Neck pickups (again)

[King IzzO)))]

Seriously, what sounds like a louder more articulate 490R with more high end/less mud that will work in an SG? Sludgy rhythms and fat round lead sounds, PGb? I still haven't found what I'm looking for, the Demon is too hollow and single coil-ish in the SG, even with normal fillisters on both rows, so I think I've decided to put it into my EC. I haven't tried any other mags in the demon yet, but it's a total PITA to do anything with that pickguard, and usually I end up trying everything before I decide what I like best, so the mag swap route is a little daunting right now. If you guys think a mag swap will do it what would be the best mag to try in the Demon to get where I want to go? I need full mids, less high end, but I think I like where the bass is with the stock mag. I have polished A2's, RC A4's, and UOA5. I really want to try a '78 bad, but I can't justify $160 on a crap shoot, I'd like more input on one before I pull that trigger. DDn with a swap is on my radar, but see above. Thanks fellas.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

Hot P-Rails, running in P90 mode.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

Is that what I'm doing wrong? Lusting for a P90 subconsciously?? Maybe.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

The UOA5 in the Demon will fill in some mids and soften the high end a bit. An A8 would do that to a greater extent than the UOA5 and add a bit more output to it as well. I'd try an A8 first, I think that will get you what you're after. Might be worth a try before replacing it. This pup is in the bridge, right?

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

Nope, it's in the neck with an El Diablo in the bridge, A8 is a no go. I might try a Demon/59n A2 hybrid and see what that does, since I have both.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

APH - Alnico Pro Humbucker. It will give you everything you specified in your OP.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

Nope, it's in the neck with an El Diablo in the bridge, A8 is a no go. I might try a Demon/59n A2 hybrid and see what that does, since I have both.

Yeh, a PGb with an A8 in the neck of an SG would not be good at all, imo (unless you want really thick/muddy).

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

Seriously, what sounds like a louder more articulate 490R with more high end/less mud that will work in an SG? Sludgy rhythms and fat round lead sounds, PGb?

You want it to be more articulate with more treble and less mud, but also sludgy and fat/round at the same time? I'm confused...

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

APH - Alnico Pro Humbucker. It will give you everything you specified in your OP.

I would think that the A2P (APH-1) would give you LESS highs and more lows and mids (A2 mag). This would tend to give you more mud not less. Have you considered the Jazz? More highs, less lows, higher resonant peak = less mud, very articulate. It's not going to be higher output though. Maybe with an A8.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

You have a 490 pair? I've got some, didn't like them in their stock form, but with mag swaps they turned into very nice-sounding PU's.

I put A5's in my 490R's, and I get treble and clarity instead of darkness and mud. If an A5's bass is too much for that guitar, use an A4.

In the 490T, an UOA5 will boost the output and mids. If you've got a Demon in there now, try an UOA5.

You've got the big batwing pickguard model? What I do is loosen the strings enough so that I can pull the stop bar back and out of the posts, so I can move all the strings completely out of the way (with a plastic tie or two holding the strings together so they don't get all tangled up). Then when I unscrew the pickguard and flip it over, it's much easier to work with. Also helps if the guitar's set on a table instead of your lap.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

You want it to be more articulate with more treble and less mud, but also sludgy and fat/round at the same time? I'm confused...

That's probably why I'm having so much trouble. Slightly more treble, less fart on the bottom while keeping the mid growl of the 490. The volume change between the bridge and the neck is pretty drastic too, until I raise the neck up to mud city, which is why I want something hotter.

I want something between the Demon and the stock 490R, that's why I think a bright A2 wound hot is where it's at. PGb, '78, Demon A2 (anyone ever tried that?) are what I'm thinking. The Demon/59n hybrid is maybe a valid experiment, as is the GFS VEH. I dunno, I've tried the stock 490, 490 A5, '59, '59 A4, JB, JB A3 & A4, Demon, Evo, Evo A2, A3, A4, not really getting with any of it. I've used a Jazz, meh, maybe with an A2 it could be cool, but the scoop is gross. A2P might be cool, but I think the Demon/59 hybrid would be similar, but louder, which is prolly where I'm going next.

Or maybe I should just sell it and get an LP since I never have this much trouble making one sound like I want it to.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

You might want to try something a little more in the hi-fi high output range like air norton. I don't think pafs sound all that good in the neck if you are shredding with a ton of gain imo. I'm not hating on the pafs at all, I love my 59, but it just has its limits when it comes to the higher gain stuff. I think you should consider liquifire or air norton.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

I asked about the VHPAF, PAF Pro and 36th, but the responses I got on here were sketchy. I haven't really considered DMZ other than those, just wore the Evo neck out because I had it. I'll check those out.

 

[lemonman]

Re: Neck pickups (again)

APH - Alnico Pro Humbucker. It will give you everything you specified in your OP.

+1 It sounds a lot like a brighter, more articulate version of the 490R. If you're not ready to give up on your 490R, try cutting the polepieces flush with the baseplate; this will brighten it a bit. You can also try the Demon hex poles in it & see what that does for you.