Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

A few things...to go "how" with it?

Matching uber-fatness? A2P
Balanced neck tone and complimentary mid dip? PG*
Neck matching mid boost monster? DiMarzio PAF Pro

* this is what I put with it in a Les Paul. The both on position yields all kind of clean awesomeness!
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

Balanced neck tone and complimentary mid dip? PG

Having not tried the PG, is it really scooped?
I wouldn't think so, given the specs and A2 magnet...

How does it compare in scooptness to the '59?


(I figure this isn't really a hijack, seeing as it is sort of related to the OP)
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

The 59n is a great match for the Custom, although I've come to love the Pearly Gates neck because of it's less bottom heavy tone...which is better if you plan to play rhythm as well as lead on the neck. The Jazz neck is similar, but clearer and glassier. The PG has a bit more woodiness.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

59 is a great compliment to the Custom. If you want something with
a little more versatility go for the Jazz.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

It depends on what guitar you're playing and what sound you're after. For example, I wouldn't recommend a '59n in a Les Paul as I find it boomy in the bass. The three I would recommend for consideration are:

Jazz - bright, clear, articulate - some find it a little too sterile
A2 Pro - well balanced, warm, smooth, Slash's choice
Pearly Gates - great all-rounder, especially in a Les Paul. PAF tone, brighter than the A2 Pro, more character than the Jazz

They're all great pickups, the PG is my personal favourite and works well with the Custom.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

To my ears, all PAFs have a slight scoop. Maybe dip is a better word. The 59 has a big one, the PG less so.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

The guitar this will go in is a Hamer Monaco Elite. The custom custom / custom pickups were just an odd choice to me for this guitar. Much higher output and darker than my R8. I swapped the Custom into the bridge position which was a good move in my opinion. Put a 59 I had laying around in the neck which is a bit too scooped to me and a little boomy and maybe just a tad bright but not at all horrible. Sounds like the ap2 or Pearly Gates will work for me. These are really great guitars but the stock pickups just make it too dark. Feel free to weigh in. I'll be here bottling farts and looking at boobs...
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

I think about the best sound I ever got from an LP's middle position was a 59/Custom combo. Looking back, I might have liked to try an alnico 8 to reduce the boominess in the 59n.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

I have an Ibanez RGA121 that has a fixed bridge, mahogany body with maple top. I put a jazz in the neck to go with the custom in the bridge. I changed the 5 way switch to a tele type 3 way and I couldn't be happier. I especially dig the clean sound I get with both pickups selected in the middle position. I really don't get the "sterile" badge the jazz gets tagged with. I mean it's not THE GREATEST PICKUP EVER!!!!! But it ain't so bad that I would call it sterile. Meh. shrugs.
 
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Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

Pearly Gates neck. Warmer than the '59. I don't think it sounds scooped. IMHO it sounds balanced...not scooped and not bass boomy. Sounds good split as well. Very versatile PU.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

I have an Ibanez RGA121 that has a fixed bridge, mahogany body with maple top. I put a jazz in the neck to go with the custom in the bridge. I changed the 5 way switch to a tele type 3 way and I couldn't be happier. I especially dig the clean sound I get with both pickups selected in the middle position. I really don't get the "sterile" badge the jazz gets tagged with. I mean it's not THE GREATEST PICKUP EVER!!!!! But it ain't so bad that I would call it sterile. Meh. shrugs.

I too love me some neck jazz
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

Pearly Gates neck. Warmer than the '59. I don't think it sounds scooped. IMHO it sounds balanced...not scooped and not bass boomy. Sounds good split as well. Very versatile PU.

Agreed - some of that is my bad hearing....

More mids than a 59, less boom. Sweet A2 top, with nice upper mid spike for cut.

Simon said it nicely also.
 
Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

The guitar this will go in is a Hamer Monaco Elite. The custom custom / custom pickups were just an odd choice to me for this guitar. Much higher output and darker than my R8. I swapped the Custom into the bridge position which was a good move in my opinion. Put a 59 I had laying around in the neck which is a bit too scooped to me and a little boomy and maybe just a tad bright but not at all horrible. Sounds like the ap2 or Pearly Gates will work for me. These are really great guitars but the stock pickups just make it too dark. Feel free to weigh in. I'll be here bottling farts and looking at boobs...

Bart what you say is just too funny. I have the same guitar (tell me yours is indigo blue and this will REALLY get weird), and I did the EXACT same thing. Took the covered Custom and put it in the bridge spot. (It's great in the bridge, and I also thought it was a very odd choice for the neck) I then got a covered A2 Pro for the neck. I think this combo works quite well. The middle position is very useable and great for cleans, and I love the warm, sweet, thick tone of the A2 Pro. I still may try a PG in the neck though as I've always wanted to try one.

Keep in mind, I use my neck pup for slower type of leads, or more bluesier type of stuff. I keep the shredding to my bridge pup. If I were going to use my neck pup for faster runs and shred type stuff on a consistent basis, I might go with the Jazz or full shred.
 
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Re: Neck pickup to go with the Duncan Custom

Sounds like the Pearly Gates pickups are highly thought of around here. Maybe I should have tried a set in my Gibson R8 instead of spending so much dough on boutique pickups?
 
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