Neck pickup suggestion?

[BloodRose]

I need a neck pup for a Carvin, with mahogany body and neck and flame maple top. It has a floyd and will be getting a Blues trembucker in the bridge.
I usually always run C5 s in the bridge and 59b in the neck of my axes, so I havent tried many neck pups.
I hear the Blues pups are awesome. Thinking about a jazz or alnico II in the neck.. want something warm and sweet but that can getting nasty if asked to..
Whatcha think?

 

[Heretic]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

I'd go for the SD Jazz or the DiMarzio Air Norton but if you have the time, check out the SD Pearly Gates and the SD Seth Lover.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

The Jazz get gritty ? I know it sounds great clean..

 

[slashedzero]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

Had the Jazz for a while in the neck position of a very similar guitar. Had Kent Armstrong PAF-type pu before that. Very warm sounding, and the PAF was already very warm.

I changed it out for an Alnico II Pro (not because I didn't like the Jazz, but because I hated the JB in the bridge, so swapped the whole set out for Custom Custom + A2Pro). The Alnico is definitely brighter sounding, more powerful and has a somewhat more 'synthetic', modern sound to it (think of Slash's sound - which *seems* to have kind of 'processed' highs). I can easily use the A2P in the neck for lead playing because it is powerful and stays very crisp. The Jazz will get more muddy when turned up. So if you're looking for grit, but also the ability to be sweet (I'd say more midrangy 'sweet' than really bassy 'warm') I'd go with the Alnico 2 Pro. For really full (bassy) warm tones, I'd go for the Jazz.

By the way: I'd stay away from the Pearly Gates if you are looking for warmth. To my ears these are WAY too trebly (also the reason I hated the JB - sounded VERY thin).

 

[Cazmarzak]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

I switched to an Air Norton from the Jazz casue the Jazz was too trebly, and I haven't looked back since ! The Air Norton just sonds so good either clean or with some distortion , it is the first neck pup that I ever used that I could get pinch harmonics with.

 

[Dills]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

Nasty and sweet i reckon a pearly gates wud do the job, its sweet with a bit more of an upper midrange in the neck with some texas sizzle.

Otherwise an alnico 2pro it is my favourite neck pup at the mo is very sweet and smooth also great articulation and good under gain in the right guitar, i have in a all mahogany axe and its not to muddy at all.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

Pearly Gates. In the neck, it's NOT trebely at all. You will need a short leg version to fit, or, just order the bridge version. I'tll have lots of mids, round highs, clean lows, and a lot of clarity without getting thin at the neck position. :burnout:

 

[hacker]

Re: Neck pickup suggestion?

I have had the exact oppisite experience with these pups then slahed. First off, the Jazz neck never got muddy or too bassy. It balances well with a JB.

Secondly, there is nothing synthetic sounding about the Alnico 2 Pro. It is one of the warmest, most organic sounding pup Duncan,or anyone else for that matter, has ever made. It does have more bass than the Jazz also.

Also, having played the A2 Pro in both the neck and bridge positions, I just cannot equate it with Slash's sound any more than any other humbucking pickup. A jazz, '59, seth lover, etc. can all get the Slash tone. His LPs+Marshalls are what you are hearing on the GnR recordings.