Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

[jbalderrama]

On my HH guitar (1984 vintage) It originally had Dimarzio Super Distortion in neck and bridge, that I've since coil tapped and changed to a SD Custom in the bridge and a Pearly Gates neck. They don't seem to work very well, the Pearly gates is smooth and almost stuffy sounding. Cool and all, but just not my style. I am looking for something that is not bassy like the PG, but has more growl and bite. I was looking at the Slash AL2 neck and possibly a Custom for the neck. I'd be open to all recommendations though. Thanks!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

Whole Lotta maybe; a bit more raunch there than a PG neck.

Jazz neck is brighter and tighter but I don't know that I'd describe it as growly.

Many here on the forum recommend the Screamin' Demon as a neck pickup though I haven't tried it myself.

59/Custom Hybrid would be another option; I think a Custom would be strong enough to balance pretty well with it.

70s Gibson T-tops are great in neck position but are pricey now that they've been rediscovered.


It would help to know more about the guitar- scale length, body type, body/neck wood, tonal character?

 

[jbalderrama]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

For the neck sound, I'd like to in a way sound more like a bridge? It's hard to explain. To me a lot of neck pups are too stuffy sounding. The guitar is a 1984 Takamine GX-200. Hard tail, mahogany body and set neck, rosewood fretboard. I was also considering getting a as distortion for the bridge, for a little more chunk. It is coil tapped. I've always felt the guitar was sort of darker sounding, I wouldn't know how it would be classified.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

StagMag in the neck. With 500k pot.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

Are you into magnet swapping? If so, try an A4 in that neck pickup. They tend to flatten out the eq of a pickup which can open up the sound quite a bit, while retaining the overall character. Or maybe try a Full Shred neck? Been hearing lots of good things about them.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

For the neck sound, I'd like to in a way sound more like a bridge? It's hard to explain. To me a lot of neck pups are too stuffy sounding. The guitar is a 1984 Takamine GX-200. Hard tail, mahogany body and set neck, rosewood fretboard. I was also considering getting a as distortion for the bridge, for a little more chunk. It is coil tapped. I've always felt the guitar was sort of darker sounding, I wouldn't know how it would be classified.

So maybe you are a ceramic fan?

I have not tried it, but maybe the Distortion Neck is the way to go for you (SH-6n)?

I would not describe the PGn as smooth. A Jazz is smoother. A Screamon Demon in the neck is somewhere between a 59 and a Jazz the articulation of the Jazz, with a tight low end and a bit of dirt. A 59 being grittier, but with more boom. Full Shred neck leans more towards a 59 without the boom. Not really any of the Jazz qualities in the FSn.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

getting a neck pup to sound like a bridge pup is hard. the physical position of the pup dictates a lot of the tone. you could swap an a4 or even ceramic into the pg to get a more aggressive sound. the a2 thats in there is very warm a middy. i love it but its not for everyone

 

[blueman335]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

I would not describe the PGn as smooth. A Jazz is smoother.

I've had PGN's in a couple LP's. The high end is too rounded and smooth for my tastes. I get a little more high-end in the neck slot from A2P's and Seth's.

I like my neck PU's to have some of that bridge PU bite, I use either HB's with unbalanced coils (making some hybrids myself) or wire for spin-a-split, which turns the neck tone pot into a 2nd volume control, but for one coil. That makes the neck PU brighter & thinner, & gives it a sharper high end. Mission accomplished.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Neck pup a bit rougher than the Pearly Gates?

I second an A4 magnet swap..