Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

[RockWithMark]

Hey guys,

I'm currently doing a complete overhaul of an old Peavey Predator and I am looking for an awesome new neck pup.
I got this thing loaded with a vintage Dimarzio MegaDrive bridge pickup, a stock Peavey middle pickup and a Fender CS Fat 50's neck pickup.
However, I really dislike the Fender Fat 50's neck pickup, I find it to be rather dark, not much sparkle to it, just not my type of sound.

What I'm looking for, is a neck pickup that does creamy and screamy Bluesy leads, as well as nice and sweet jangly cleans with some sparkle to it. What would you guys recommend?
Guitar specs:

- Poplar body (with an Alder top?)
- Maple neck with Maple fretboard

Here is the refinished body with a parts mock-up

 

[Harhash]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

For your guitar, I'd suggest a Dimarzio neck pickup;

Virtual Vintage Blues/Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues 2, Virtual Vintage Pro 54, Red Velvet, FS-1, and Injector neck.

 

[RockWithMark]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

For your guitar, I'd suggest a Dimarzio neck pickup;

Virtual Vintage Blues/Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues 2, Virtual Vintage Pro 54, Red Velvet, FS-1, and Injector neck.

Alright, thanks for the reply, will check those out Any particular reason I should go the Dimarzio route?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

What you're describing to me sounds like the SSL-1 or -2, or the Antiquity Surfer. Pure vintage Strat tone.

Bill

 

[Harhash]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

Alright, thanks for the reply, will check those out Any particular reason I should go the Dimarzio route?

You're welcome

I suggested Dimarzio because I have a personal experience with their hum-cancelling strat line, FS-1 is a true single coil pickup.

I'm also thinking about what it would sound if you switch directly from your Megadrive to the neck pickup? I think that's why you need a slightly hotter than vintage pickup with a creamy blues tone.

Duncan strat pickups are excellent, but I won't put them with a Megadrive if I were you.

 

[Davii]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

I've got one of those, and decided to pull the ceramic mags off, and replace the pole pieces of the stock pups. I did an A5/A2 mix on the neck, which I like, though mine came stock with 500k pots, and not had a chance yet to try anything different. Could be worth a try, even if you ultimately get something else

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

I've got one of those, and decided to pull the ceramic mags off, and replace the pole pieces of the stock pups. I did an A5/A2 mix on the neck, which I like, though mine came stock with 500k pots, and not had a chance yet to try anything different. Could be worth a try, even if you ultimately get something else

Is this as simple as pushing out the old pole pieces and pushing the new ones in? I also have a predator, and don't hate the stocks, but they could be a lot better.

 

[Artie]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

IMHO, true single coils have a bright attack to them. (Which is a good thing). But you used the adjective "creamy". I wonder if a Cool Rails, or maybe an STK-S4 might work for you.

 

[Davii]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

Is this as simple as pushing out the old pole pieces and pushing the new ones in? I also have a predator, and don't hate the stocks, but they could be a lot better.

It is, and you can experiment with what goes back in. Ok, it might not be as great as what you'd get with better pups, and might not suit what the OP is after, but could be an option too

 

[RockWithMark]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

You're welcome

I suggested Dimarzio because I have a personal experience with their hum-cancelling strat line, FS-1 is a true single coil pickup.

I'm also thinking about what it would sound if you switch directly from your Megadrive to the neck pickup? I think that's why you need a slightly hotter than vintage pickup with a creamy blues tone.

Duncan strat pickups are excellent, but I won't put them with a Megadrive if I were you.

Ahh thanks for clearing that up man I just checked your recommendations and I really like the Injector neck pup. It's a nice warm and jangly pup. And I also like Paul Gilbert a lot, so maybe that's the right ticket for me! Thanks for your time!

 

[RockWithMark]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

It is, and you can experiment with what goes back in. Ok, it might not be as great as what you'd get with better pups, and might not suit what the OP is after, but could be an option too

Well, I'm not talking about the stock Predator neck pup, haha! It's a Fender CS Fat 50's which I just don't like. But it's some good advise you got there!

 

[Davii]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

Yeah, I should've said something like "if you've still got the stock pup" :naughty:

 

[RockWithMark]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

Haha indeed! Oh well, it's still some usable advise, definitely something to try out someday soon, just for the fun of it. Right now, I'm just looking for a quick and easy fix by just buying one. To the rest of you guys, thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

 

[rgrist]

Re: Neck Pickup For Peavey Predator

Haha indeed! Oh well, it's still some usable advise, definitely something to try out someday soon, just for the fun of it. Right now, I'm just looking for a quick and easy fix by just buying one. To the rest of you guys, thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

I have a Predator just like yours. Bought it yesterday for $95 a a pawn shop. Surprising good guitar. I'm almost liking the 2 piece maple neck as much as the neck on my 1991 Fender Strat plus. Plus it's lighter than my strat so I'm actually thinking of gigging this and using my strat with CS69s for recording.

Anyway I have been wondering about pickups too. Mine are the original Peavy single coils and sound pretty reasonable if you lower them. Compared to the CS69 they are louder, brighter and kick the amp, (Fender hotrod deluxe) into overdrive better. I lowered them almost to the pick guard to get them to sound as close to the CS69s as I could. They sounded like crap up close to the strings. Why not swap your middle stock Peavy with the fat 50s. Then you would have the stock Peavy in the neck. It actually sounds pretty good in mine. Quite a good bitey neck pickup. At least it wouldn't cost you anything and will sound way more like what you are wanting I think. The fat 50s would also sound great in the middle position for a warmer alnico tone.