neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

[appar111]

Is there a strat single coil or low output neck humbucker that can match up well outputwise, but more importantly in aggressiveness, with a '78 in the bridge?

I'm looking for a good pairing for my strat (alder, maple board). I'll be using a 250K volume pot and a 250K no load tone pot.

Here are my choices so far:

humbuckers
Pearly Gates neck
Jazz neck
Bluesbucker
59N with an A2 magnet

single coils
SSL-2
Antiquity II Surfer neck

 

[75lespaul]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

As far as humbuckers go, in my experience, the lower output necks match really well with the high output bridge. Seymour Duncan's supposed favorite pairing is the JB bridge and Jazz neck. If it were me, I would try the surfer neck because it is the closest to a classic strat pickup per posts on this board (I've never heard one). I've always wanted a killer rock/metal bridge with a real classic strat middle and neck sound. I'm not sure that pickup would be as aggressive as the 78. People who have used both should be able to answer this.

At worst, my post will serve as a bump for ya! Good luck with the tone quest. Very soon I may be going through the same thing with a ash strat as well--if I can sell the guitar I need to sell to buy the strat, ha ha.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

I would say your best bet would be the PG (neck)

 

[appar111]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

After I posted, I thought that the Pearly Gates Neck seemed like the most logical choice-- low output, rude sounding, etc. but can't find one for a decent price ($95 a piece is friggin' expensive!)

I ended up grabbing an Alnico II Pro neck pickup last night for less than half that price on Ebay. I think I'll adjust the screw heights and see how it sounds. I can drop an A5 magnet in it if need be, since I have a spare lying around here. I even have a shorter set of Phillister screws I can install for further experimenting if need be.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

I have to say that I don't find a PG (neck or bridge) to be "rude" but it woudl be a nice match for a 78.

Tat said, if you went with the ALnico II Pro you got one of the least aggressive humbucking pickups Duncan makes IMHO...not a bad pickup at all (I have one in my Yamaha SG2000) but far from aggressive.

 

[appar111]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

Yeah, I was thinking the A2Pro is going to not be the most aggressive thing, but the A5 and some height adjustment of the polepieces should help out with the high end.

Plus, the middle position w/ the A2Pro and the 78 should allow for some interesting sounds.

I haven't ordered the 78 yet though-- I'm currently running a Dimarzio PAF 36th Bridge, which may actually pair up better w/ the A2P than the 78.

I'm trying to sell the PAF 36th (despite the fact that I like it) along with my tubescreamer to get the proper funds for the 78. I'm gonna go total old school on it-- long legs, single conductor, aged and standard spacing.

 

[uOpt]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

For me, the Antiquity neck is the best one to combine with the 78. It is that extra unpotted sparkle, while still being A2 - just like the 78.

 

[appar111]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

How hard is it to remove the cover on the Antiquities? Would a soldering iron or a dremel be a better choice for removing it?

 

[uOpt]

Re: neck single or low output humbucker to match the 78's aggressiveness?

How hard is it to remove the cover on the Antiquities? Would a soldering iron or a dremel be a better choice for removing it?

I use a desoldering pump to get most of the solder off, then twist a bigass screwdriver while I heat up the rest of the solder. That leaves pretty much no marks and has no cutting dust.

 

[malamute]

uOpt Hi! Are vyou speaking about the Antiquity Texas Hot?

 

[Aceman]

Is the 78 that 'aggressive' ?

No experience, but I have never heard it described as such.

 

[jeremy]

its pretty aggressive for an a2 9k pup, but this thread is also from 2009. and he was speaking about the antiquity neck humbucker, not a single coil