Neck humbucker for metal

[dingleberry]

Hi all,

I've got the jazz neck in my main live guitar (epi lp custom w/ebony board & 24 frets), but and am finding I prefer it's sound in my 22 fret guitar. Obviously going to sound different because the lesser string energy at the 24 fret position, but wondering if there's a pickup that will compensate for the difference. I play in a thrash band so all I need the neck for is the occasional clean passage (needs to have sparkle and depth) and shreddy sweepy lead (needs to have sustain and articulation).

Thanks all, very interested to hear suggestions.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

Actually, it's not string energy that makes neck pickups in 24-fret guitars sound different. Its the fact that the harmonic content is different under different parts of the string.

Is it a DiMarzio Cruiser that Satriani has in his 24 fretter? I forget and I'm on my phone, so it's hard to look up on the Ibanez site. LOL My point is that he didn't like 24 fretters because of the shifted neck pickup but Ibanez gave him that setup to try and he was happy.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

This is Hybrid territory.

A screw coil from a Jazz bridge with a slug coil from a Jazz neck.

If you're in Europe, I'm game to make the hybrid.

I can provide a Jazz neck, so if you can provide the Jazz bridge, just PM me.

HTH,

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

What pickup do you have in the bridge? Would be good to know so I can make a suggestion and get the outputs right

 

[Varg]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

Believe it or not, the only neck humbucker I've liked in a 24 fret guitar is one of those cheapo Ibanez INFs (3 or 4, whichever is the neck model). I tried all sorts in the guitar and gave up. I just put the INF in it to fill the space and was pleasantly surprised at how cool it sounded.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

This is Hybrid territory.

A screw coil from a Jazz bridge with a slug coil from a Jazz neck.

If you're in Europe, I'm game to make the hybrid.

I can provide a Jazz neck, so if you can provide the Jazz bridge, just PM me.

HTH,

I've been digging the 59 screw and the Jazz slug in the neck hybrid. in your experience, which coil do you find works better for you in which slot with relation to the harmonic positioning?





edit: since the OP refers to needing "the neck for is the occasional clean passage (needs to have sparkle and depth) and shreddy sweepy lead (needs to have sustain and articulation)"... I'd suggest the FSn, wired to split.

 

[DonP]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

I like the Duncan Designed HB103N in the neck of a 24 fret (Jackson KE3 in this example).

 

[dingleberry]

Re: Neck humbucker for metal

Lots of great suggestions but a few hurdles. First off is the wiring of the guitar, since it's my live guitar I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. The pickups are wired to the selector switch, the switch goes to the single 500k cts volume pot and the pot goes to the jack. Can't split anything with out a complete overhaul, and then that's one more switch for me to worry about.

The bridge pickup is a Bareknuckle Holydiver so I'm not keen to pair it up with a duncan designed neck (would love to buy another BKP but $$$$). I've thought about Dimarzio as well but haven't played a pickup in their catalog I really like.

Sadly I live in Canada Kojak or I would happily take you up on your offer of making the hybrid. I've read the thread on making hybrids, probably do more research in the regard before making any purchasing decisions.

Thanks for the great responses all, anyone care to weigh in on Full Shred neck clean tones? Or any Dimarzios I should be looking at?