Dark neck pickup to pair with SH-6

[beedoola]

Les Paul custom. Have a SH-6B incoming. I want something darker that works well with distortion for the neck pickup, but that can also work well for cleans blended with the bridge or say on a Plexi and the volume rolled back a bit.

[jeremy]

neck pups are always darker than bridge pups due to location. fat or tight bottom end? good cleans the priority or dirty tones too?

[Rex_Rocker]

neck pups are always darker than bridge pups due to location.

I disagree. Exactly why I hated the PAF Pro in the neck. Because I distinctly remember it was actually brighter in the neck than the Dominion I had in the bridge at the time. Ugh.

And most of the time, it was ice-pick city with anything hotter I had in the bridge. That's my overall experience with low-wind neck pickups paird with muscular hot bridge pickups (not always, but most of the time), but the PAF Pro was particularly bad.

Obviously, a different kind of bright by being in the neck. Rather than bitey and snarly or twangy, they can become scratchy, squelchy, and overly attacky. JMO.

[jeremy]

thats fair i guess. ive almost never found a neck pup to be too bright, but we play pretty different things. a pgb in the neck sounds fat to me, a jazz bridge in the neck sounds fat to me and both would sound good clean. the sh6n is a great match for the sh6b but i dont love its clean tone, ymmv

[Rex_Rocker]

I agree. Depends on the context of what you're using it. I think the Jazz in the neck sounds fine if you're using something like a '59B or even something mid-output. But not a JB, but many people make them work together, so what I do know.

But my favorite combo for low-wind pickups was the '59B with a 250K volume pot with the DiMarzio 36th Anni PAF with a 500K pot. That 36th was so smoooooooth without sounding muddy.

And I'm not in love with the Distortion Neck either. Cleans are kinda bland, I agree. I much prefer the Evo Neck.

Or the Black Winter Neck. Kinda bland cleans as well in full humbucker mode, but I find it splits better because it's less anemic when split.

[Mincer]

I say, look at the Black Winter.

[beedoola]

I currently have some WCR Godwood pickups. I find the neck isn’t thick enough/low end and a little too bright.

I want some tight bottom end but on the spectrum between fat and tight, I want it on the tighter side.

[eclecticsynergy]

Maybe the Screamin Demon? It's tight with gain and cleans up pretty nicely.
A bit hotter than the Jazz or 59, more complex and bouncy than the SH-6n.
Good companion for a high output bridge pickup IMO.
I wouldn't consider it dark, but it's quite full & rich in neck position.

[Demanic]

You think that the cleans with a Distortion n are bland?
Try one with an A4 in it. It should be plenty dark.

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[GuitarDoc]

neck pups are always darker than bridge pups due to location. fat or tight bottom end? good cleans the priority or dirty tones too?

I think the distinction needs to be made between "pickups" and "position".
Neck pickups, as compared to their bridge counterparts, are generally brighter due to the fewer winds and lower output/resistance. However the neck position is always darker than the bridge position due to its location.

I know that was what you were meaning, but I just thought I'd clarify for those on the forum who may not.

[Ascension]

I would try a Sentient with the DD. The Sentient has become one of my all time favorite neck pickups. I have had one paired with a Alt 8, Hybrid, JB and a Perpetual Burn and was very pleased with all those combos. In particular the Alt 8/ Sentient combo has been very impressive.

[Mincer]

While I like the Sentient, it isn't very dark. It is right between the Full Shred and Jazz in the top of the bright category.

[Toejam]

DiMarzio Breed

[Demanic]

How about a 59n with an A6?

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[beedoola]

Still looking. I’d prefer something stock vs having to magnet swap.