Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
- Thread starter kcrknp
- Start date
Anficht
Member
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
If you play with heavy distortion and do fast runs the Pearly Gates neck will give you muddiness.
You do not want A2 magnets with fast runs and heavy distortion. You want either A5 or Ceramic. I'd say JazzB or distortion neck (or maybe Fullshred neck, but I have never heard one myself so I cannot recommend it) if you need something clear, defined, present, cutting through.
If you play with heavy distortion and do fast runs the Pearly Gates neck will give you muddiness.
You do not want A2 magnets with fast runs and heavy distortion. You want either A5 or Ceramic. I'd say JazzB or distortion neck (or maybe Fullshred neck, but I have never heard one myself so I cannot recommend it) if you need something clear, defined, present, cutting through.
kcrknp
New member
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
I thought so as well until I realized no high gain players use it. There must be something to that, like Anficht said.
I thought so as well until I realized no high gain players use it. There must be something to that, like Anficht said.
Kosh Naranek
New member
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
The Full Shred neck is also great. I have those in a couple of guitars with LP scale length, though they have Floyds where LP has a TOM bridge. The Full Shred neck sounds flutey, also with a slicing attack. It reminds me a lot of neck pickup tones in some Iron Maiden solos.
Another choice for a fat sounding neck pickup that works great for heavy music is the Dimarzio Air Norton. It's really a unique animal. Has a bit of ping on the top, a very thick midrange, but a bottom so tight that you can play power chords with it in the neck position and they don't sound overly bassy. I have one in a Hamer Sunburst (LP style construction with double cutaway). It makes a very warm, fat but tight neck pickup.
Maybe they have yet to discover it. I have a LP style guitar with a PG set. I don't think the neck PG is muddy at all. I don't use real heavy amounts of gain though. What it does have is a thick, meaty tone, which I think a player looking for heavier tones would want, and a bright, slicing attack. At low gain levels, it has a nice bluesy ping, but with a meatier, thicker sound than a Strat pickup. The PG is a little fatter sounding than a 59.
The Full Shred neck is also great. I have those in a couple of guitars with LP scale length, though they have Floyds where LP has a TOM bridge. The Full Shred neck sounds flutey, also with a slicing attack. It reminds me a lot of neck pickup tones in some Iron Maiden solos.
Another choice for a fat sounding neck pickup that works great for heavy music is the Dimarzio Air Norton. It's really a unique animal. Has a bit of ping on the top, a very thick midrange, but a bottom so tight that you can play power chords with it in the neck position and they don't sound overly bassy. I have one in a Hamer Sunburst (LP style construction with double cutaway). It makes a very warm, fat but tight neck pickup.
kcrknp
New member
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
I really like your description of the Air Norton, it sounds like just the kind of pickup I'm looking for. It's the power chords in the neck position that really got me there. Ill have to check out that pickup as well.
I really like your description of the Air Norton, it sounds like just the kind of pickup I'm looking for. It's the power chords in the neck position that really got me there. Ill have to check out that pickup as well.
MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge
I ran a Custom/Jazz in a LP Studio for a long time. I really liked that combo, and I've contemplated trying it in other guitars (like my SG, which currently has C5/Jazz). When I removed the set from my LP it wasn't for dislike, but in the name of trying something new. It remains one of my two favorite bridge/neck combinations.
I'm not bashful when it comes to gain, and I learned the PG lesson a long time ago. It's not that the PG can't perform alright in high gain applications, but IMO there are many many other pickups better suited for the application. Between the vintage output and the A2 mags the PG just isn't the best option for high gain.
I ran a Custom/Jazz in a LP Studio for a long time. I really liked that combo, and I've contemplated trying it in other guitars (like my SG, which currently has C5/Jazz). When I removed the set from my LP it wasn't for dislike, but in the name of trying something new. It remains one of my two favorite bridge/neck combinations.
I'm not bashful when it comes to gain, and I learned the PG lesson a long time ago. It's not that the PG can't perform alright in high gain applications, but IMO there are many many other pickups better suited for the application. Between the vintage output and the A2 mags the PG just isn't the best option for high gain.
