Best neck Pickups
- Thread starter Calsip
- Start date
Re: Best neck Pickups
Personally, I like a warmer humbucker, like an Alnico II Pro, or a Seth Lover. I could exist with just that in a guitar, actually. I play 75% of the time on the neck humbucker. I do use a Strat now and then, and that pickups is a Classic Strat Stack Plus. It is dead quiet, and has the bell-like sound I like out of a Strat neck pickup.
Personally, I like a warmer humbucker, like an Alnico II Pro, or a Seth Lover. I could exist with just that in a guitar, actually. I play 75% of the time on the neck humbucker. I do use a Strat now and then, and that pickups is a Classic Strat Stack Plus. It is dead quiet, and has the bell-like sound I like out of a Strat neck pickup.
lostinthemasses
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
Favorite neck humbucker is a Jazz.
Favorite neck single coil is a Wilde Pickups L-280S
This thread belongs in the Pickup Lounge.
Favorite neck humbucker is a Jazz.
Favorite neck single coil is a Wilde Pickups L-280S
This thread belongs in the Pickup Lounge.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
Jazzmaster or Jaguar
Jazzmaster or Jaguar
darthphineas
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
1) noiseless (hum free)
2) not boomy under gain
1) noiseless (hum free)
2) not boomy under gain
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
Fralin Vintage Hot or Duncan Antiquity Surfer for a Strat neck or middle.
Fralin Blues Special for a Tele neck.
Favorite A2 neck humbucker would be the Duncan Pearly Gates or Seth Lover with a polished A2 magnet. Don't care for a roughcast A2 like that used in the CS PGn...not bright and clear enough.
Favorite A5 neck humbucker would be an original pre-2000 59N with roughcast A5 magnet or a newer one with the polished A5 magnet replaced with a roughcast A5.
Also like the Seth Lover neck with the polished A2 magnet replaced with a roughcast A5.
Fralin Vintage Hot or Duncan Antiquity Surfer for a Strat neck or middle.
Fralin Blues Special for a Tele neck.
Favorite A2 neck humbucker would be the Duncan Pearly Gates or Seth Lover with a polished A2 magnet. Don't care for a roughcast A2 like that used in the CS PGn...not bright and clear enough.
Favorite A5 neck humbucker would be an original pre-2000 59N with roughcast A5 magnet or a newer one with the polished A5 magnet replaced with a roughcast A5.
Also like the Seth Lover neck with the polished A2 magnet replaced with a roughcast A5.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Best neck Pickups
I used to really like the EMG 81 in the neck for distorted leads. I haven't been able to find a passive that resembles it yet still balances well with the PAF-style PUP's I'm using for the bridge position right now.
I am digging the Phat Cat ATM, though, especially for cleans.
I used to really like the EMG 81 in the neck for distorted leads. I haven't been able to find a passive that resembles it yet still balances well with the PAF-style PUP's I'm using for the bridge position right now.
I am digging the Phat Cat ATM, though, especially for cleans.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
Surprised more posters don't favor singles in the neck; neck position benefits from sc attack/clarity IMO. Maybe not for jazzy chords and leads, but for a more rock/blues standpoint...
Surprised more posters don't favor singles in the neck; neck position benefits from sc attack/clarity IMO. Maybe not for jazzy chords and leads, but for a more rock/blues standpoint...
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Best neck Pickups
^ Yas I could never choose to have either only hbs or scs. My favorite neck hbs for rock/blues are the Seth and Pearly Gates. Fav for jazz are the Jazz and Alnico 2 (I'm gonna try the '59 this week).
For single coils the strats that I've tried so far I've really liked: SSL-1, SSL-5, Surfer. Honestly after listening to the rest of the true single coil strat pups I think I would be stoked with any of them. Aside from strat pups, the Antiquity Mustang is outstanding! It has the warmest, most lush, vintage tone of any of the pickups I've tried so far. The Jaguars sound really good too, as do all of the Antiquities.
^ Yas I could never choose to have either only hbs or scs. My favorite neck hbs for rock/blues are the Seth and Pearly Gates. Fav for jazz are the Jazz and Alnico 2 (I'm gonna try the '59 this week).
For single coils the strats that I've tried so far I've really liked: SSL-1, SSL-5, Surfer. Honestly after listening to the rest of the true single coil strat pups I think I would be stoked with any of them. Aside from strat pups, the Antiquity Mustang is outstanding! It has the warmest, most lush, vintage tone of any of the pickups I've tried so far. The Jaguars sound really good too, as do all of the Antiquities.
TeleJr24
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
It's a tough decision because it depends on what I'm playing. But I do really like my lindy fralin P90 with my SD hot P90 in second place.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's a tough decision because it depends on what I'm playing. But I do really like my lindy fralin P90 with my SD hot P90 in second place.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Best neck Pickups
That's not basic. That's complicated. What guitar am I playing? What style?
I love the AII Pro. Slash version even better. Seth, Pearly, Jazz. Get the direction I'm going?
I love singles in the neck. At least, some. Cool Rails, STK-S4, Hot Rails. Phat Cat. (Technically, a single.)
They're all good.
Oh yeah . . . did I mention the Livewire Classic II?
That's not basic. That's complicated. What guitar am I playing? What style?
I love the AII Pro. Slash version even better. Seth, Pearly, Jazz. Get the direction I'm going?
I love singles in the neck. At least, some. Cool Rails, STK-S4, Hot Rails. Phat Cat. (Technically, a single.)
They're all good.
Oh yeah . . . did I mention the Livewire Classic II?
Last edited:
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Best neck Pickups
A fat 1960's Strat neck PU in a Strat
A P90 in an SG or Casino
A DeArmond in a Gretsch 6120
A Jazz, Seth or WLH neck in a Les Paul
A fat 1960's Strat neck PU in a Strat
A P90 in an SG or Casino
A DeArmond in a Gretsch 6120
A Jazz, Seth or WLH neck in a Les Paul
EmiAba
Active member
Re: Best neck Pickups
I have all guitars with the 2 humbuckers configuration. I had strat like guitars in the past loaded with single coils but I had always the feeling of something missed. Never pleased. So only humbucker in neck slot for me, used for rhythm parts and leads as well (it depends mainly on the mood of the song). And the choice of the pick-up depends on the genre you play, the woods of the guitar and the fingerboard, the bridge pick-up and your gear. A lot of variables to create your tone. At the moment the neck pick-up I prefer the most is a '59 with A4 magnet, almost perfect in 24/75" guitars with mohagany body played through a Marshall IMHO. The silver medal is for DiMarzio Paf Pro and on the lower step of the podium EMG85 (Zakk rules)
I have all guitars with the 2 humbuckers configuration. I had strat like guitars in the past loaded with single coils but I had always the feeling of something missed. Never pleased. So only humbucker in neck slot for me, used for rhythm parts and leads as well (it depends mainly on the mood of the song). And the choice of the pick-up depends on the genre you play, the woods of the guitar and the fingerboard, the bridge pick-up and your gear. A lot of variables to create your tone. At the moment the neck pick-up I prefer the most is a '59 with A4 magnet, almost perfect in 24/75" guitars with mohagany body played through a Marshall IMHO. The silver medal is for DiMarzio Paf Pro and on the lower step of the podium EMG85 (Zakk rules)
Re: Best neck Pickups
It used to be Pearly Gates, but that easily got replaced by Screamin' Demon. Oh yeah.
I also love a good P-90. My favorite being the GFS Mean 90.
So, I've got single coil and humbucker as my favorites. It would be logical then to assume that my favorite neck pup for versatility would be the great P-Rail pup! The P-90 is by far my favorite and most used setting, with the humbucker in parallel being my next favorite setting. I occasionally will use it in series for leads where a want a tonally full/rich and powerful setting.
It used to be Pearly Gates, but that easily got replaced by Screamin' Demon. Oh yeah.
I also love a good P-90. My favorite being the GFS Mean 90.
So, I've got single coil and humbucker as my favorites. It would be logical then to assume that my favorite neck pup for versatility would be the great P-Rail pup! The P-90 is by far my favorite and most used setting, with the humbucker in parallel being my next favorite setting. I occasionally will use it in series for leads where a want a tonally full/rich and powerful setting.
Re: Best neck Pickups
Actually, I like a good single coil in the neck (or a stack, which I prefer), but I have more options with a humbucker. I tend to hear more varied style and tone across different guitarists with humbuckers, as many single coil-neck players go for that SRV/Hendrix thing.
Actually, I like a good single coil in the neck (or a stack, which I prefer), but I have more options with a humbucker. I tend to hear more varied style and tone across different guitarists with humbuckers, as many single coil-neck players go for that SRV/Hendrix thing.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Best neck Pickups
can't remember if I've already asked or not... have you compared the Mean 90 to the Dream 90?
can't remember if I've already asked or not... have you compared the Mean 90 to the Dream 90?
