Hey guys, I recently got the SH-12 installed in the bridge of my SG, and it plays like a dream. I am also going to add to that and say that I totally dropped the ball and ordered what most would call an inappropriate neck pickup to match (Dimarzio D-Activator anyone?). The D-Activator sounded nice and clear, but belonged in the bridge of some extreme metal guitar as opposed to the neck of my SG. I have selected three pickups to replace the DiMarzio: The SH-1 '59, SH-2 Jazz, and SH-10 Full Shred. I've never played the '59, and I need a pickup with warmth, but I'm afraid it'll be too muddy. The Jazz I know and like, but I'm afraid it'll be too bright and my guitar with lack the warmth I want it to have. All I can say about the Full Shred is that I've heard that a lot of guys have had luck with it in the neck with a Demon in the bridge, I just have no clue as to what that would sound like. I want my neck pickup to crunch power chords and slur a fast solo slightly so that is hides small mistakes when the amp is distorted, but I kind of want it to back off when it's clean, similar to a jazz. My styles of music would include thrash, blues, a little acid rock, and a touch of fusion. My guitar has a maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and a mahogany body. Am I asking for the impossibly perfect neck pickup here? I'm opening to anything besides the three pickups I mentioned. Any help is appreciated, thank you!
Neck pickup to match The Demon?
- Thread starter FlyingBee
- Start date
Inder_Cine_Mann
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
59n in an SG is nice in my opinion. You could also go P90 for a different flavor. A GFS Mean 90
59n in an SG is nice in my opinion. You could also go P90 for a different flavor. A GFS Mean 90
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I've always used my Pearly Gates neck (my favorite neck pickup) with my Screamin' Demon.
I've always used my Pearly Gates neck (my favorite neck pickup) with my Screamin' Demon.
CountFeedback
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I found the Jazz balances well with the clarity of the Demon.
I like the 59n with other bridge pick-ups but found it too warm and bassy to balance against the demon.
That was my experience with a mahogany explorer maybe a little different with an SG.
I found the Jazz balances well with the clarity of the Demon.
I like the 59n with other bridge pick-ups but found it too warm and bassy to balance against the demon.
That was my experience with a mahogany explorer maybe a little different with an SG.
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I was in a similar situation as you with a Gibson SG and I ended up going with a Screamin' demon in the bridge and a pearly gates in the neck for and I'm very happy.
To compare the pearly gates neck with the jazz neck which I own in a different guitar; I find the PG neck has a little less bass, more mids and still enough treble but not as bright as a jazz, but fairly close. I would think it has that warmth you're looking for.
I was in a similar situation as you with a Gibson SG and I ended up going with a Screamin' demon in the bridge and a pearly gates in the neck for and I'm very happy.
To compare the pearly gates neck with the jazz neck which I own in a different guitar; I find the PG neck has a little less bass, more mids and still enough treble but not as bright as a jazz, but fairly close. I would think it has that warmth you're looking for.
Although, I've used the setup in a Strat and not a SG.blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
To me, the Demon is fairly bright, as others here have also said, and I'd think a neck PU would need an A5 to match up well with it, otherwise you can wind up with a relatively warm neck. But if you like bridge and neck PU's to have big differences in EQ's, than something like an A2P would be good in the neck slot.
To me, the Demon is fairly bright, as others here have also said, and I'd think a neck PU would need an A5 to match up well with it, otherwise you can wind up with a relatively warm neck. But if you like bridge and neck PU's to have big differences in EQ's, than something like an A2P would be good in the neck slot.
mrpinter
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I have a 72 Thinline Tele with a Screamin' Demon in the bridge and a Full Shred in the neck. I like the combination. The darker FS is a nice counterpoint to and blends well with the Demon to make a great middle position sound. You also have what amounts to two different guitar tones in one.
I have a 72 Thinline Tele with a Screamin' Demon in the bridge and a Full Shred in the neck. I like the combination. The darker FS is a nice counterpoint to and blends well with the Demon to make a great middle position sound. You also have what amounts to two different guitar tones in one.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
Get another demon, makes a better neck pickup in my opinion.
Get another demon, makes a better neck pickup in my opinion.
soulforger
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
+1 Demons are fantastic in the neck, in fact was just thinking of running two of them together!
+1 Demons are fantastic in the neck, in fact was just thinking of running two of them together!
chadd
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I am going with an A8 Demon in the bridge of an ibanez with a stock demon in the neck. I have all the parts, just haven't done the swap yet.
I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I am going with an A8 Demon in the bridge of an ibanez with a stock demon in the neck. I have all the parts, just haven't done the swap yet.
That's an interesting idea. I have a 72 thinline and I was thinking about filtertron style replacements. Did you cut a new pickguard or modify the pickups to fit the larger pickup holes?
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Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
My experience is only with the '59 and Jazz for necks. If you want some 80s scooped sound, the Jazz is closer to that, but it's not extremely scooped. The '59 would be more like a stock Les Paul neck, more mids, more flutey sounding. If you wanted woman tone ("Sweet Child Of Mine"), and had to use either the '59 or Jazz, the '59 would be better for that. But I like the Jazz in a mahogany body guitar because it compensates for the mids (in my experience the '59 in mahogany starts to overdrive a tiny bit).
My experience is only with the '59 and Jazz for necks. If you want some 80s scooped sound, the Jazz is closer to that, but it's not extremely scooped. The '59 would be more like a stock Les Paul neck, more mids, more flutey sounding. If you wanted woman tone ("Sweet Child Of Mine"), and had to use either the '59 or Jazz, the '59 would be better for that. But I like the Jazz in a mahogany body guitar because it compensates for the mids (in my experience the '59 in mahogany starts to overdrive a tiny bit).
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
PGN's are pretty warm, too warm for me, especially paired with a Demon. I think something in the neck with a sharper high end, instead of a rounded one, would match up better.
PGN's are pretty warm, too warm for me, especially paired with a Demon. I think something in the neck with a sharper high end, instead of a rounded one, would match up better.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
well... since the OP brought up the Full Shred neck... I think they are very nice neck pickups. focused and articulate, but not to suggest it's thin. maybe think of it as something like a Jazz with some growl. put a polished A4 in there and it's bliss and I'd think an even better match for the Demon bridge.
outside of that, I'd go with the Jazz, or even better a Jazz with a polished A4.
well... since the OP brought up the Full Shred neck... I think they are very nice neck pickups. focused and articulate, but not to suggest it's thin. maybe think of it as something like a Jazz with some growl. put a polished A4 in there and it's bliss and I'd think an even better match for the Demon bridge.
outside of that, I'd go with the Jazz, or even better a Jazz with a polished A4.
telekaster78
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
I just put a Mullinax "Oh Salvation" P-90 in my SG, and it's the best complement to the Demon that I've found. Prior to that I had a '59n, and that was pretty nice, but the scooped mids made the neck sound kinda disappear, especially with a clean tone. The P-90 sound adds more mids, but still has that glassy sound with a little grit. Most 'bucker-sized P-90s will give you what you want, I would think, unless you play with a lot of gain and NEED a 'bucker. Good luck!
I just put a Mullinax "Oh Salvation" P-90 in my SG, and it's the best complement to the Demon that I've found. Prior to that I had a '59n, and that was pretty nice, but the scooped mids made the neck sound kinda disappear, especially with a clean tone. The P-90 sound adds more mids, but still has that glassy sound with a little grit. Most 'bucker-sized P-90s will give you what you want, I would think, unless you play with a lot of gain and NEED a 'bucker. Good luck!
Condemned soul
New member
Re: Neck pickup to match The Demon?
[ (Demon in the bridge + Jazz bridge in the neck) / Gibson Explorer, about 1990 ] = Smooth
[ (Demon in the bridge + Jazz bridge in the neck) / Gibson Explorer, about 1990 ] = Smooth