Single Coil Neck Pickup for Drop-C

[exodia333]

I Just bought a LTD Stephan Carpenter and While I know I already want to put a Nazgul in the Bridge and basically leave the Middle the same, I don't know exactly what to do with the neck pickup. I thought about just putting an SSL-1 in it but because the guitar has 500k pots, it probably won't sound like a classic strat. I have a Strat that I put a Split/Shaft pot on the volume so that the single coils could only see 250 and the Humbucker 500, but they had two different tone controls that I could hook one or the other too, this can't to be the case here, so now I'm trying to decide how to go about it with this single coil. Thoughts?

[Clint 55]

First question is always choose between true single coil, stack, or single coil size humbucker.

What sound do you want? Do you want a strat sound? Strat neck pups work with 500k pots, it just makes it brighter. You could go for a stack and get a strat sound, but the thing is those are slightly rounded on the top and work really well with 500k pots. If you don't really want a strat sound then you could go for a sc size hb and get more of an hb sound.

[marcello252]

I'd say a quarter pound would fit with the dropped tuning, with my direct experience, or a hot rails neck for SC sized HB

[ToneFiddler]

I think a SSL-6 with a high pass cap makes a good combo with the Nazgul and 500k pots.
Or do you want the neck pickup for mostly cleans?

[uOpt]

The SSL-1 will do. Just roll down the tone pot a bit.

[jeremy]

id go ssl6 with 500k pots. there will be less output balance difference as well

[Rex_Rocker]

I have a DiMarzio SDS-1 in my Strat along with a Nazgul in the bridge tuned to Drop C. It's alright.

I'm following this thread, though, as I kinda want something else in there myself. I was thinking Quarter Pound for mine. The SDS-1 is a little "rough around the edges".

I guess it also depends on wether you want it to balance or not. A regular classic Strat pickup will not by a long shot.

[exodia333]

Alright so to clarify a little bit more

1. I already decided to put a three way switch on the guitar, so there's not going to be any "In Between" positions
2. I'm trying to get as close as possible to a vintage 50's-60's strat neck pickup without it being drowned out by the Nazgul
3. I play Metal/Hardcore/Djent but I also play a lot of Jazz Fusion, so I need not just a really good Clean Tone, but something that can sound similar to Allan Holdsworth playing a Strat

I also thought about getting a SSL-52 but I don't know how good it will be in the context of what I'm trying to achieve

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm trying to get as close as possible to a vintage 50's-60's strat neck pickup without it being drowned out by the Nazgul

I think that's going to be pretty difficult. A big part of the vintage Strat sound is the low output, IME.

I would look at the bridge position pickup from any of the vintage-inspired sets. But keep in mind, those are going to be drowned out by the Nazgul to varying degrees. I've even had problems with hot-ish Strat sets (like the Fender Texas Specials) being drowned out by a modest Pearly Gates Plus.

[Mincer]

Alright so to clarify a little bit more

1. I already decided to put a three way switch on the guitar, so there's not going to be any "In Between" positions
2. I'm trying to get as close as possible to a vintage 50's-60's strat neck pickup without it being drowned out by the Nazgul
3. I play Metal/Hardcore/Djent but I also play a lot of Jazz Fusion, so I need not just a really good Clean Tone, but something that can sound similar to Allan Holdsworth playing a Strat

I also thought about getting a SSL-52 but I don't know how good it will be in the context of what I'm trying to achieve

None of those sounds I would associate with a single coil. Clean Holdsworth is nothing like a traditional Strat sound, and all of his Strats were modded with humbuckers. Standard jazz/fusion is a lot smoother than a spiky Strat sound, so I might look at some of the little humbuckers.

[donaldr]

I had a STK-S7 in the neck position and found it too dark with 250k pots. Might work with 500k pots.

[Clint 55]

Yeah I'd recommend one of the hotter than vintage stacks since you want a strat sound. It'll be hum cancelling like the rest of ur pups, it'll work better with 500k pots, and it'll balance volume wise.