Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

B

Bohemian Physicist

New member
I need a better pickup to complement the Custom 5 in my Les Paul. The Custom 5 in the bridge sounds awesome. I am looking for something articulate for soloing in the neck position. I had a Golden age PAF in there and it a little boomy and the output does not patch well enough for me.

I am leaning towards a Screamin Demon or even a full shred.

I should also mention I run this through am EMG SPC (midrange booster).

The style I play tend to lean towards hard rock/classic metal (Rainbow, Iron Maiden, van halen) with a hint of neo-classical stuck in there.

Also should mention I have an Explorer with an Alternate 8 (bridge) and a Duncan distortion with A5 (neck) as well as a homemade mahogany strat with EMG 85/60a/60a and I love how those pickups complement each other well for me.

Marshall JCM 800 50w combo, MXR Distortion 3 (mod) and Tube Screamer,

Any thoughts before I dish out more money?
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

I use a Jazz with my Custom 5. It is still scoopy, so it has that articulate thing going on. The output matches well too.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

If you're searching for an articulate and BRIGHT tone in the neck, the Jazz is the way to go. Otherwise, the '59; great for everything.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

So far, all in all, the best calls are a Jazz, or the Demon if you need even more highs.

However - I'd like you to tell me what YOU think compliment means?

Same tone?
Same output?
Fills in the gaps of the other pup?
What???
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

Aceman said:
However - I'd like you to tell me what YOU think compliment means?

Same tone?
Same output?
Fills in the gaps of the other pup?
What???
Click to expand...

Ill try my best to describe what I am thinking. Feel free to ask more questions

Probably the best way to try to describe it is to compare the other guitars I have.

The Explorer has a Alternative 8 in the Bridge and a Duncan distortion (Alnico 5 magnet installed) in the neck. It seems the Distortion has a little less low end when compared to the Alt 8, but the mids and highs seems to be somewhat equal.
The Mahogany Strat has an EMG 85 in the bridge and 60a in the middle and neck. The 60a is a little brighter than the 85.

With both of these the guitars, the "transition" from the bridge to neck pickup is smooth. Similar tone and output, but the neck position sounding a lot deeper, and the bridge being a pinch more aggressive.

It seems I have neck pickups with a little less bass, but similar midrange and highs to the bridge pickups.

Does this help?
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

If you like the C5 in the bridge with it's scooped tone then a 59N would be a perfect match for it imo .
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

Ahhhh -


Indeed the 59n IS the pup you seek then. Closest in tone, volume and general style to the C5
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

And to throw another humbucker in the mix, has anyone tried the Sentient? How would that compare to the 59n or the screamin demon and how well would it work with a custom 5 in the bridge?
 
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Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

To me, the Sentient sounds like a more polite Jazz. A little less highs, a little more mids. But not much.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

Just get the Demon. It will be perfect. Not boomy like the 59 tends to be, not overly bright and thin, pretty even sounding EQ and does rock better than most other pups and just about as good as any.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

GuitarDoc said:
Just get the Demon. It will be perfect. Not boomy like the 59 tends to be, not overly bright and thin, pretty even sounding EQ and does rock better than most other pups and just about as good as any.
Click to expand...

I've got the plus side of both '59 and Jazz without each minus from Demon.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

GuitarDoc said:
What minus does the Demon have?
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't state it clearly. I meant Demon has no minus of each '59 (can get boomy) and Jazz (can be perceived as sterile/no depth) has. With its smoothness and excellent string separation in neck position, it's still my favorite hb for various playing styles.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

i replaced my 59n with a FSn in a guitar with Les Paul type woords because the 59 was too boomy, a little scooped and difficult to shape. i'm pretty happy now. average-high output, bright but not as piercy as the 59, articulation for days.
 
Re: Need a neck pickup to complement the Custom 5

My Edwards 335 replica has a Jazz mated with a C5 and they work very well together.
 
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