Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

LLL

New member
I'm starting up a new build project and need to know which is a good neck humbucker that would match well with an SH-5 Custom in the bridge.

Guitar would be strat, but mahogany body/neck (24 3/4 scale). Prolly rosewood fretboard. Not sure of bridge yet, but no Floyds definitely.

Type of music is anything pre-90's.

I've already done the Seth Lover neck (+ SH-5 bridge), but it needs a hair more output.

I'd like one with PAF "genes" if possible.

So - suggestions. And don't just name a pickup; say *why* it works. TIA
 
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Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

I have used with a SH5
PGn
59b
59n
JAZZn

And I would wager a WLHn would do well too.

Why? General EQ matches with SH5. But it will depend on the guitar in question which pickup will work best....just like anytime a pickup is suggested.
 
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Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Screaming Demon. Clear and articulate and powerful enough to keep up with the Custom.
Or, if you want a bit thicker, Distortion neck.

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Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

PG for the pure awesome.
PG+ to keep it all Stratty and awesome
Demon if you need more sharp highs and a touch of output
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

If you are open to other than Duncan's, I would add D Activator neck or Lace Deathbucker. Both powerful, clear and articulate. The D Activator is by no means compressed, and the Deathbucker even less so.

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Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

I would go with Jazz or Demon depending on how much output you need.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Jazz. Does the nice, articulate clean sound as well as getting closer to PAF territory with the tone rolled off a bit. I've had one in my Explorer along with an SH-5 since 2002.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Checked out a SD vid of the Demon; sounded great but when volume rolled down there was still good amount of hair on the tone...
unless I need to watch another vid. Dude was using an AXE FX, I believe.

Need to be able to get good cleans when rolled down.

So:

PGn
JAZZn
SH-55n (seth lover neck)

Tonal differences? Output differences? They all seem to be very similar on paper.

Again, the seth lover neck does what I want, but I need just a hair more output.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

The Jazz is more open, with tighter bass than all of them. So, that would be my choice. Especially with the SH-5.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Used to play a two HB Strat with a PGn and Duncan Custom.

Thought those two pickups were a near perfect match.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Used to play a two HB Strat with a PGn and Duncan Custom.

Thought those two pickups were a near perfect match.

After watching SD Pearly Gates vid, I can see what you're saying... the mids stand out in both pickups (and both have PAF "genes").
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

So for now, the question for myself is:

"do I want mids & loose bottom (PGn) or scooped mids & tight bottom (SH-2n) in my neck pickup?". :33:
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Definitely don't discount the Demon for the reasons already given (except for that vid you watched). The Demon has GREAT cleans and it keeps up with the SH-5 very well indeed. Less fizzy than the PG.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Dimarzio Air Norton. Had one for long while with a TB-5 bridge it's a warm, open-sounding pickup with enough power to balance with the bridge p'up. A5 with a 12.5 DCR, translates to nice warm bridge tones with enough output to push many an amp into over drive when the pedal is to the metal.


Disclaimer: Yes we all know that mag type and DCR are meaningless, but I don't care what we know, I know what I hear.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

People like to forget about the 78 neck model. Your custom pickup was wound for EVH based off an old PAF and the 78 is meant to match another pickup wound for EVH. I'd say it's almost like an overwound Alnico II Pro if you have experience with that.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

People like to forget about the 78 neck model. Your custom pickup was wound for EVH based off an old PAF and the 78 is meant to match another pickup wound for EVH. I'd say it's almost like an overwound Alnico II Pro if you have experience with that.

Think it might be like an overwound Pearly Gates???
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Mahogany body with Custom in the Bridge, I still vote for the JB hardwired for parallel. It sounds counter-intuitive, given the JB is considered a "hot" pickup (and really, it is) but it's also very sensitive to changes like splitting and parallel wiring, screw pole tweaks, and mag swaps, especially in the neck.

You can also hardwire it so only the inner coil is on, though it may still be a bit too "single-coily" for some folks, even with just the inner coil running. Then there's the hum.
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

What are you going to do on said neck pickup?
 
Re: Neck Bucker That Matches Well With SH-5

Dimarzio Air Norton. Had one for long while with a TB-5 bridge it's a warm, open-sounding pickup with enough power to balance with the bridge p'up. A5 with a 12.5 DCR, translates to nice warm bridge tones with enough output to push many an amp into over drive when the pedal is to the metal.


Disclaimer: Yes we all know that mag type and DCR are meaningless, but I don't care what we know, I know what I hear.

DiMarzi-who? :knockedou:ugh1::18:

Never heard of them. :knockedou

(I don't swing that way)
 
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