Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

kcrknp

kcrknp

New member
I got a Duncan SH-5 Custom put in the bridge of my Epi LP Custom about a month ago and I've been loving the tones I get out that guitar ever since. The only problem now is the neck pickup sounds dead. No presence or life to it at all. I solo on the Custom now because it has the highs that really cut through the mix. What I'm looking for is a good at least semi-bright, present neck pickup that will cut through the mix and have a good solo tone. From what I read here I've been thinking Full Shred neck, but I also thought about Distortion neck. What do you guys think?
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

I thought about the Jazz as well. Is that going to be high enough output to balance well with my bridge Custom?
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

The Jazz has more bass than I need. I like a clear tone when playing rythym. I don't play super distorted...I like my chords to be cleanish. I'm more of a blues and R&B player. I use the Custom as the bridge pickup in my Fender Big Apple Strat and pair it with a Pearly Gates neck. Lew
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Thanks Lew! I've also had my eye on the Pearly Gates, but I'm more of a distorted tone player, so I'm not too sure how well it would fair in these circumstances.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Try a distortion neck. It will pair up great with the Custom and do exactly what you want it to do.

I've got the Custom/Distortion combo in my Strat and it sounds great for Rock, Metal, even Blues
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

+1 for the Custom and 59N. Perfect match in a les paul. Balls to the wall PAF tone. I have this combo in my LP Studio.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

i used to use that combo, 59n & custom, in my sg. great rock tone
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Wow thanks guys, I guess I'll have to add the 59 to my considerations. I thought perhaps the 59 wouldn't give me the output I was looking for for hard rock and punk music, which is why I was considering higher output options. I don't have experience with any other Duncans so I'm pretty much in the dark without you guys. Thanks.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

on an sg the tonal difference between the neck and bridge seems more drastic than on some other guitars
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

jeremy said:
on an sg the tonal difference between the neck and bridge seems more drastic than on some other guitars
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Funny you say that because when I first played an SG, when I first started out, I really liked how I could go from dirty on the bridge to clean on the neck with just a flick of the switch. Now that's not an important feature for me anymore since I am much more skilled at using the volume controls. I want a neck humbucker that won't drop in volume when I switch for a smooth lead.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

I have a '59/Custom combo in my Gothic SG now and love it. A little boomy in the neck sometimes. I do however want a little more Mids and Sizzle for the neck so I'm looking for a deal on a PG on Ebay.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Dirtyking said:
I have a '59/Custom combo in my Gothic SG now and love it. A little boomy in the neck sometimes. I do however want a little more Mids and Sizzle for the neck so I'm looking for a deal on a PG on Ebay.
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Thanks mang! That's what I'm afraid of if I go for a more PAF oriented pickup, is that it'll be too bassy whereas I want a really clear neck pickup. Why is this so much harder than picking my bridge pickup? :yell:
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

What's an X2N sound like in the neck position of a Les Paul? Anybody?
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

What you DON'T want is a high output neck pickup. Then, they're almost worthless for rhythm playing. Don't worry about the balance with a Custom. The neck position always seems loud because the strings are vibrating the most right there.

One neck pickup that sounds awesome is the Jazz Bridge Model. It's just a Jazz Neck with a tiny bit more, but well within neck pickup specs. My beefiest sounding LP has a Custom/Jazz B, and no matter what I have in the bridge, the JazzB is never coming out of it's neck slot.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Gearjoneser said:
What you DON'T want is a high output neck pickup. Then, they're almost worthless for rhythm playing. Don't worry about the balance with a Custom. The neck position always seems loud because the strings are vibrating the most right there.

One neck pickup that sounds awesome is the Jazz Bridge Model. It's just a Jazz Neck with a tiny bit more, but well within neck pickup specs. My beefiest sounding LP has a Custom/Jazz B, and no matter what I have in the bridge, the JazzB is never coming out of it's neck slot.
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I've got the same set in mine and I feel exactly the same about the JazzB in the neck -- for me, it's one of the best neck pups going.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Thanks Joneser, I remember reading a while ago about the Jazz bridge being great in the neck. Other people have mentioned the Jazz as well. What is the difference between the Jazz and the 59? They both seem like they would sound similar.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

The 59 has a really tubby low end, making it great for single note solos, but woofy for clean or distorted rhythm......unless it's a really bright guitar like Ash/maple.

The Jazz's have the same kind of nice voice, but the EQ is balanced nicely from low to high, and Jazz's never sound muddy or murky. They stay tight and clear.

The Jazz Bridge is really the sleeper of the Duncan line, because the JB/Jazz was so popularized that everyone forgot about it's bridge model. I've often said that the Jazz Bridge is the only pickup you could put in any position in any guitar, and play any style of music through any amp and sound great. It's just nicely balanced and has a natural voice.

You'll notice that the bridge model isn't wound much hotter than the neck, but you might as well get the hotter of the two. It'll always sound good with hotter bridges.
And split, it's one of the best....really stratty. Also notice that the Jazz's aren't listed as vintage pickups, they're listed as Progressive.
 
Re: Neck humbucker to pair with Custom Bridge

Thanks for the info! If as you say the Jazz will "stay tight and clear" then it sounds like just the pickup I'm looking for. I also want to do coil tapping, so this pickup seems like it might be perfect. Thanks again.
 
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