Seymour Duncan 59' SH-1 vs JAZZ SH-2 - Passive Neck Pickup Guitar Tone Comparison Demo

[@Ledmetacdc]

Jazz is so much clearer. The 59 does have a big boy boldness but I love the way the Jazz doesn't get muddy.

[@unclefredster5636]

Man, that riff @3:30 is killer Mike! Thanks for the comparison, I have a couple of 1s & was considering getting the Jazz but for now I'll hold off on that. This video was very helpful.

[@davidmills16]

Thank you for this great comparison! I just purchased a PRS and was considering putting a Jazz in the neck, but this definitely changed my mind. I’m going with the ‘59 in the neck and a JB in the bridge. Thanks again!

[@pauljohnson1382]

Cant go wrong the 59 is a dream

[@nealixd.3011]

Thanks for these great video comparison tests. I usually like to have "more" on tap as needed, so I am leaning towards the more available warmth/fatness of the 59. I figure I can get more of the Jazz SH-2 tone by dialing back the bass on the amp if needed, and/or increasing the amp's treble/presence controls. Also, if you have a good EQ pedal like the Boss GE-7 you can work wonders on adjusting your guitar's overall tones/EQ too. Another aid to living with your stock pups, versus buying new ones, is get a Seymour Duncan signal booster pedal or or other clean booster pedal to make your weaker pups sound hotter. Folks go to extraordinary lengths, time, and costs of swapping pups in and out, while overlooking guitar and amplifier tone controls, EQ pedals/devices, and signal boosters that can work wonders on adjusting your guitar's overall tones and pickup strength. Don't forget a speaker change in your amp or cab can go a long way too. I have way too many guitars in and out to constantly be swapping pups, and besides, I enjoy the variety of different pups, versus trying to make them all sound the same. I do tend to love guitars that come already equipped with Seymour Duncan pups. I have a bunch of different SD pup sets on various guitars, including a baritone, and they always sound good. Even the import Duncan Designed pups tend to sound pretty decent. Just keep an open mind as to your available options is what I am saying. You have lots of options. But if you feel a particular pup will do you right in a certain position on your guitar, go for it, just don't become OCD that you must find a certain pup or else, ha.

[@donarmando916]

I prefer the 59 and in clean mode they are not muddy at all. They just have more low mids than many other comparable pickups and that gives them the warmth for what i like them. I don't like thin sounding and trebly pickups because if i want that, i pick up my single coil Strat.

[@bryanmchugh1307]

The Jazz freaking rules! This was really cool to see

[@kcsvantasticvoyages9729]

Glad I bought the 59 for LP after hearing comparison, think it's better for my style rock/ bluesy.

[@JulesCalella]

I love the clarity of the Jazz pickup. The 59' sounds great too, but I think I'll choose the Jazz for my style. Great video!

[@jerrymcmillen1679]

I've got a Burstbucker Pro in the neck I'm hating because the lows meld into an amalgamation instead of maintaining clear separation. Let's say you're doing a power chord on the low 3. MUSH. Does the Jazz neck give nice clarity, separation, and articulation?

[@tommacdonald9914]

The 59 neck is one of the best for sure

[@dogleg7401]

Great comparison. I like the Jazz better. the 59 is more full, but for the stuff I like to play I like the thinner/more cleared out lows of the jazz. For low E string shreddy stuff and hendrix semi distorted chords on low strings the 59 is too frumpy and less defined. Jazz fixes that.

[@SeabeeBuckeye]

I enjoyed reading your feedback. What body style and wood type guitar do you have the Jazz installed?

[@harls7317]

Stop the cap bro bro

[@BigBobbyBoLo]

I 100%nagree with yout assesment. Thats exactly what I got from it. If I played high octane overdriven tones I would definitly go for the Jazz but Im working on a tele with a humbucker in the neck build, so I need more mids

[@golds04]

You really hear the biggest difference imo at 1:00 with the chord strum. Beautiful comparison. I think you ? Forgot to say which guitar. Also since already set up the guitars- maybe through a Black face fender. 🤙👊

[@michaelbarber590]

Very close, but the SH-2 is slightly more chimey and fatter sounding on the cleans and less muddy on the high gain settings.

[@monkeyxx]

that jazz really sings here, more chime, 59 is making the amp struggle just a little bit

[@pauljohnson1382]

Had the sh-1 sh-4 combo in a jackson and now thats all i want.

[@mikeajuana]

Hard to tell the amp or guitar being used but thanks for the video. I Got a Les Paul putting the Jazz in the neck now...ditching the dimebucker and putting a Pearly in the bridge. Super excited to hear it!!

[@rockhead69]

Jazz all the way...thanks dude, great video.

[@MRTHUDTV]

59 sounded better here. Note clarity on the distorted sections was better. Jazz also sounded scooped to my ears.

[@astrovenus8345]

Thats what i heard too 👌🏼

[@jeffreyramey6036]

I would like to see a comparison for the Seth Lover Bridge pup vs the Jazz SH-2

[@SuperScreamerBand]

Great comparison. Imo I prefer the 59 any day. I think the jazz sounds too flat. I have had the 59 in one guitar and the jazz in 2. Both of the jazz have had to leave. I want that spongy bass and full PAF tone.

[@myinterests5573]

I have both, I put the jazz on the bridge and the '59 on the neck. They both sound good but the combo (switch in middle position) sounds awesome.

[@lordgraga]

A little Jimmy Page-esque maybe?

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

They both sound good. I like the 59 SH 1. I like dark tones. Great stuff man..

[@mmaviator22]

I think a jazz with a cover would sound really nice. The cover, I would think would darken the tone slightly and smooth out the highs.

[@angrybabka9483]

Thanks. I wonder to check them in comparison in bridge position (on occasion). Some time ago I put Jazz in bridge on my strat (just was curious) and surprised how nice it fits

[@philipmoses5408]

A very accurate A/B, but unfortunately, it doesn't help me much as I never play really heavy high gain stuff; and even my corn tones are coloured to soften the highs. I would love to hear such a precise comparison of the tones in between, for rock.

[@therealchich2]

Personally liked the 59 neck better, thank you for making this demo! I've made my decision! 59s bridge and neck!

[@bluejazzcat]

59 for sure, warm and full. Great for clean slow blues!

[@mattb383]

Have both and like them both. Too close to call. I tend to favor the SH1 live for cleans but both are great.

[@lsu1992]

I have an '87 Charvel with a Dimebucker bridge and Jazz neck. It hasn't been that config for 30 yrs by accident.

[@FerMetalHead1]

Wow a titan battle!!!

[@jcurwen]

'59 for the dirty work and jazz for the clean tones. I have Black winter in my Mockingbird at bridge and I am looking for great neck tones, soooooo maybe I should go with the Jazz, cause normally when I am playing with neck pickup it is clean tone or bit of crispy.

[@ledzep20]

How are you liking the Black Winter? I'm considering that one or a JB in the bridge.

[@jcurwen]

@@ledzep20 It is quite awesome and versatile pickup and also agressive. But it still suits from black metal to blues.

[@gypana]

Overall I think the 59 just has the edge over the Jazz, but you couldn't go wrong with either.

[@sinisterminister9920]

Have the sh-2 jazz with a sh-5 custom bridge in my dads guitar, the jazz is niiice I enjoy it. But for a more modern setup in my ESP I have a sh-6 distortion bridge and just ordered a sh-1 ‘59 for the neck, will let yall know how it sounds. My Jackson is a hellmouth of a guitar. Got an X2N in that bridge with the other sh-6 in the neck of Jackson. Bottom line, I’m just bragging a bit, but nonetheless the fun you can have with pickup matches and mixes is unlimited. Best thing to learn on guitar = how to solder

[@musically-assureddestructi8843]

The Jazz rules! It sounds more musical to me

[@thedevensafe]

Love em both but the Jazz cut better in a mix

[@PhilosopherThom]

I may have made the less ideal choice with the 59. But secondhand that one had a cover. The jazz was 15 cheaper but I think I might get a tbx on the tone control so I can clean up the lows a bit. I won't be playing high gain. It's just rythem guitar. So. Solid crunch and some breakup will do.

[@AlexBradyMusic]

Thanks for the video! I personally prefer the '59, so I'm going to go with that one.

[@nlg1985]

Muy buenos los dos. Siento que el SH-1 es más equilibrado y tiene más cuerpo. Pero ambos van bien.

[@markl2757]

Have those in my jackson. Awome pickups. Sound real close. 59 on my bridge.

[@jaguarandi2]

cool riffs

[@LarryMar]

59 - great with brighter top end amps. Jazz- great with warmer top end amps. A small EQ adjustment makes both almost interchangeable.

[@purulence666]

To me, sounds like SH-2 can handle distortion a little better than SH-1 and SH-1 has a bit more presence on clean. I`d choose SH-2 for my style of music. Otherwise both great neck pickups. It would be nice to see APH-1 vs SH-2 neck comparison.

[@hectormiguelvilchespettit3859]

Both are great, but the JAZZ is all I need ❤🎉... I think we all deserve at least two guitars, one with the JAZZ and the other with de 59, but both with a JB in the bridge. ❤❤

[@michaelcarrig627]

I like the Jazz's clean tones and the 59 with gain.

[@ptitpierre1]

Il prefer the SH 1. If i want a Gibson tone, i want a Gibson tone and not something that trying to find another balance.

[@grahamkelly8299]

Hey man, great comparisons!! What height would you recommend setting the sh2 I have one installed on my les Paul with a push pull tone knob but I find it to be less bright than the burstbucker 1

[@mikestamper]

Thanks! My best advice is to find the proper height that works well for you, as it's really subjective! I'm always setting mine differently even with same pickups on different guitars.

[@leviathan_is_me]

I got the SH-2 in the neck and am deciding if I wanna pair it with my SH-1 or SH-4. Do the reverse and go 59 bridge jazz neck...see how it goes, lol.

[@ColdWindRJ]

Muito boa essas comparações do seu canal, LIKE!!! Eu já decidi, vou colocar na minha guitarra o JB SH-4 (BRIDGE) e 59' SH-1 (NECK) 🤘🏻

[@leviathan_is_me]

So, your going with the most used Duncan layout of all time? Good choice.

[@tonedover]

spent a few years trying different pickups in my LP - after all the circling, i ended up with a jazz and a jb.... smh should have just started with the "go to" replacement set of jazz/jb in the first place

[@NigelOdinson]

That is THE combo imo... 👌

[@HiredGunz98]

Which one is best for Melodic AOR rock ?

[@rubenvieiraopianista8840]

Adorei o seymour duncan jazz sh2 sem dúvida para mim foi o melhor em questão de nitidez e de graves que até comprei para mim tem um som brutal...

[@pcrockpc6080]

Os dois quase idênticos.

[@MegaEmmanuel09]

Is the clipping during the clean demos from the Amp side or the guitar side?

[@vb__channel]

It was most likely due to the amp

[@ertus306]

No bad options but I feel like from what kind of music I want to play jazz sounds a bit better to me personally

[@vautrain]

I thought they were pretty close on the clean tones, but the Jazz slayed the '59 on the distorted tones! I thought it was much more clear.

[@NigelOdinson]

Agreed 100%... how can something with 'jazz' in the name sound so brutal!!!

[@dvsdez]

​@@NigelOdinsonmakes ya jazz ya pants

[@MattBaker-zd8nq]

I have a jazz in the neck and A 59 in the bridge

[@MattBaker-zd8nq]

Thinking about putting the 59 in the neck and get me an SH4 for the bridge. What are you guys think about that?

[@newtonlkh]

I like single coils mainly, so of course SH-2 will appeal to me. But to be honest with myself, it sounds like a EQed sound instead of genuine single coil (which is, of course) 59' SH-1 sound more genuine in that sense.

[@NigelOdinson]

I'm confused... do you mean because the sh2 is more treblely or do you think its a single coil cuz they are both humbuckers...

[@newtonlkh]

@@NigelOdinson I like trebly sounds so I easily got attracted to it, for it being more trebly. But it sound it doesn't sound "real" to me.

[@SergeiVlassov]

strange, in your older video the difference is significant, but here they sound very similar

[@mikestamper]

In my old video they were tested on different guitars. This time I used the same one. Also, I used different amps and configs.

[@e.jordan544]

4:37

[@isiahhuang]

SH-2 Jazz win!

[@emcdvz5648]

the jazz is very articulate in tone I like it

[@rheynaldolumintang2208]

which one better for PRS SE?

[@estebanrootsmusic]

I also have one and i think im going for the jazz Sh2 because the PRS SE is very muddy and not very define, i reckon it will fix that

[@shred5]

I like brighter less muddy neck pickups, so the jazz wins. The 59 is fairly dark.

[@tito.tarantula]

Wow, the Jazz truly sings.

[@DiedrichKnickerbocker1783]

JB / 59 or Duncan Custom / Jazz.

[@vinnieirvine1365]

I think for a telecaster neck pickup the Jazz will play well with 250k pots to balance with a telecaster bridge

[@grahamkelly8299]

The jazz is better for hard rock to metal. The 59 better for everything else. I had the little 59 though which has less low end and is prob the best sounding neck pickup I ever used. I also have the jazz in a les Paul and it really sings for hard rock, just keep it low in height. Also it’s def worth making use of the 4 con wiring to split it for some really juicy single coil tones

[@burningstar3466]

these pickups almost sound the same and both are picky depending on the situation

[@Davidthestratman7]

They sound very different to my ears but then again I'm using studio speakers. Jazz for the win in my opinion. I love using the neck pickup lol

[@NigelOdinson]

@@Davidthestratman7 I'm using a phone... they sound different to me also, and I too prefer the jazz by far, especially distorted. It sounds brutal! Also sounds like it could be really detuned yet still retain clarity.

[@elbergonzalez6020]

5:00 4:48

[@gkarone3228]

I got a jb jazz set listening to this I must say the 59 is sweet but to close to tell😮

[@user-sn3cs2hd8r]

The guitar I have the Jazz would be better - love 59 in the bridge but for the neck I want something that will still cut although but different tone.

[@1pix]

in their official demo video, they put "better sustain" for the '59. can you test that out?

[@joeylikescapncrunch]

That Gb string on the jazz sounds strange.

[@jpthecrew]

59' 😍😍

[@RsSquier51]

Prefer the 59 for it's fuller sound. The jazz was just too thin on most examples.

[@gmichaelhall]

Lock down guitar build, I have a Lil 59 for telecaster on hand for bridge, either of these would compliment well. Is it just weird to want a 59 in the neck as well? 550k pots push pull and 022 caps. Or would the jazz be a more trebly sustain in the neck? 🤔 Choices... Er uh yea.. Anyone? ✌️🎶🎶

[@mxaxe5591]

59

[@bordstumalian5174]

Jazz for live band setting. ✂️ cuts better in the mix

[@TinusTheFlyingV]

Thanks for the comparison. I know now which one its gonna be i wanna combi with the JB4. The SH-1😄👌

[@NigelOdinson]

For me it's the JB4 TB and SH-2... either is sick combo though!

[@King_V2]

For clean, 59. For crunch and above, Jazz.

[@goodknight37]

Sh-2 for a LP style. Sh-1 in a bolt on/ superstrat

[@mblack9213]

Jazz sh-2 ❤

[@SUPERDRUMER]

I love the 69!!

[@eduardocarrera4610]

Jazz sounds funkier, I like it better

[@elhijodelriff]

I like jazz better, it sounds tighter and more crystalline

[@andreaperugini6467]

59 for cleans, Jazz for leads

[@hidehori5291]

どっちを選んでも間違いはないという結論！

[@geoffwhitemusic]

That Jazz is really brittle. Made up my mind to eschew that one no matter what other pickups I consider

[@SeedOilFitnessOfficial]

Jazz is too trebly. 59 is rich n bassy

[@jayveno73]

To be fair? This demo is using roundwound strings, someone using a jazz pickup for jazz would be using Flatwounds, 59 could risk being too boomy in that context

[@jayveno73]

Why did I put the question mark

[@jonathanchaney6140]

I feel like the 59 would be better for jazz than the jazz pickup haha

[@Janine.Najarian]

I guess I'm a 59 gal

[@dvynal2964]

The Jazz takes distortion way better than the 59. If you want a clean tone go 59 if you wanna pierce the heavens w rage, go with the jazz

[@Anton-ji4td]

The Jazz is way better than the 59. The 59 is very bland mushy and muddy and over priced.

[@janplit]

Il 59 lo preferisco

[@elbergonzalez6020]

4:54 4:44

[@Drjackdempsey9644]

The 59’ is more my flavor

[@marciodecamposrodrigues5590]

59 likes? what does it mean? Lol

[@mikestamper]

Not so jazz likes!! :P

[@marciodecamposrodrigues5590]

BTW, both are great pickups, thank you for the comparison

[@mikestamper]

They are both amazing choices, :)

[@JC-11111]

@@mikestamper yep. Right about the time I think...yea, I want the 59s, the jazz pickups do something those can't and it makes it a toss up. If I was looking for something closer to what could've been, found in a '59, I'm guessing I'd want the 59s, huh?

[@dafxtone]

SH-2

[@slimsantilli4476]

The Jazz works well with 300k pots

[@BisserBatov-nx5ux]

Jazz straty tone

[@Motocicleiros]

Very small to almost none difference IMO.

[@m-ilyas_almaghribi.2975]

Sh1 win