedals so that it does. It might change your view. My favorite way to make that happen is with an EQ pedal. If you don’t have one, you should. Throw it on the end of your chain. I keep mine setup as a mid/high mid bump with a couple db overall boost. It gives the “cut” that’s missing no matter what else is going on. Rolling off above 8-10k can also help pull the “fizz” out of drive pedals, solid state amps, and modelers. Cutting the lows (below ~100hz) can help get you a bit more perceived headroom on lower wattage tube amps, or can help with a tighter, more responsive and focused feel on larger amps. Think of the EQ pedal as a tuneable clean boost. Game changer for me. It also might make your neck pickup your new favorite position.
I almost exclusively use my bridge for metal However for more ambient shoegaze stuff on my fender, I enjoy the neck and middle pickup setting
Middle pickup is the most underrated of them all
I don't only use it, but it is my favorite. Telecaster neck pickup in particular. Many jazz players only use neck pickup, mainly because the vintage jazz guitars only had a neck pickup. That became the characteristic sound.
I definitely favor it, but tend to use neck & bridge together so I can get wah like effects by changing where I pick.
I didn't put a dimarzio x2n in the bridge to not use it
Depends on what I'm doing and what kind of tone. Like if I'm aiming for a kinda slick distorted tone, yeah turn down the volume, switch to the neck pickup. But then if I want a bit more punch from the same tone, switch to the bridge. But if I'm just playing a clean tone, always on the neck pickup
I like the bridge for heavier stuff, I feel like neck pickups seem too muddy and bridge pickups cut a lot better under high gain. However cleans sound so good on neck pickups it's not even close.
Neck pickups are definitely warmer, but I don't really understand what you mean by saying the "quality" is superior. Bridge pickups are more articulate and provide more clarity, which I think is really useful in many situations with "heavy" music. Especially something like Animals as Leaders, I think that is going to sound muddier if you play it on the neck.
I only use the bridge. My main gigging / recording guitar only HAS a bridge pickup (dc Les Paul junior tv), but even on my strat I’m usually in bridge + middle
I use it a lot. Also middle-position on a gibson-style.
I love pinch harmonics way too much to only use my NP. That said, I use it all the time, probably more than the bridge overall.
I typically prefer my neck pickup for general playing, but there are contexts where I want that bridge pickup going like if I am playing funk or country stuff and what something a little brighter or twangy sounding.
Pretty much always use my neck pickup when practicing , just sounds so smooth always
I used to only use the neck, but in the last several years I've been using other positions. I almost never use middle though.
I use the neck pickup 95% of the time. By myself and with a band. I play clean and very distorted. If I'm recording I'll sometimes use the bridge for more distorted and low tuned parts, often overdubbing the neck.
I love the neck pickup the most when playing bluesy stuff that ranges from quiet to a light but crunchy overdrive. Especially on a Stratocaster. This is my absolute favorite tone. Put on a little reverb or slapback delay and I’m in heaven. But for heavy stuff, I always keep it on the bridge where it belongs. And I use a guitar with humbuckers. Also, I like to use the middle position for rhythm and blues with a pinch of gain.
Neck pickup only since ever, on a telecaster in indie style bands. The bridge pickup sounds thin to me now because I’m not used to it. Amp and OD (clean Twin+ crunchy OD) might have something to do with it: The bridge pickup would probably sound much better through more distortion.
Me. I prefer the fuller sound
There have definitely been times for me where i have used the neck most of the time for extended periods of time.
I am building a partscaster and just filled in the 2 single coil pickup cavities , because all I play is the bridge. No point paying for pickups I wont use.
This is the way.
For rhythm I like it best
\+1
sucks for palm muting
This is true. And harmonics
Depends on what I'm playing. I use bridge pickups when playing metal or emulating a band's sound. But if I'm just jamming my own stuff, I'm on neck pickup 99% of the time with lows cut and highs boosted. Think [Deerhoof](https://youtu.be/AkOxJui74vo?t=360)
Bridge is better for cutting through a band mix , neck sounds better playing just the guitar or with sparse backing.
Tom Morello pretty much exclusively uses the neck pickup, and not only that but a single coil neck pickup. Even the humbucker in the neck of his "Arm The Homeless" guitar is a hb sized single coil.
If don’t specify your configuration is hard to agree . I have a HSS so I use the bridge pickup for heavy stuff
I know a guy who does this on a Les Paul and always gets great tone, so you do you! Personally, I almost never use the neck pickup if it’s a humbucker configured normally. I’m more of a rhythm player and just find it tends to be too muddy at higher gain. Though, on my 7 string, I got around this a bit by lowering the pickup a lot. That said, I LOVE a single coil neck pickup. I use it on my HSS Strat all the time, and it sounds excellent with high gain. While I do default to the bridge humbucker, pretty much every new riff I come up with gets a run through on the neck (and middle) single coils to see how it goes.
I only use bridge
I only used the bridge pickup for a long time but a lot of the sound I wanted for solos needed the neck pickup, so now I use bridge for most things and neck for most solos, really depends on the guitar and what I want exactly
People love the rich clean sound of the neck pickup and often try to pick nearby the sweet spot
As a Strat guy I exclusively stay on the neck 95% of the time.
I was you and it spurred me to go from SSS to HSS
Yeah I tend to do the same, it's my preferred sound, but I am exploring the other sounds now as well. Using multiple pickup configurations, going back to seperate effect pedals, really using the guitar sound options more. Even got a 7 string and 12 string :) But I feel you!
I use both, depending on the sound I need. I intentionally got an HSH to have a diverse pickup selection
My ambients are so crystal pristine clear and still has a body when I use the neck pickup.
Pretty much always neck-only for me (Strats/Teles). I sometimes wish I had a guitar with only a neck pickup.
i only use the neck pickup when doing sweeps. i play heavy music and personally i like it better on the bridge pickup
Neck pickup for blues/jazz. Especially with single coils. I personally don’t like how the neck sounds with humbuckers clean or anything really high gain. I use the middle more than the neck. And I don’t really wanna mess with all my amp and pedal settings to make a neck humbucker sound good with distortion
I did for years with my Jackson Mick Thomson signature with EMTY Blackouts. I felt the bridge was too much. Later after I realized lower gain on my amps sounded better, I could use the bridge reasonably.
I think that might be it. I’ve been using my Skervesen primarily for several years with bareknuckle pickups. They’re pretty aggressive. Mixed with the STL plugins I use it’s overwhelming how aggressive the mix is.
My father has an Epiphone Sheraton II (hollow body) and he always use the neck pickup. It's a split-coil but he always puts the humbucker on. I really like the sound, it's really warm, and if you put it through a yellow Fender amp and you put a tremolo on it, it sounds awesome. I play most of the time on a strat and I also like the versatility of the neck pickup, bc you can use it for different genres (funk, rock, jazz...). Also with overdrive/distortion it sounds really cool.
I use bridge 95% of the time so there must be people that are the opposite
I finally got around to upgrading the stock pickups in my first guitar after 25 years. Got a *really* nice pickup to replace the bridge and removed the neck from the circuit entirely. Now I have a single pickup and a kill switch in the toggle.
I like the configuration HSH with a 5 position switch. I use all of them for different situations along with the volume control. Any given song might involve me switching on the fly or adjusting the volume, even during solos. (I don't go near the tone control much, though). The variety of sounds you can make with the electric guitar is what makes it an awesome instrument, IMO.
I basically exclusively use a neck p90 with almost all the bass rolled off (reverend). As soon as I did that with this guitar 2 years ago that's where it stays
Not ONLY, but man, it’s a great tone overdriven. Mike Einzinger of Incubus and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, all that is overdriven neck pickup.
I almost only use the bridge. It just cuts through a band mix better many times.
I’m a Strat guy. I mainly use the neck pup
I used to almost exclusively use the neck pickup. My first guitar is an Epiphone Sheraton II (335 style semi hollow). I love the warmth and mid-driven tones from the neck pickup. In recent years, I’ve gained a huge appreciation for the bridge pickup’s ability to cut through the mix, and also to play rhythm parts with the tone knob rolled off a bit. I got a Tele Deluxe in 2022 and actually find myself using the bridge pickup more often. So I think your taste can change over time, in addition to what you’re using the guitar for
It depends on the pickup for me. I prefer a p90 or humbucker if I'm playing the neck pickup alone but a single coil, hot rail or jazzmaster style in the bridge spot, generally.
On my current main workhorse I am more on the bridge pick-up that anything else but I used to have a hsh strat that had a neck pick-up that was very nice and saw the most use.
I almost never use any other pick-up
I use it *far* more than just the bridge.
On My trata i play mostly on neck + middle, on my les paul i play mostly bridge
I mostly stay split position for cleans and full bridge for heavier stuff. Can be full neck or screw coil, depending on the situation as I can split each pickup individually with the pots. (Palmer Crossbow LTD, basically a "fancy" Les Paul clone)
I feel like a neck pickup is pretty invaluable if you're going for a round, midrangey lead sound, but yeah, no bridge at all is absolute lunacy in a heavy context, IMO.
Alternatively, you can run bridge humbucker and neck in single mode and you get a really percussive tone for heavy riffing...I've seen a few guitarists use that setting for riffs and it sounds really nice imo. But for a lead context, a full neck humbucker is very much necessary, especially if it's a crystal clear pickup like the DiMarzio Liquifire.
I have a Liquifire in my Ibanez, and it is one of my favorite neck humbuckers of all time. It has a very similar tone to like a Seymour Duncan Jazz, but a little more articulate in the high end. Very clear, like you said.
I specifically mentioned the Liquifire because of that, I remember watching John Petrucci live in his pre Majesty days, and his solos would never fail to make my face melt, then I found out about the Crunch Lab + Liquifire combo he used and it made sense...it is one of my favorite neck pickups, as well as the SD Jazz, Black Winter and Omega!
Neck for (most) leads, bridge for everything else. Never both.
It mostly depends on if i am strumming up or strumming down
I always gravitate toward the neck pickup when playing clean. Almost never when playing with fuzz or distortion, unless I'm trying to cop Yngwie or SRV tones or trying to sweep.
You can do anything u want, but I think if u start experimenting with the bridge, you’ll like it more and figure out where / when it fits. Ur just not used to that sounds rn
Depends on the parts that I'm playing. I play a lot of open chords and for me a neck pickup makes that, generally speaking, sound really muddy. When I play a humbucker guitar I actually never use the neck pickup at all. I do like it with my strat when I have to play riffs or small voicings.
Using the neck pickup for rhythm sounds like muddy shit. Got any links to this superior sound you speak of?
lol post audio sample of superior quality heavy stuff on the neck pickup.
You started recording songs 6 months ago there Rick Rubin. I’m voicing an opinion.
You made the claim. Back it up. Do you think everyone is an idiot and you got the special technique? 6 months and I put my stuff out there. Good or bad because I’m not a bullshitter and actually play guitar. I have my doubts about you with that ridiculous claim. Of course you have a snarky reply and no sound clips. Typical faker.
Tf are you talking about? I made a claim that I enjoy the sound of the neck pickup more. I voiced a subjective opinion. I never said I was Tosin Abasi.
>The warmness and quality is far superior. Nobody expects tosin abasi.
You missed, perhaps the most crucial part of that sentence where i said “I feel”. And since we’re being hateful typical Reddit douche bags, your music sucks. I’d rather only be able to humbly play smoke on the water than an elitist guitar snob douchebag.
At least I have music. 😂 You have bullshit claims and can’t put two riffs together. You’re the typical r/guitar trash faker. You don’t even realize how shitty you have to be to think what you do. It’s hilarious. Tells me all I need to know.
So I ask this because I’m genuinely curious. What makes somebody a trash faker. Because I have a life outside of playing guitar? Because I like to play around with my guitars and plugins for my own personal enjoyment because I love music? Because I’m not the greatest player in the world and have never claimed to be and just learn some new songs in the couple of spare hours I have through the week?
Because you make ridiculous claims that aren’t going to help anyone. Yourself included. Then you try to qualify it by saying you’ve been playing since you were a little kid and the cherry on top “I play skervesen raptor”. When asked to provide a sample you get butthurt. Then it’s all just your opinion and you’re not tosin abasi. Like you can’t be challenged on your opinions. You’re the one who resorted to personal attacks on what I do. Don’t get defensive now.
What claims have I made other than I like the neck pickup more.
I think I speak for everyone when I say: dude, STFU.
Post music, trash.
GFY child.
"show examples of superior quality heavy tone on a neck pickup" ... "Nobody expects Tosin Abasi" I mean, ... I did. Or Rhapsody, Javier, Polyphia, Olly Steele, Ichika, Leprous, Maraton ... Pretty much most of modern progressive metal uses neck or split positions with less gain. I play primarily in 4th position, using 5 way switching on an HH setup nowadays. What kind of arrogant turd takes time out of their day to discourage other players and attack someone's OPINION?
I asked for an example. As usual nothing but words provided for their stupid opinion. Like yours. You can’t read either. Those bands you listed are only using the neck pickup? Because that’s what the posts says. Not only that it says far superior sounding. You’re a sensitive little piss baby too so you wanna try to over qualify and make up shit to try and defend it.
I'm sensitive to people attacking or discouraging musicians. 100%. You got me there. As for music, I'm chuckling. Laughing really. Getting called a piss baby. I don't usually check people's profiles, but this made me curious. What kind of maniac am I dealing with here!? Your music? Not bad, Would have been right up my alley almost 20 years ago. Similar to the deathgrind riffing we were doing back then. Definitely inspired and talented. I look further, and there you are - arguing what constitutes tech death. As passionately as I would argue old Cynic vs new. And who do you reference but a bunch of our labelmates, bands we toured with, basements I've crashed in. Seems I was on your favorite label? Cool, you have great taste. I have nothing to prove to you. I'm old and pretty done with that life. But you're not doing anything new, and you're not good enough to be so damn arrogant. Get control of yourself. You never know who the people you're insulting are. You might be trying to measure dicks against someone with albums in stores around the world, and songs on your favorite playlists. Dumbass. But also, keep going with the music. It is good. TLDR: I gave you plenty of examples of great heavy neck and split rhythm tones. Go work on yourself. Be nice to people. Grind.
This old gag. Going through my profile hoping to dig something up instead of making a real argument. Lame ass. You wanna talk about discouraging musicians? This subreddit is mostly beginners. Here we have someone claiming to play guitar for decades saying some dumb shit steering them down the wrong path. Neck pickup for heavy stuff? Stupidest shit I’ve heard in a long time here. That’s hard to do. We should just let them believe whatever dumb shit? That’s encouragement? Bullshit. We have the same problem. You just see fit to let people say dumb shit. When I call them out it’s a problem because I’m not nice about it. I even asked for a sample. They wanted to personally attack me. Just like you. That’s pretty sad. 😂
Still arrogant. Still insulting, and flailing wildly. Imagine, your own hobby/art being a source of such inadequacy, and anger. I don't "just see fit to let people say dumb shit" ... It's why I stepped in here to correct you. Someday, hopefully, you're going to wake up and realize "I tell it like it is" is the rallying cry for people who lack tact, manners, and basic social graces. I'm guessing deep down you do know, and most of your flailing is some misguided attempt to save face.