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Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCN NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Neck Pickup vs Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCB NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Bridge Pickup
The SSB-5NYCN is a neck pickup with lower impedance (4.6 kΩ) and warmer, rounder tone suited for foundational bass response, while the SSB-5NYCB is a bridge pickup with higher impedance (21.43 kΩ), focused articulation, and punchy mids for cutting through the mix. Choose the neck pickup if you want smooth, warm lows and natural harmonics; choose the bridge if you need defined attack and midrange presence in busy arrangements.
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Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCN NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCB NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Bridge Pickup
Specs side by side
| Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCN NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Neck Pickup | Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCB NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Bridge Pickup | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $165.00 | $165.00 |
| Brand | Seymour Duncan | Seymour Duncan |
| Pickup Type | Neck | Bridge |
| Condition | New | New |
Why choose Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCN NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Neck Pickup
- ✓ Lower 4.6 kΩ resistance yields warmer, fuller low-end tone
- ✓ Neck position delivers smooth string-to-string balance across 5 strings
- ✓ Natural harmonic complexity and responsive dynamics ideal for fingerstyle and slap
- ✓ Budget-friendly entry to Seymour Duncan's NYC passive character
Why choose Seymour Duncan SSB-5NYCB NYC Passive Soapbar 5-String Bridge Pickup
- ✓ Higher 21.43 kΩ resistance produces punchy, articulate mids that cut through dense mixes
- ✓ 2.4 kHz resonant peak engineered specifically for modern bridge-position presence
- ✓ 74mm string spacing optimized for contemporary narrow-spaced 5-string geometry
- ✓ Hand-built in Santa Barbara with hand-selected components for consistency
Frequently asked questions
Can I use just the neck pickup (SSB-5NYCN) or bridge pickup (SSB-5NYCB) alone?
Yes. The neck pickup is voiced for warm foundational tone and works standalone in fingerstyle or studio contexts. The bridge pickup is engineered for defined mids and presence, making it suitable as a single pickup if cutting through a mix is your priority. However, Seymour Duncan designed both to work together as a matched pair for the most complete tone.
What is the main tonal difference between 4.6 kΩ and 21.43 kΩ resistance?
Lower resistance (neck at 4.6 kΩ) emphasizes warm, round lows with less output compression. Higher resistance (bridge at 21.43 kΩ) increases output, tightens the low end, and pushes midrange articulation forward. The bridge's 2.4 kHz resonant peak adds punchy presence; the neck's design prioritizes natural harmonics and responsiveness.
Are these pickups suitable for metal or hard rock?
The SSB-5NYCN (neck) is explicitly not ideal for metal or hard rock due to its warm, natural voicing. The SSB-5NYCB (bridge) is also not recommended for those genres, as both pickups are optimized for funk, jazz, progressive, and studio work. These are passive, vintage-influenced designs without the high-output aggression metal rigs typically demand.
Will these pickups fit my 5-string bass?
Both fit standard EMG 40 sized pickup routes and are designed for modern 5-string bass platforms without modification. The bridge model (SSB-5NYCB) specifies 74mm string spacing (B to G center) for contemporary narrow-spaced geometry, so confirm your bass spacing matches before ordering the bridge.