Help me select a neck pickup

[Chris Osborne]

Hi guys. I've been having a bit of trouble getting a tone I like in the neck position of my JP100D. It originally came with a liquifire in the neck which lacked the attack I wanted for fast picking. I replaced it with an Air Norton which is even worse, lol. It's just too smooth in the neck and the attack is not very prominent through my DC-5. I have a Pacifica with Duncan Alpha and Omega pickups in it and on the neck it just has that perfect "click" attack that makes picking fast feel effortless and I'd like to get a similar tone in my 100D. Interestingly enough I tried the Air Norton in the bridge position and it sounds extremely good to me, which is surprising considering many of the posts I've read about that pickup in the bridge. Anyways, I've been trying to decide between the HFH and PAF Pro for the neck. I do really like a neck pickup with that vocal or vowel like sound and a very clear and defined attack when single notes are picked for faster runs. What concerns me is that the Pro is a bit hotter than the Air Norton and might not match well for that reason. Does the HFH have a vocal quality to it as well? If so it might work better. Or perhaps another of the Dimarzio PAF type pickups like the Master? Paul Gilbert was getting some great neck tones from those. Also considering a Screamin Demon. Had one in the neck years ago and it was killer but don't know how it would pair up output wise with the AN. Any suggestions or info on either pickup would be helpful and thanks!

Chris

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

I just installed a PAF Pro in the neck position of my Eclipse the other day.

My early impression is it's not as bright as people say. I still need to play with the height more (I have it pretty low right now) so that may change.

It definitely has the vocal thing in the mids and has nice harmonics, but nothing crazy like an Evolution. It's a distinctly modern sounding pickup. Nothing PAF about it. The clarity is good. It's a shred classic for a reason (not that I can shred or go for that tone).

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

If you like the Alpha, why not get one for your JP? It tends to work well in any body wood from experience.

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

The PAF Pro has plenty of attack without overdoing it with the highs. I think it’s most useful wired in parallel. Very clean but still solid. I’ve used it as a genuine distorted rhythm sound even. I preferred the Pro to the HFH. You might want to look into the Full Shred neck as well. Articulation for days.

 

[Chris Osborne]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

I do love the Alpha but want to try to find something that I can get to match the zebra AN I have in the bridge. Will definitely look into the Full Shred. I had one in the bridge of a strat years ago and loved it.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

the fs neck is a great option for what you want

 

[Mincer]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

The Alpha is a remarkably articulate pickup, and can get that modern metal solo thing easily. It rewards great amps, however.

 

[Chris Osborne]

Re: Help me select a neck pickup

Can anyone offer a comparison on the PAF Master and the PAF Pro? I'm primarily interested in knowing if the Master has a vocal/vowel like quality to it like the Pro. The Pro is my first choice right now but the output might overpower the AN in the bridge. If the Master will give me a good pick attack and a similar vocal like tone then I might go with that one.