JB into a low gain/non-master volume amp is one thing. JB into a gain channel is quite another, to me it just screams 80s tone. It has its own distinctive character and always sounds like a JB. Also, the low end can be a bit loose. For a wider range of different kinds of tone including 70s-type stuff I'd have to recommend the SuperD, especially in a Les Paul.
Classic 70s pairing IMO would be the SuperD and an old DP103 if you can find a used one, or the 36th if you can't. Possibly a PAF Pro could give you some extra output for neck lead playing while still maybe being able to cop some old school tones too. Can't offer meaningful advice on that or the middle position combining those two 'cause I've never owned a PAF Pro. But I can say that the old DiMarzio PAFs generally have had a very nice lead voice in Les Pauls.
The Super/Super2 set would be a good bet for what you describe, but since you said, "So I am looking for that hot 70s brown sound - thick creamy highish gain with pronounced upper mids - the classic rock sound of pre master volume", I am going to suggest the CustomCustom Bridge and Pearly Gates Neck.
The super is probably one of the most prolific ingredients for the 70's grind. however I would never accuse it of being strong in the upper mids, the amp would have more to do with that. It also can be a very dense sounding pickup, and actually works for a lot of modern playing too even though you rarely see it used for that. The super two I have zer experience with, but I assume it's close to an under wound PAF with a double thick ceramic mag, so it might have a clanky attack. the old DP103's are quite a bit different than the current dp103. They have a little bit more of a midrange presence (not much) than you would expect from something like the Duncan '59. the closest thing in Dimarzio's catalogue for this is the Air Classic. you could then just un-air it and it would be essentially an old dp103 if you wanted the extra bite.
Option to split the PGn for cleans
...or...
Sentient in the neck, wired '50s style
...with a Custom Custom in the bridge, modern wired. Both winning combinations for an LP with a single channel amp.
I think you are right about the super 2. I have Maxon Super 2 clones in one of my guitars and it can be clanky especially in the bridge.
I nearly had my hands on 1980s DP103s but someone beat me to it.
Would you say the super D in a lester is going to be more lower mid and bass heavy? I could always put a small capacitor in line with the signal if it turns out to be to bass heavy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
How aggressive do you want your rock sound?
Do you use a lot of distortion in the neck either for heavy rhythm or screaming lead? If so, is one more important than another? Do you want more of an all-purpose pickup that does nice rhythm, lead and nice clean, but doesn't do any one thing as well as a more dedicated pickup? Is pristine clean important? If so, how much body? How much punch? How bright? How deep?
The answers to these questions will go a long way in deciding whether you want a Super-2. "I want '70s" is just painfully vague. All sorts of music was being played in the '70s by people wearing all sorts of clothes.
Keep in mind that there is no rule that says you can't successfully pair a Duncan humbucker in the neck with a Super-D in the bridge, if you're truly set on a Super-D.
I wanted to know about the paf pro/superD & superD/super2 pairing some months back for a cr250 cort. I had finalised on getting the super2 to go with the superD I had but it would take months to get any confirmation from my distributor, so.... I had a sh1 59n lying around waiting to get rid off & remembering how that combo had sounded previously in my korean prs custom, I decided to try it out. Well, I liked it so much that I didn't bother getting new neck pu lol I might have had something to add otherwise.
Anyways, coming back, the superd sounds closest like this in my cr250, its thick but dynamic too as long its like ~3mm away from the strings.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cCU5H3nWuLs
Yeah not at all, the super d is a weird pickup in that regard. with mild overdrive it can be super creamy for a ceramic pu. I have an old un-potted one from the 70's that I'll never part with. Have you listened to any of the clips on dimarzio's site?
I was going to say that the Super 2 just didn't seem like a good choice.
PAF Pro for something more modern and full, PAF Joe or Sentient for a little more vintage, PG for something classic. The PAF Pro has a great split sound, as does the PG. I'm not as sure about the other two, but they have things working in their favor for a good split sound. If you don't wish to split, I recommend '50s wiring for the neck with a 500k linear taper volume and 500k audio taper for the tone. All will work great for a single-channel amp, dialed to clip when pushed.