Hotter, More Aggressive Saturday Night Special (59 Hybrid?)

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H13

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YO!

I've got a PRS SE Hollowbody. I loaded it with Saturday Night Specials and it's freaking phenomenal in that hollowbody. It gives it a bit of edge, it's got a fair bit of grunt and it almost brings the metal, but the overall tone I adore. I also love the dynamic range and how much can be coaxed out of it by messing with the volume pots. OH and the overall detail in the pickups? They're killer.

I've got a luthier working on a Les Paul for me. This Les Paul is basically gonna be a "fixed" Gibson Les Paul to replace my Gibson Les Paul which has had a neck break, failed electronics, failed jack, won't stay in tune...etc. etc. etc. all the problems we all know and "love" about Les Pauls.

Since I absolutely adore my SNS, I would like something similar in my Les Paul. However, I would like my Les Paul to be more gutsy than the Hollowbody. I'd like the Les Paul to get into Adam Jones (Tool) territory, however I don't think I need something as hot as a JB\Distortion.

Basically, is there a souped-up version of the SNS, which is a bit tighter, a bit more aggressive with the pick attack, and a BIT hotter? Maybe a bit less PAF and a bit more Humbucker?

I was looking at the 59 hybrid as an option?

Cheers for the advice!
 
Either the Hybrid or maybe a 59b with a UOA5. Or a Custom with the same.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
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Welcome to the forum!

I'd suggest the Hybrid, too. You can even go hotter, like the Custom. Or just a regular PAF-type with a booster pedal.
 
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The '59/Custom hybrid or the Custom 5/Custom.

The hybrid will be more than the SNS.

I do not listen to a lot of Tool, but my gut tells me you would want the Custom 5, or Custom, to get there. Tool fans will check in and likely have better recommendations than I.
 
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spit-balling here (not an SNS user, but just going by descriptions)

perpetual burn bridge and whole lotta humbucker neck?
or
blues saraceno parallel axis bridge with parallel axis neck?

I'm a Tool fan, but I would have went with Black Winter set for that plus some versatility for other kinds of music.
 
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Wow! Thanks for the quick responses.

For the record, I know Adam Jones uses a Duncan Distortion (though sometimes it sounds AWFULLY similar to a JB so I wouldn't be shocked if he occasionally switches between the two).

Looking at the EQ curves, I'm surprised to see that the Distortion is so scoopy. I'm going to guess that the extra mids in the SNS is what gives it that detailed sound?
 
H13 said:
Wow! Thanks for the quick responses.

For the record, I know Adam Jones uses a Duncan Distortion (though sometimes it sounds AWFULLY similar to a JB so I wouldn't be shocked if he occasionally switches between the two).

Looking at the EQ curves, I'm surprised to see that the Distortion is so scoopy. I'm going to guess that the extra mids in the SNS is what gives it that detailed sound?
Click to expand...
You guess right. That's why I recommend a UOA5 in a couple of popular pickups. More mids in either a 59b or Custom 5 could be the Goldilocks pickup for you.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
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Awesome.

Well it looks like the 59 Hybrid in the bridge is a good get.

Any suggestion for a neck pairing with it? I do like the thick, liquidy bassy, middy sorta Slashy thing, so I'm guessing something with an A2?
 
Agreed on the C59 hybrid, which I have experience with. I prefer it with an a2 magnet although I'm not sure that would push you further in the direct you want to go.

I haven't tried this, but maybe an A5 mag in the bridge SNS would do the trick? Keep the overall characteristics of the SNS, but give it a little more cut. It's worth considering.

Or maybe try an a4 in the C59?

Keep us posted!

Edit: I meant try a4 in the C59, not the SNS
 
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H13 said:
Awesome.

Well it looks like the 59 Hybrid in the bridge is a good get.

Any suggestion for a neck pairing with it? I do like the thick, liquidy bassy, middy sorta Slashy thing, so I'm guessing something with an A2?
Click to expand...

I have not paired these two, but there are the Slash Signature Pickups . Buy from an authorized SD dealer and you have the 21 day exchange option if it is not matching.
 
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Rightio, as far as I can tell, there are 3 options

- Slash A2 Neck
- Pearly Gates

...and one completely out of left field:

- Phat Cat P90

I'm leaning to the Pearly Gates as it seems to have a bit more mids, but since we're talking ideas here...

Pros\Cons of the Phat Cat?
 
The Phat Cat is targeting a P90 under a full size humbucker cover. So likely a no.

Edit: unless you want a P90. If so, I would recommend a P-Rails in a Triple Shot pickup ring. You will get your P90 plus 3 additional tones.

There is also the APH-1, which is what Slash used before he modified it to his Signature Set.

​​​​​
 
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Yeah checked out the Phat Cat and the P90 thing is not it.

Based on what I've heard online, my ideal neck pickup is a Pearly Gates but with a bit more bass. Love the detail and chirp of it, but I want a bit more thickness which is making me look at the A2 Pro.

The Slash set sounded fine, but it didn't grab me? I think the easiest way to describe it is that it didn't chirp enough if that makes sense.

I guess I'm trying something thick and chirpy.

Edit: I'm gonna suggest that the chirp I'm looking for is generated by the amount of mid-scoop in relation to the bass\treble. So it's less about how much b\m\t there is and how big of a dip there is in the mids. When looking at the EQ charts on the SD website, the Slash set has less of a mid-scoop.
 
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I think the Pearly Gates neck has a nice, balanced bass. It doesn't have the quick / sharp attack like some other pickups such as the 59. Some people find the 59 neck boomy. Some people find the PG neck too soft/ spongy. I love that quality, but a lot of people don't

I would give the PG neck a shot stock with the a2.

The bridge PG is great. I'm fan, but it doesn't sound like what you're looking for in a bridge humbucker.
 
It occurs to me that the Hybrid with an A4 might be closer to a SNS than with the regular A5.
Of course, the Hybrid already has strong articulate mids. Certainly I'd give the stock version a try first.
But if it seems a little too hyped, A4 might tone it down a bit, and tighten it up too.

Perpetual Burn is definitely a great idea too, though. An underappreciated gem.
 
2nd the bridge recommendations. 2nd A2P for thick and chirpy in the neck - it is exactly that. 2nd possibly mag swapping the SNS bridge if you want to beef it up. A double thick mag will increase the power and then the type of alnico can push the eq in the direction you want.
 
Thanks a lot for all the advice

But...I've never heard of magnet swapping pickups? I feel like I'm about to open a big 'ole can of worms here, but how do you swap magnets and can the results be predicted?

Also, is it possible\easy to do this on covered pickups?
 
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