Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Best Neck Pickups
There is no "best". Its all about finding the right tool for the job.
There is no "best". Its all about finding the right tool for the job.
Best Neck Pickups
- Thread starter guitarpick
- Start date
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
My favorite neck pickup is the Air Norton. I don't claim to know the best.
My favorite neck pickup is the Air Norton. I don't claim to know the best.
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
My favourite neck position is a sound hole!
It's totally passive.
My favourite neck position is a sound hole!
It's totally passive.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Best Neck Pickups
The humbucker that i'd consider to be the 'best' in terms of greatest sound that is likely to work in the most guitars and genres is, without a doubt, the 59/Jazz hybrid. This is currently not a production model (although it should be), but there are plenty of people who will make you one if you don't feel capable of doing it yourself.
Unfortunately a lot of people have not experienced this pickup, so their view is limited. Which is a shame, as the 59/Jazz has a lot more to offer than most production-line models.
The humbucker that i'd consider to be the 'best' in terms of greatest sound that is likely to work in the most guitars and genres is, without a doubt, the 59/Jazz hybrid. This is currently not a production model (although it should be), but there are plenty of people who will make you one if you don't feel capable of doing it yourself.
Unfortunately a lot of people have not experienced this pickup, so their view is limited. Which is a shame, as the 59/Jazz has a lot more to offer than most production-line models.
Re: Best Neck Pickups
Another Air Norton fan!
I haven't found another neck 'bucker I like better. It's got clarity. The mids are in the right spot. It's not too fat or too bright. It's not muddy in the slightest, and the clarity and articulation hold up very well under gain. It's not too hot and not too quiet. I've yet to encounter another neck humbucker that is as well-rounded.
Another Air Norton fan!
I haven't found another neck 'bucker I like better. It's got clarity. The mids are in the right spot. It's not too fat or too bright. It's not muddy in the slightest, and the clarity and articulation hold up very well under gain. It's not too hot and not too quiet. I've yet to encounter another neck humbucker that is as well-rounded.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Best Neck Pickups
I think neck HB's in general with unmatched coils are a great idea. Really opens up the sound; some of the HB effect is negated and a little of the single coil clarity comes thru. I have a Duncan/Gibson hybrid '59B/50ST that is great in the neck slot. There's hundreds of potential combinations of coils you can use, so I don't think any particular pairing is necessarily better than many of the others. They basically do the same thing: thin out the mids and add some high end. No more muddy/muffled sounds. I'm baffled that unbalanced coils are so rare in stock HB's. I think many players would prefer them if they heard a hybrid side-by-side with a traditional neck HB.
I think neck HB's in general with unmatched coils are a great idea. Really opens up the sound; some of the HB effect is negated and a little of the single coil clarity comes thru. I have a Duncan/Gibson hybrid '59B/50ST that is great in the neck slot. There's hundreds of potential combinations of coils you can use, so I don't think any particular pairing is necessarily better than many of the others. They basically do the same thing: thin out the mids and add some high end. No more muddy/muffled sounds. I'm baffled that unbalanced coils are so rare in stock HB's. I think many players would prefer them if they heard a hybrid side-by-side with a traditional neck HB.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Best Neck Pickups
Do you think unbalanced coils contribute to customer complaints of noisy pickups? Just trying to figure out why it's not done more often. I like it -- a lot.
Do you think unbalanced coils contribute to customer complaints of noisy pickups? Just trying to figure out why it's not done more often. I like it -- a lot.
NoOnesFang13
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
im a fan of the 59 A4 in my sg copy, and the Zhangbucker Cherrick (p-90) with a tap in my jazzmaster i built. as for strat singles i honestly wouldnt know, depending on what you want really, from the clips i heard the ssl-1 and ant are really awesome, but i also live what ive heard from the dimarzio cruiser... but im an andy timmons fan
im a fan of the 59 A4 in my sg copy, and the Zhangbucker Cherrick (p-90) with a tap in my jazzmaster i built. as for strat singles i honestly wouldnt know, depending on what you want really, from the clips i heard the ssl-1 and ant are really awesome, but i also live what ive heard from the dimarzio cruiser... but im an andy timmons fan
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
I like doing fast alt-picked runs high in the register a la Petrucci, and the Air Norton nails that perfectly with very nice pick attack. It is also brilliant for slower passages and clean playing. In fact, I can't think of anything the Air Norton does that I don't dig.
I like doing fast alt-picked runs high in the register a la Petrucci, and the Air Norton nails that perfectly with very nice pick attack. It is also brilliant for slower passages and clean playing. In fact, I can't think of anything the Air Norton does that I don't dig.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Best Neck Pickups
I think PU manufacturers may fear that more than customer complaints would justify. Look at how popular Fender-style single coils are, and there is noise with those. With neck hybrids, combining 4.25K and 3.5K coils give a noticeable unbalanced coil sound, so it doesn't have to have extreme differences. To me, the '59/Custom is way more difference in coils than you need (7K vs 4K), and more potential for noise. It's adds a lot of treble to the bridge slot, which is not where I want it. I'd think a 1K difference would do what you want in bridge coils (because it works magic in the neck slot), like combining a 7K Custom or 498T coil and a 6k (from a 12K HB). There may also be a PU winder 'tradition' to ensure that their coils match within a certain tight tolerence. Maybe some of them look down on unbalanced coils as sloppy work.
I'm glad to see that there's still a few HB's offered today with unmatched coils. Of course, if you're handy you can make some yourself, especially if you have extra PU's laying around (as some of us do). And there's the easy way of using spin-a-split to get that sound too.
I think PU manufacturers may fear that more than customer complaints would justify. Look at how popular Fender-style single coils are, and there is noise with those. With neck hybrids, combining 4.25K and 3.5K coils give a noticeable unbalanced coil sound, so it doesn't have to have extreme differences. To me, the '59/Custom is way more difference in coils than you need (7K vs 4K), and more potential for noise. It's adds a lot of treble to the bridge slot, which is not where I want it. I'd think a 1K difference would do what you want in bridge coils (because it works magic in the neck slot), like combining a 7K Custom or 498T coil and a 6k (from a 12K HB). There may also be a PU winder 'tradition' to ensure that their coils match within a certain tight tolerence. Maybe some of them look down on unbalanced coils as sloppy work.
I'm glad to see that there's still a few HB's offered today with unmatched coils. Of course, if you're handy you can make some yourself, especially if you have extra PU's laying around (as some of us do). And there's the easy way of using spin-a-split to get that sound too.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Best Neck Pickups
I agree with PTM and PTM. Zephyr Silver.
I agree with PTM and PTM. Zephyr Silver.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
.
THIS . And what is good for me and what I like , what works for me may not necessarily work for someone else. I love the Jazz
.
Progbusters
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
My stock single coil neck in my powerhouse Strat kicked butt compared to my dean lights out neck in an epiphone, yesterday, through my jimroot terror. Pumped up the on board boost = Throaty noisey raunchy piercing goodness. Single coils rule. Just a random post...
My stock single coil neck in my powerhouse Strat kicked butt compared to my dean lights out neck in an epiphone, yesterday, through my jimroot terror. Pumped up the on board boost = Throaty noisey raunchy piercing goodness. Single coils rule. Just a random post...
Re: Best Neck Pickups
Depends on the sound you want. Here are a few that I thought were good.
Humbuckers
1. Suhr SSV 2. SD Jazz neck Honorable mentions Alnico Pro 2, DiMarzio Liquifire.
Single Coils:
1. Lindy Fralin Vintage. I've tried a bunch SD, Suhr, EMG, Fender, but the Fralins really do it for me for single coils. If I had to pick a second the old Lace Gold was a nice neck pickup.
Hum-cancelling for Strat:
1. Lil 59 2. YJM Fury is pretty good I must say.
Depends on the sound you want. Here are a few that I thought were good.
Humbuckers
1. Suhr SSV 2. SD Jazz neck Honorable mentions Alnico Pro 2, DiMarzio Liquifire.
Single Coils:
1. Lindy Fralin Vintage. I've tried a bunch SD, Suhr, EMG, Fender, but the Fralins really do it for me for single coils. If I had to pick a second the old Lace Gold was a nice neck pickup.
Hum-cancelling for Strat:
1. Lil 59 2. YJM Fury is pretty good I must say.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Best Neck Pickups
It's hard to take this seriously when 4 'top' neck HB's are listed and Seth isn't one of them
It's hard to take this seriously when 4 'top' neck HB's are listed and Seth isn't one of them
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Best Neck Pickups
For me, it's the 59. It balances out with the Distortion really well, and when I need syrupy clean leads, that's the go to for me, but it all depends on the application. I've been noodling around with my uncle's strat and tele for some lead stuff on parts with the album my band and I are working on, and in some cases it sounds better than the 59, but in others the 59 is just the bee's knees.
For me, it's the 59. It balances out with the Distortion really well, and when I need syrupy clean leads, that's the go to for me, but it all depends on the application. I've been noodling around with my uncle's strat and tele for some lead stuff on parts with the album my band and I are working on, and in some cases it sounds better than the 59, but in others the 59 is just the bee's knees.
Niloy63
New member
Re: Best Neck Pickups
These are the Seymour Duncan neck pickups that I personally have in my guitars, and am extremely satisfied with the results:
Gibson Les Paul (thick mahogany) - Pearly Gates neck
Fender Lite Ash Strat (Alder Body) - Cool Rails neck
Schecter C1 Classic (medium-sized mahogany) - '59 neck (w/ A4 mag swap)
Edit: Woah... just realized the grave digging it took to find this post! lol
These are the Seymour Duncan neck pickups that I personally have in my guitars, and am extremely satisfied with the results:
Gibson Les Paul (thick mahogany) - Pearly Gates neck
Fender Lite Ash Strat (Alder Body) - Cool Rails neck
Schecter C1 Classic (medium-sized mahogany) - '59 neck (w/ A4 mag swap)
Edit: Woah... just realized the grave digging it took to find this post! lol
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Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Best Neck Pickups
While it's true that you can blindly choose almost any pickup and it will work very well in SOME particular context, there are some pickups that are truly bad and will be crap in any position in any guitar through any amp, no matter who's playing it. Should you have one of these, immediately have a midnight ceremony and burn it before someone else gets stuck with it.
While it's true that you can blindly choose almost any pickup and it will work very well in SOME particular context, there are some pickups that are truly bad and will be crap in any position in any guitar through any amp, no matter who's playing it. Should you have one of these, immediately have a midnight ceremony and burn it before someone else gets stuck with it.