how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

[Hexer]

the background of the question is: I'm planning to get a custom guitar and am not completely shure about the PU-configuration so far.

I'm pretty shure I'll get a Dimebucker in bridge-position (got one for my warlock and I just love it). I like it because: its aggressive, tight, heavy, very clear, .....

oh yes: I play metal! (mainly extreme)
for some reason I dont really care about active pickups (never had any, but I've never felt the need to get any)

now I'm trying to find a neck-PU to go with it. In my Warlock I have a Dimarzio Superdistortion in the neck-position and it sounds pretty good, but its not exactly what I want.
I want the neck-PU especially for leads and cleans. I got pretty good results with using both PUs for leads lately, but I'd like a neck-PU that sounds a bit more aggressive for the lead-stuff.

I just noticed that I love the sound of single-coils for clean-sounds, now: what kind of configuration should I get?
2 Humbuckers with push/pull split-function on the neck-PU? what other options do I have? what PUs/what configuration would you recommend?

the guitar will be roughly V-shaped with a neck-thru maple-neck and ebony-fretboard. I'm not shure about the body-wood yet.... I thought about Ash, but maybe Mahogany or Alder would suit me better??
I want good sustain and sharp attack, maybe you can help me with the wood-choice, too?

 

[Loserchief]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

Full Shred in the neck and maybe a push-pull to split it. :headbang:

 

[I_M_Ken]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

personal choice for wood would be alder since you want 'sharp attack' kinda tone...
mahogany will probably give you a thicker/warmer tone. for metal its alder all the way for me! hahaha.
hmm, as for neck pup....i think the FRED by dimarzio would work out just great for ya...

you can split it as loserchief mentioned and the tone is decent for cleans as well

 

[marshallartist]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

i think a jb in the neck would be great for you. its a very cool lead sound and a big fat clean tone. id suggest putting in a push/pull pot to split both pups at the same time. with both pups on and split youll get a nice bright clean tone

 

[Hexer]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

hmmm, 3 answers, 3 different suggestions....
I think I dont want to split both PUs at the same time... I'll get 2 tone-pots though, so I may get both as push/pull pots for the sake of a little more versatillity (though I doubt I'll use the Dimebucker in single-coil-mode...)

oh yes: my amp is an ENGL Powerball, so I think it would be a good idea to get a neck-pu that doesnt have too much gain (dont want it to get muddy)



about the wood-problem: what about Ash? not recommended?

 

[Hexer]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

I M Ken: hm, I want sharp attack, no question, but I also want the sound to be heavy at the same time..... still alder? (I read quite a bit about different tone-woods, but have nearly no experience personally with different woods)

 

[Loserchief]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

don't worry about too much output on the pup. You're playing a powerball and from the experience i have with mine it's almost impossible to get it to sound muddy. And even if you care the Full Shred still is a great choice since it's not to hot and stays very clear and articulate vene under ultra-high-gain

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

Before selling a floyd equipped guitar of mine (to a metalhead friend of mine) I paired the invader in the bridge with a gibson 498T in the neck. The results were great output wise, but of course clarity was lost (but I think you don't care about clarity in the neck HB no?). So I think a c5 adjusted quite low could be what you want.

But then again Dimebag (RIP) was using a 59 neck. I think that's what I'd do, especially to keep a clear neck position.

Good luck,

B

 

[I_M_Ken]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

I M Ken: hm, I want sharp attack, no question, but I also want the sound to be heavy at the same time..... still alder? (I read quite a bit about different tone-woods, but have nearly no experience personally with different woods)

Well to be honest, i dont have much experience with Ash wood guitars.
Alder is just my personal favorite for metal/rock guitars.

You tone would definitely rely alot on the amp as well. So the body itself shouldnt be that much of an issue.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

You tone would definitely rely alot on the amp as well. So the body itself shouldnt be that much of an issue.

Wrong.

The body of the guitar has everything to do with tone. If construction didn't affect tone, we'd all be playing HSH superstrats and the normal strats and LP's would be out of production.

I think that for the tone you want mahogany wings would be a fine choice. The ebony fingerboard and maple neck thru construction will give you lots of top end and attack. The mahogany wings will help fill out the low mids.

As far as a neck pickup, the PGb, 59, and Jazz are all good choices for rock and metal. If you want to go heavier, the DDn would fit the bill.

 

[Hexer]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

from reading the descriptions on the duncan-hp, I think the Fullshred or Distortion could be a good choice for me

will they both also work well when used in single-coil-mode for cleans?

I think lead-sound is a more important for me than the cleans, but good clean-sound is far from unimportant.

I play both slow heavy/melodic leads and fast stuff like tapping and so on so I want to sound both "full, massive and aggressive" and clear and articulate for the faster stuff (lol, maybe I should get 3 guitars: 1. for rythm, 2. for slow leads, 3. for fast leads :fingersx: )

 

[Hexer]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

heres another question:

can anyone tell me how the Dimebucker compares to the Lawrence L-500XL?

 

[Hexer]

Re: how to complete my PU-configuration (especially neck)?

just asked the guys at that custom-shop. a pair of lawrence-humbuckers would cost me an additional 90€ but I dont know what to expect from those PUs