59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

[RyeDaddy]

Searched about 100 threads all over the interwebz and could find references and questions, but no real ideas of how it would sound or anyone who had actually tried it. Seymour Duncan’s shop didn’t really have any opinion on it when I asked, said they didn’t know of anyone trying it.

I know for sure Ola Englund had one in the neck of a seven string at one time but can’t find any actual example of him using it.

Has anyone ever tried a 59/Custom Hybrid (SH-16) in the neck position? What’s it like?

Currently have a Flying V with the Mayhem set (Distortion neck and bridge) and it’s great, EXCEPT the neck and bridge are of course so close in tone that I’m looking for a little more variety. I really only use my neck pickup for cleans, occasionally lead and never for anything else. Guitar is in E std tuning/Drop D and used for metal (Lamb of God, Pre-93 Metallica, Megadeth, Sabbath)

Got to thinking about some unusual choices for neck pickups and thought of the 59/Custom Hybrid to pair with the Distortion bridge. Output seems about right, although I know the Hybrid is boomy even in the bridge, in the neck it might be a sludge-fest. I have a ton of magnets here of all kinds I could swap around, maybe a ceramic to tighten it up if it needs it? Another part of this decision is that it can be had with gold covers easily, this is my one guitar that I’m super picky about and it has to stay looking classy. :lmao:

I’ve had tons of pickups over the years, and have tried all the common neck choices. Just looking to check out something different. Anybody wanna chime in?

 

[Demanic]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I don't see why it wouldn't work. It would certainly be different than the Distortion n.

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[TVFV]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Maybe hardwired split or in parallel. I wouldn't use in series in the neck.

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[Clint 55]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

^ It will be much cooler than a DDn. 11k with an A5 vs 13k with a double thick ceramic.

 

[Micha]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Only to be sure...
The distortion neck ist sh7?
If it is, he has a great reputation....

Have you tested alnico 8 in the neck?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

He uses the Hybrid in the neck here.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Have you tested alnico 8 in the neck?

It's hot and aggressive. It gave me stratitis with a double thick A8 bridge. I like A9 better for the neck. It's middy and aggressive but has more highs.

 

[Cynical]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

^ It will be much cooler than a DDn. 11k with an A5 vs 13k with a double thick ceramic.

Direct DCR comparisons don't work for indicating number of winds in this case; the 59/Custom Hybrid has 42 and 43 AWG coils, while both coils of a DDn are 44 AWG. Thinner wire = more DCR per length (read: wind).

 

[Clint 55]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Still, I doubt a 59/C would be any more out of balance than a DDn is with the double thick ceramic.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I'd think it would sound better (and balance better) in parallel than normal series. It is a fairly hot pickup, and probably will drive any clean sounds into a little overdrive. If you only use the neck pickup clean, I'd go for something like the Jazz instead.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Only to be sure...
The distortion neck ist sh7?
If it is, he has a great reputation....

Have you tested alnico 8 in the neck?

It is the same pickup, yes. It’s also called the SH-6n, they are the same.

No, haven’t played around with magnets in it because it’s a double thick ceramic and I don’t want to take the cover off and all that and find that I have a spacer issue with a regular size magnet.

I think it’s an excellent pickup, just interested in trying something new.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Ahhhh, Rex_Rocker found just what I needed. I thought I had watched through that whole series and couldn’t find him playing the neck but I missed that one I guess. That video was worth 1000 words and I’m definitely going to go for it. Sounds killer to me, like a perfect halfway point between the Distortion I have now and a 59n. (As one would expect I suppose) High output but warmer voiced and less compressed, which I think will translate clean to what I’m looking for, a little more organic sound but modern-ish edged.

I’m using an amp that I don’t think it’s possible to push the clean channel into overdrive, so shouldn’t have issues there.

Excellent, thank you so much for finding that video.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Maybe hardwired split or in parallel. I wouldn't use in series in the neck.

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It sounds fantastic in series in the neck. I CERTAINLY wouldn't hardwire it either split or parallel. That would be like cutting off your left hand because you are right-handed.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Direct DCR comparisons don't work for indicating number of winds in this case; the 59/Custom Hybrid has 42 and 43 AWG coils, while both coils of a DDn are 44 AWG. Thinner wire = more DCR per length (read: wind).

While that info may be correct, how does it relate to this thread or even to the post that you quoted?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I haven't watched that video yet. But even not watching it, I would think the hybrid would work great for what you want.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

Ok, so I put it in and it sounds like a REALLY fat, round 59n to me. Which is cool. It has high output and will do harmonics almost as easily as the Distortion neck it replaced, but it’s a little darker, vocal (vowel-y as hell), and very fluid and fat on leads with distortion.

Cleans are super round and warm. Jazzy, like dark jazz tone not like an SH-2n

It’s woman tone-ish but not quite that dark (about halfway there) when overdriven with tone knob wide open, and with the tone rolled all the way down and distortion on it sounds like a crazy doom fuzz pedal.

Definitely different which is what I asked for. I’ll leave it in, might put a ceramic in it later. Output matches up just fine with a Distortion bridge, but a completely contrasting sound.

For general info, guitar has all 500k pots and a 22k3 tone cap.

 

[orpheo]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I have tried that pickup in the neck of a LP and for that guitar, for that guitarist, it worked great. For me, though, it was too fat. Exactly ascribing to what you just said

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I've got several hybrids in a few guitars, in neck and in bridge and I don't find any of them that I would describe as "fat". I usually apply that term to the mids of a pup, and the hybrid is scooped.

 

[orpheo]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

I've got several hybrids in a few guitars, in neck and in bridge and I don't find any of them that I would describe a "fat". I usually apply that term to the mids of a pup, and the hybrid is scooped.

hybrids in general or the 59/custom in particular?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 59/Custom Hybrid in the neck with Distortion bridge?

hybrids in general or the 59/custom in particular?

Well, I haven't made every hybrid possible so I can't make a "general" statement. But in regard to the 59/C...yes. While I love it in the neck it's just not "fat" enough for me to use it in the bridge without an A8 magnet to give it some more guts. Or use a Demon/Custom hybrid.