What jazz neck pup for GIBBY ES-137?

[RobinFromParis]

Hello to all of You from Paris!
I've got a very nice semi-hollow, all maple, a GIBSON ES-137. Stock pups is the 490/498 combo. I'm using only the neck pup. I'm playing clean jazz on this one, post-bop tones ala Pat Martino. This guitar is strung with heavy flatwound strings. I'm not satisfied with the stock 490 pup. Bass is too muddy and undefined, mid is sterile, high is weak and sterile. I've already ordered a Bare Knuckle Manhattan for my second guitar, an EPI BROADWAY. This EPI will be more used for 50's style tunes, and the GIBBY for more modern clean jazz. I was originally thinking about a Stormy Monday (ALNICO II) or a Mule, but I'm open to Your suggestions guys, thanks in advance ;-)

[tomjackson]

AII Stormy Monday would be very nice for Jazz, I would choose that over a Mule.

You could change to A4 if clarity over sweetness was your aim.  But the AII's are pretty clear anyway....

[RobinFromParis]

Thanks Tom!
Anybody experienced swapping out a GIBSON 490 pup?

[Philly Q]

Apparently, French jazz guys use Warpigs    :

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=24612.0


Anyway.... the Stormy Monday isn't a million miles away from the 490R - they're both low-output Alnico II pickups - but it doesn't have the muddy bass or thin sounding treble.

Our resident jazz guy, "Fourth Feline", is on sabbatical at the moment, but if you search for his posts you'll find some very eloquent comments on both the Manhattan and Stormy Monday (I think he had both AII and AIV versions).

[RobinFromParis]

Hey Philly! OK, I'm french, but far away from playing 'manouche' jazz style... Well, I don't dislike that, but not really my cup of tea... Anyway, I don't really hate the 490... If the Stormy gets rid of the few imperfections I listed (bass = undefined, mid = sterile, high = weak), that would be perfect I guess! Anybody else providing comments on this?

[gwEm]

the stormy monday is a quality product, i wouldn't hesitate to fit them for the sounds you are looking for.

[Mr. Air]

I'm not sure about this, but a Mississippi Queen neck might work as well if you like the p90 tone.

[Telerocker]

Stormy Monday for jazz. Sure!

[kevinr]

Stormy Mondays are great and would be the pick of the humbuckers! stay with the AII magnets.

[RobinFromParis]

Thanks to all of You for convincing me to acquire a SM neck. By the way, I'm not yet 100% sure to also get a new bridge pup, but I may also need Your advices on this department...
What would be the best complement to a SM neck? Knowing that I may use this bridge pup in the middle position (along the SM neck) for clean jazz (maybe could add a touch of 50s sound?) and also maybe alone for slightly satured tones... Thanks in advance!

[Nolly]

Pair it up with the matching Stormy Monday bridge, very difficult to go wrong with the calibrated set

[RobinFromParis]

Thanks again guys! And what if I put a P90 in the bridge position, as suggested by Mr Air? Anybody experienced a SM neck and either a Manhattan or a Mississipi Queen bridge? Could They complement well together? Cheers!
 

[Philly Q]

I think quite a few people on here have paired a bridge humbucker with a P-90/MQ neck, but I don't remember anyone using a P-90 bridge with a neck humbucker.

I'm guessing a Manhattan bridge would be too low-output to work with a neck humbucker, even the Stormy Monday.

[kevinr]

I would stay with the Stormie set you will love them in that guitar!

[FELINEGUITARS]

I have to say that the Mississippi Queen is awesome as a neck Jazz pickup and would possibly be my first choice
Second would be the Stormy Monday.
I would happily pair a stormy bridge and MQ neck or a pair of MQ's