black winter neck with alt 8?

[LibbyDoe]

I need some of your collective wisdom here. I have a PRS SE 24 with a floyd (mahogany body, maple cap) that needs new p'ups. I've fallen in love with the alternative 8 (to my ears it's everything I love about a JB but better) but I need a neck pickup to go with it. I want something that is tight enough to hold up with chording under higher gain and gives me a good lead tone for solos while still having a decent clean tone. So that got me thinking... the black winter neck seems to get great reviews as being tight-yet-liquid and more versatile than the name implies. But of course it's high output and I'm worried it might be too much for the Alt 8. Can anyone tell me whether they'd balance ok? Are there other pickups besides the 59 and Jazz (I have both of those already in other guitars) that would work better? I've also kicked around the idea of a liquifire or perhaps a full shred, or maybe a sentient even though the sentient seems to get mixed reviews - but I'm intrigued by the black winter/alt 8 combo. Amp is a Mesa Mk V with Fane M65/H75s if that helps.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I would think they would balance just fine. Adjusting height and everything. I also think it would be a great choice to pair with the alt-8. Going to sound wicked!

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

The Black Winter seems like it would match fine with the Alt 8. It isn't as loud in volume as the DCR might suggest. However, another good idea is the Sentient, which would match the Alt 8 better EQ-wise.

 

[Masta' C]

The Black Winter Neck would be a fine match for the Alt 8 and wouldn't overpower it.

That said, I agree with Mincer as far as the Sentient being a lower-output option that would also sound great with the Alt 8.

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

Sentient.

 

[Calsip]

Black winter would do fine. Might need to set the height accordingly. Also I saw someone say sentient. That would work well too.


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[LibbyDoe]

I've never heard the Sentient in person so I appreciate the input from y'all who have. I've heard it criticized as being kind of bland.. But I rather like the 59 and Jazz and the Sentient is supposed to be halfway between them so in theory the Sentient should sound good to me. I just thought the ceramic of the black winter with strong alnico bridge might give me a pretty diverse range of tones.

 

[weepingminotaur]

Yeah, I think either the BWN or the Sentient would be fine. Both are versatile and can keep up with whatever's in the bridge. I do agree with Calsip that you'll likely have to play with pickup height on the BWN just a bit.

 

[Mincer]

The Black Winter will have more mids, and lower mids. The Sentient will have more treble and tighter bass. So it depends on what EQ you like, or that your guitar needs.

 

[LibbyDoe]

I'm thinking a mahogany set neck probably needs more treble and tighter bass (thanks, Mincer! Solid advice there), and with a number of people speaking highly of the sentient I think we may have a winner there. Appreciate all the help!

 

[elelpe]

I have satisfying result of pairing Alt8 with Screamin' Demon: clear under high gain, fluid solo, and decent clean. Lower output neck pickup that has similar traits and pairs well with Alt8 is Slash Sig.

 

[Mincer]

I'm thinking a mahogany set neck probably needs more treble and tighter bass (thanks, Mincer! Solid advice there), and with a number of people speaking highly of the sentient I think we may have a winner there. Appreciate all the help!

Let us know how this project turns out!

 

[LibbyDoe]

Got the Alt 8/Sentient combo wired up yesterday (switched the 3-way to a 5-way too, because why not?) and my initial reaction is "aw yisssssss." I love neck pickup tones but always struggle with getting a good neck tone in 24 fret guitars, and the sentient is working for me. I get the "somewhere between a 59 and Jazz" comparisons, but I'm not sure that does it justice. It's definitely tighter than a 59 in the bass so cleans sound a bit less warm and wooly but they're not at all sterile - just tighter. And the high end has sparkle but still has a slightly rounded fullness that I am liking. And that tightness under gain makes for some great note definition, no blurry-sounding runs here. It sounds modern to my ears (which I may be more of a feel thing - it's on the tighter side for an alnico) but has a healthy dose of slightly-hotter-than-vintage-PAF in its dna so it should work for any style of music I'd want a hb for. Seems to pair well with the Alt 8 - there's no jarring eq shift when switching from neck to bridge. I'm pretty geeked about it so far. Thanks for the help, y'all.

 

[Mincer]

I am happy this project turned out pretty well!

 

[Demanic]

Makes me want a Sentient.
Thanks for the G.A.S.

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[weepingminotaur]

Glad the Sentient worked out for you! It really is a great pickup.