Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gates?

[rustyshackelford]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a good neck pickup for my Les Paul that I use as my drop-D guitar. It currently has a Custom 8 in the bridge and a 59 in the neck. The cleans on the 59 sound nice, but the distortion leaves much to be desired. I find the bass to be too loose and boomy, especially for drop D chord progressions.

I am looking for something that would have a nice chimey clean tone, and a thick and heavy distorted tone that can cut through the mix without sounding muddy. I play 90s alternative/hard rock (Smashing Pumpkins/Dinosaur Jr. type sound). What would you recommend? Pearly Gates and Duncan Distortion seem interesting, but I see conflicting opinions on all of these pickups in other treads.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

I love playing drop D on my Jazz neck and it can handle all the gain I throw at it while also having amazing cleans

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Have you considered the Sentient or Black Winter neck pickups?

 

[rustyshackelford]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Thanks. I have a Jazz neck in my SG, and it seems fine, but I don't know how it would translate in the Les Paul. Seems to be similar in tone, just with less bass. Sentient and Black winter look interesting, but I'm trying to find something that comes with the nickel pickup cover. How are the Pearly Gates or Duncan Distortion? Do they fit the bill?

 

[Ptolemaeus]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Thanks. I have a Jazz neck in my SG, and it seems fine, but I don't know how it would translate in the Les Paul. Seems to be similar in tone, just with less bass. Sentient and Black winter look interesting, but I'm trying to find something that comes with the nickel pickup cover. How are the Pearly Gates or Duncan Distortion? Do they fit the bill?

You could just buy a nickel cover separately, you know.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Jazz or Full Shred or Screamin Demon

 

[rustyshackelford]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Thanks. The Jazz neck I have in my SG is not bad (I use it as my Eb/Db tuning guitar), but it also sounds a bit lifeless. After watching some of the demos, I like the Pearly Gates clean, but can't really tell how the distortion will sound. Is it unfit for a heavier gain sound? Any insight on the Duncan Distortion? I'll also look into getting separate covers.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

I think the PGn is likely to be relatively loose in the low end when heavily distorted, especially in dropped D. Was just recently reading up on the Distortion neck; was recommended as being less boomy than the Jazz, less scooped than the Demon, and less shrill that the Shred. Ceramic mag, big tight lows, still some bell tone when clean.

Here's the thread:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?231919-SH-6n-(Duncan-Distortion-neck)-info-needed

 

[rustyshackelford]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

Yeah, it sounds like winner. I haven't seen too many audio samples with the Duncan Distortion neck with a clean sound, but that thread you linked spoke highly of it. Think it may be worth a shot.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

On another thread one poster commented that the DDn had sounded a bit vowel-ey in his LP. Something to consider if yours is pretty warm sounding. For a midrangey guitar the Demon might be better, but I bet the DDn would be sweet in a brighter one. I'm leaning towards it myself.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Neck Pickup for Les Paul in Drop D - 59N, JazzN, Duncan Distortion, or Pearly Gat

I think the PGn is likely to be relatively loose in the low end when heavily distorted, especially in dropped D.

That would be my concern too. A2's have a loose low end, and in dropped tuning that could be more prominent in a neck PU.