Neck Pickup recommendation

[mysticaxe]

I think I'm finally done with EMG's (after 7 years) in my '90s bolt-on import Jackson Kelly. It's a poplar body with maple/rosewood neck, and I'm using it in a hard rock band (mainly Marshall to VHT levels of gain)
Years ago, it had a Custom in the bridge. That pickup has been through a few other guitars in the last 7 years (always pulled the pickup before I sold the guitar), and it's going back into the bridge. Like a fool, I sold the '59 that I had in the neck before the EMGs. I liked the '59 quite a bit, but wonder whether it may be time to try something else.

What I need - mid to high gain soloing, sounds good clean. I don't think I'll be playing around much with coil tapping, etc because the control cavity in that guitar is redonkulously small...

Things I'm considering -
'59 - had it before and really liked it. If anything, it was a little too round for my tastes.
Jazz - played it briefly in other guitars (never owned a guitar with it though), but would probably lean more towards the '59.
Slash Alnico 2 Pro - I like Slash's sound on the neck pickup, but this guitar is not a Mahogany/Maple setup. Will it work with these combos?
Pearly Gates - Looks like a couple good reviews, but no experience for me.


What say ye duncan forum???

 

[mysticaxe]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

I guess the Dimarzio PAF Pro/Joe and Air Norton also look interesting...

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

If you call the 59 round, i would call the PGN uber round and the AP2 ultimate round.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

if you think the 59 is too round then i dont think any of the alnico II models are good choices for you. full shred neck might be a great choice

 

[mysticaxe]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

hmm, how about the P-Rails?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

the prails is cool cause you have so many options

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

DiMarzio PAF (not PAF Pro, just the PAF, which would be the 36th Anniversary one now).

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

I used to install 59n's just as my default neck humbucker. Then, dabbled with darker A2's like APH and Seth.....not my thing. I like both the Jazz models as neck pickups, for clean bold tones and solo tones. Less boomy than 59's...more balanced.

Overall, my favorite neck pickup has become the Pearly Gates neck.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

Hard rock? Prolly Jazz. Sure Slash uses the A2P but gets it really bright on recordings and likes a round tone live. Hard Rock usually is about aggressiveness or a warm bridge and aggressive neck. If you want an aggressive neck then I'd say Jazz. I had a Jazz once but it just wasn't my thing at the time. I'd prolly like it now but for how much I like aggressive necks I like overtones too and fat singles or P-90s work better for me now.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

My all time favorite neck PU has got to be Pearly Gates. P-Rails might be interesting.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Neck Pickup recommendation

Hard rock? Prolly Jazz. Sure Slash uses the A2P but gets it really bright on recordings and likes a round tone live. Hard Rock usually is about aggressiveness or a warm bridge and aggressive neck. If you want an aggressive neck then I'd say Jazz. I had a Jazz once but it just wasn't my thing at the time. I'd prolly like it now but for how much I like aggressive necks I like overtones too and fat singles or P-90s work better for me now.

I think that's the first time I've heard anyone say the Jazz neck is aggressive. I also wouldn't have said Slash's neck tone on his recordings is bright.