Good neck pickup match for CC/A-2/bridge

[DSM107]

I am going to replace the neck pickup in one of my hotrod strats that has a CC/ with an a-2 magnet.

What would be a good neck pickup ro match sound and ouput wise so there isn't a noticeable volume dropout or increase when switchin between bridge to neck?

[Phillip Hintze]

Re: Good neck pickup match for CC/A-2/bridge

Someone recommended a Pearly Gates to me when I had a CC in my strat. They both use alnico 2 magnets. I'm not sure about the output level. Can anyone back me up on that?

[Jeff_H]

Re: Good neck pickup match for CC/A-2/bridge

I have a double fat strat loaded with a CC at the bridge. I've had both the PG and the APH II in the neck to match it. Both sound great, and have no balance issues at all. The APH was a slightly louder pup (set at the same height) as the PG, but my belief is that's due to it's clarity over the PG.

I like the APH II best in the neck...but that's just my flavor. Any of SD's neck pups should balance fine with a little adjusting..even a DD. What sound are you looking for?

[DSM107]

Re: Good neck pickup match for CC/A-2/bridge

I like the tone that I get in my ernie ball axis neck pickup, I know that is a Dimarzio but I am just using that as a reference example. The guitar I am putting this in is a custom alder bodied hot rod strat with an all maple neck. I needed the CC with an A-2 to warm it up enough because the alder is bright. I thought the CC/A-2 was pretty close to my Axis P/Up's just shy some output. The APHII sounds like a good one to try. I like the Petrucci/ Marty Friedman neck P/U tone. I know Pertrucci's is an air norton but I would prefer to stick with Seymours in this guitar.

Thanks for your suggestions is save me from a wild goose chase matching things up.

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good neck pickup match for CC/A-2/bridge

With the CC, I like the APH at the neck. Both have good output and complimentary eq curves, so that your amp settings will sound good with the neck and bridge pickups.