Hot Rod set
I put the hot rod set in an Epi LP that I have. I like the pickups better than the stock ones that were in it but the Jazz is, IMO, not that great and not a great companion to the JB, which is great.
On my Plus Top Epi LP I absorbed the extra cost and put in a nickel covered set including the JB bridge and '59 neck; and this turned out to satisfy me way more than the hot rodded set. This is a great pair in my opinion and I have put it in a few guitars since.
The '59 neck pickup far surpasses the jazz, as far as I'm concerned, especially in the area of holding together with a nice clean sound as well as sounding great when played into an overdriven amp. Chords sound very dynamic with the '59 and leads sound clear.
I still have the hot rodded set in that LP and I live with it and it is still a fun guitar to play. I make the most out of the jazz neck pickup but avoid getting any more of them and never intentionally buy one.
I played a nice deluxe LTD that had SD Alnico II Pro's in it and I thought that sound was very excellent. I just played that guitar again last week thru a real nice Marshall stack and reinforced how much I like that pickup set.
Looks like you have a lot of options as far as dealing with that neck pickup goes; and you have some other things to take care of with this guitar anyway.
That is a beautiful guitar, by the way. I really like that burst and the grain. When the scotchbrite treatment is finished on that guitar it might look really great. I don't mind the satin finish, personally. I think it looks good.
Duffy Bolduc
South Williamsport, Pa.
"Now all the things that use to mean so much to me has got me old before my time." G. Allman, "Old Before My Time", Hittin' the Note.
Major changes to guitars and amps, to be updated soon.
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