Matching of A4 neck and A2 bridge.

[ledzettervall]

It seems to be the common opinion that its a bad match to equip a guitar with PAF-type pickups (SMs or MULEs) that has A4 in the neck and A2 in the bridge. Can anyone tell me the reason why? Is it mostly in the middle position it sounds bad or is it somehow that it will sound like two different guitars if I switch from the neck to the bridge within a song? Or any other reason? You who dont like it, please try to explain it to me because I havent tried myself but right now I feel like I would like to try it.

EDIT: Ok so Ive read that its because the neck can be too powerful. But if I would like to try it and get a bridge A2 that matches the A4 mule neck pickup that is 7.3 for example, what would my A2 bridge pickup be wound to? If I only would switch out the magnet in my bridge mule to a A2 (i think its 8.4) how would that result in sound you think? Would it get extremely dark? Or alot weaker?

[Twinfan]

I think the problem would be due to the AII being a weaker magnet. You would need to compensate for this in the winding of the AII bridge, which would make it too mushy when matched with the more powerful neck....

[Philly Q]

So does that mean the other way round - AII neck and AIV bridge - is OK?  I was under the impression they're not supposed to be good in the middle position.  :?

[Twinfan]

Don't know Phil.  I know Tim has said he doesn't like the mix, but I'm not sure on the reasoning...

[Will]

Good timing :) I have just been wondering this

A few days ago, I believe an American hand-winder released some which are meant to be very close replicas to PAF's, and lists it as A4 neck A2 bridge I think.

[Prawnik]

For what it is worth, original 1950's and 1960's Gibsons had hotter neck pickups about 50% of the time.  And of course, vintage Strat pickups were not calibrated, either.

Supposedly some of the sweetest vintage Les Pauls had hotter neck pickups.

[ledzettervall]

I prefer the neck pickup to be weaker than the bridge pickup though.