Neck pickup choices

3

357mag

New member
I'm currently using a Distortion in the neck of my Les Paul but was wondering about other choices. Is the 59 neck too boomy and bassy in the neck of a Les Paul? I'd like articulation but also sweetness.
 
59n as-is is my last choice for LP neck. 59/A4 is a solid replacement, actually has stayed in my LP Studio through about 10 other bridge choices, so it works really well. A2P works, might be too mid-heavy depending on what is in the bridge. Articulation and sweetness? My faves are Jazz neck and Seth neck. If you have a hotter bridge, I'm sure a '78 Model would work well as a hotter neck. I haven't used a Full Shred neck but have heard/read it's great for neck articulation, tight, bright and detailed (not sure about 'sweetness'). Whole Lotta Humbucker neck is probably the best 59-ish neck I've used, however. WLH and 59/A4 stayed in my SG and LP for over a year. Jazz (A5) and Seth (A2) I swapped back and forth over 2-3 years, depending on the bridge at the time.
 
beaubrummels said:
59n as-is is my last choice for LP neck. 59/A4 is a solid replacement, actually has stayed in my LP Studio through about 10 other bridge choices, so it works really well. A2P works, might be too mid-heavy depending on what is in the bridge. Articulation and sweetness? My faves are Jazz neck and Seth neck. If you have a hotter bridge, I'm sure a '78 Model would work well as a hotter neck. I haven't used a Full Shred neck but have heard/read it's great for neck articulation, tight, bright and detailed (not sure about 'sweetness'). Whole Lotta Humbucker neck is probably the best 59-ish neck I've used, however. WLH and 59/A4 stayed in my SG and LP for over a year. Jazz (A5) and Seth (A2) I swapped back and forth over 2-3 years, depending on the bridge at the time.
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I never knew that you like the A459n. I might possibly respect you more because of this.

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For a powerful bridge, the Screamin Demon would be a good neck companion.
It's big & articulate yet sweet and still a little bit woody in neck position.
I like a Demon at the neck.
 
Demanic said:
I never knew that you like the A459n. I might possibly respect you more because of this.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
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I have used the 59b/UOA5 + 59n/A4 set and it is a killer set. UOA5 is way better than any A2 suggestion. Probably should be the factory default for all Gibson guitars. Over time I prefer some other bridges, like the Bare Knuckle Black Dog, but the 59/A4 has stayed. It's not 100% perfect, a little thick and hot, but it's so good I don't have a better alternate.
 
beaubrummels said:
59n as-is is my last choice for LP neck. 59/A4 is a solid replacement, actually has stayed in my LP Studio through about 10 other bridge choices, so it works really well. A2P works, might be too mid-heavy depending on what is in the bridge. Articulation and sweetness? My faves are Jazz neck and Seth neck. If you have a hotter bridge, I'm sure a '78 Model would work well as a hotter neck. I haven't used a Full Shred neck but have heard/read it's great for neck articulation, tight, bright and detailed (not sure about 'sweetness'). Whole Lotta Humbucker neck is probably the best 59-ish neck I've used, however. WLH and 59/A4 stayed in my SG and LP for over a year. Jazz (A5) and Seth (A2) I swapped back and forth over 2-3 years, depending on the bridge at the time.
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Have had a 59 with a A 4 mag swap in the neck of my Orange swamp ash body Washburn MG 102 with a JB in the bridge for years now. Really like that set up as well as the A4 SNS neck.
If your running a DD neck might want to look hard at a Sentient. Nice and full clean and very articulate with gain it's a great neck for singing solos. Have a couple in guitars now. Am about to list a floor custom Zebra Sentient BTW.
 
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357mag said:
I'm currently using a Distortion in the neck of my Les Paul but was wondering about other choices. Is the 59 neck too boomy and bassy in the neck of a Les Paul? I'd like articulation but also sweetness.
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Historical consideration: Once upon a time ALL Les Pauls had "59s" in the neck - so no.
- Note some of those "59" PAFs were actually A3 or A4 PAFs...so there is that. Try them.

It REALLY depends on your Les Paul. I would say that a 59 sounds just peachy in a Les Paul, unless you have one of those ultra dark/muddy LP's. While they are out there, it isn't like 40% of them are that way.

My LP Distortion combos would be:

Distortion + Distortion - because just effing LOUD!
Distortion + 59 - Because this is the Duncan equivalent of a SuperD + PAF
Distortion + Demon - Because this is a high end match for the Distortion, but closer to a PAF, and nice tight bottom vs a 59 if boomy/dark
Distortion + ​​​​​​​Jazz - Again, bright enough to match, low on the bass side
Distortion + ​​​​​​​Full Shred because - We are shredding on this, right?

Not a Fan of the A2P or PG with a Distortion. I think that is just me. A PG might be a great Como because it is just a super LP neck pickup in all the right ways. I'd use this for a Blues to Metal LP

​​​​​​​Just re-read. Articulation plus sweetness? Demon and use the frickin' tone knob. Done.
 
I like the Full shred neck, it has really grown on me as an overlooked option, especially if you want articulation. The Sentient is warmer and "sweeter"
 
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