Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

I think im gunna finally stop thinking so much and try out a C-5. If its what i hope it is, it will be perfect! But i need a neck humbucker too, I am really sick of boomy, muddy neck buckers that lack articulation. Obviously the Jazz instantly comes to mind, it is very articulate and clear, but i dont know if it can pull of the organic rock and blues lead tones i need too. Might sound a bit to stale to really sing out nicely? What pickup would you most recommend to for getting a rich, natural, sweet sound, that also is very clear even when distorted and not boomy or muddy? Not an easy task....

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

The Jazz doesn't sound much differant than a 59N. IMO, it has about 5% more bass and about 5% more upper harmonics. Otherwise, it is just as ballsy as a 59N. If you REALLY want a clearer tone, you have to go to a alnico 2 magnet humbucker. The Seth Lover and Antiqutiy neck models have a little less bass and a little less treble and more mids than the 59N and Jazz. The Pearly Gates is also alnico 2 but most players feel it has more treble than the Seth or Antiquity. If that's true, that the PG is brighter than the Seth and Antiquity, it's because it has unbalanced coils: one coil is overwound and the other overwound. Anyway: ther are your choices! There's also the Alnico 2 Pro...but I don't have experiance with that one. I never used one. Lew

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

My ears gravitate toward the Alnico 5 sound. I like both the 59 and Jazz, and can find the exact sound I want by adjusting the height. I like the Custom 5/59 because
they balance nicely, and the middle pos. sounds just like it should.
There's not much to NOT like. I figure if it's good enough for the neck pickup tonegod,
Robben Ford, it's good enough for me. Listen to Robben Ford's tone (granted, it's going through a Dumble), and decide for yourself. I'm sure your Budda isn't that far removed from a Dumble sound.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

You know, the truth is, I think Robben Ford sounds better on a Tele! He's one of my favorite players and has been for many years: I first saw him in the early 70's backing up Joni Mitchell. But when he plays chords live and turns the neck humbucker of his guitar down, he has the same trouble everyone here does getting a clean tone that's not muddy. At least, IMO. I saw him do Help the Poor recently, and he was strumming away on it...getting a muddy tone with to much bass and not enough note separation. One of my faves...but I'd like to see him go to something clearer for a neck humbucker. I think he favors the 59N because he solos so much on the neck pickup and he likes the way it sounds for solos. Just a guess. I think he did experiment with a PGN for a while didn't he? In any case, I like his chord tone with a Tele better. Lew

 

[Maximusgordon 2.0]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

Yah, I guess any of them could be good. And Robben Ford does have an incredible neck 'bucker lead sound, and yah my amp is definently Dumblish, kinda a Dumble with teeth! I love the A2P also and think it has an equally great lead sound (Slash...Duh... ) but to me even though technically a Alnico 2 magnet has more clarity and probably is when it dialed in specifically for a clean neck sound, but in a gig situation like im used to, when i get a nice, fat sound from my Paul's bridge pickup and then switch to the neck pup on the fly, the lack of top end keeps it from really shining through. It doesnt sound muddy, just a bit muffled, A5 loaded pickups on the other hand seem to be more balanced and alive in this situation. Especially when matching with a C-5, i think ill probably want a A5 loaded pickup. All this has inspired me to listen to some Robben Ford for the first time in awhile and that 59 is sounden rathy tasty.... i guess 59 it is, im sure ill be able to work it out well...

 

[papersoul]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

Remember that some find the C-5 to be very thin because of the lack of mids...small sounding and get's lost in the mix. This is not how I feel, but many do. In the end like..........you just need to try it! LOL! I am the same way and end up puting so much thought into it to the point of driving myself crazy...chasing my tail. I am installing the C-5/59 into my LP this week and I'll be sure to report.........

I know a few who went from the C-5 to the Cusotm and a few the Dimarzio Air Zone in a Les Paul...with amazing results.

Onthe other hand.......guys like Gearjoneser gig and get what I hear to be killer tones and I am sure his tone is big and full.......so I guess it really is subjective....

I wasn't crazy about the BB Pros.

Many recommend the PGn or AII Pro with the C-5.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

I love the APH neck pickup. Great clean tones and awsome overdriven sounds....ala Slash. The Seth is my second favorite neck pickup, and it does articulate better than the APH actually IMO, slightly better note seperation. The 59' and the PG are great as well, although the PG wasn't as smooth as I wanted in my Hardtail, but worked much better in the neck of my double fat strat.

My first recommendation would be:

C5/Seth
then
C5/APH
then
C5/59'

I think the option of combining the C5 with an A2 neck bucker will give you a great middle position tone. I had no issues with the Seth under high gain, so don't worry about that. If you click on my WWW, I have some short clips of the PG and the Seth in my Hardtail (9.75 lbs, so weight wise similar to LP). There are also several things done with the APH, including Heavens Door....all clean and leads done with APH neck, the others are labled.

That's my $.02

oopps...what happened to our www tabs? Here's the link:

Jeff's Sound Clips

 

[Push to Shuv]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

I just put a C-5/PG set in my Schecter C-1+ (mahogany body and maple top similar to les paul) I absolutely love them. The PG neck sounds a lot better than the 59 it replaced to my ears. The 59 was bassy and muddy in that guitar. The PG is brighter in a good way, more articulate, and has more character. It might be worth it to check out the PG neck. It works well with the C-5 bridge. My favorite combo.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Neck humbuckers for Les Paul...

You have ants and you know how to swap magnets. Then why don't you try the a5 in your bridge in that ant neck of yours?

B