New neck pickup or wiring options?

[evan47]

I am looking for a change of sound from the neck pickup on my ltd ec1000 asb.
I currently have a JB bridge and 59 neck and while the JB is exactly the sound I like I find the 59, although good, could be a little more inspiring.
Part of the problem is likely the fact that, as my ec1000 has a 24 fret fingerboard the pickups are a closer together than on a 21 fretter plus, the neck pickup being closer to the bridge sounds a little less dark than I would like it to. A little more power would be nice too as would extra clarity when playing clean.
When/if I change the neck pickup (I am going to get a tech to fit it) I would also like to the option to split coils and maybe have a series/parallel option too. (A phase reversal for using both pickups would be nice too).
Triple shots appeal to me but, as they are said to be a little flimsy I am wary of them and would like to have push/pull pots instead.
The guitar has two volume and one tone pot with a 3 way toggle and I do not want to add any extra knobs or switches.
Any advice please?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

There’s definitely a tonal difference between the neck p’up on a 24-fret guitar vs. 21/22. it’s just not as “round” sounding and there’s really nothing to be done about it unfortunately... it’s just physics.

Have you tried just raising the neck pickup a bit? That would make it more powerful and if the bass side is slightly higher than the treble side it would also be a bit darker.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

Hi evan.
This diagram from GuitarElectronics may be of use for series/parallel and split wiring using 2 push/pulls.



This one will give phase reversal on the neck and splits.



There may be a way to combine both to give all three options on 3 push/pulls. Not sure how the might conflict though (guitar tech territory).

 

[evan47]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

Hi evan.
This diagram from GuitarElectronics may be of use for series/parallel and split wiring using 2 push/pulls.

View attachment 92815

This one will give phase reversal on the neck and splits.

View attachment 92816

There may be a way to combine both to give all three options on 3 push/pulls. Not sure how the might conflict though (guitar tech territory).

Thank you.

 

[evan47]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

There’s definitely a tonal difference between the neck p’up on a 24-fret guitar vs. 21/22. it’s just not as “round” sounding and there’s really nothing to be done about it unfortunately... it’s just physics.

Have you tried just raising the neck pickup a bit? That would make it more powerful and if the bass side is slightly higher than the treble side it would also be a bit darker.

Yes, there is the physical aspect to think of but I also have a second ec1000 24 fretter with EMG FAT 55 pickups and there is more of a difference between neck and bridge.
I was hoping for suggestions on a darker sound than the 59 neck that would compliment the JB bridge pickup but still give a nice clean sound too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

The Alnico II Pro would work, but it is still won't sound like it does in a 22 fret guitar. To me, that is the magic neck position (other than in an SG).

 

[evan47]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

The Alnico II Pro would work, but it is still won't sound like it does in a 22 fret guitar. To me, that is the magic neck position (other than in an SG).

Well, I was at one time going to try the P-RAILS neck and triple shot rings hope for the best solution, still mulling it over.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

Well, the P-Rails is a good sound. In series, it has a darker sound than most humbuckers- it is still missing that 'throaty' depth that you'd hear on 22 fret guitars. It is a versatile sound, though, especially with Triple Shots.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

The Alnico II Pro would work, but it is still won't sound like it does in a 22 fret guitar. To me, that is the magic neck position (other than in an SG).

I wonder how the Slash neck or CS Pearly Gates Neck would do? Or maybe a Slash bridge in the neck?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: New neck pickup or wiring options?

Well, I was at one time going to try the P-RAILS neck and triple shot rings hope for the best solution, still mulling it over.

Well, the P-Rails is a good sound. In series, it has a darker sound than most humbuckers- it is still missing that 'throaty' depth that you'd hear on 22 fret guitars. It is a versatile sound, though, especially with Triple Shots.

I concur. The P-Rails are a great choice for the neck if you want to thicken it up. They’re also quite powerful, so it’d take care of your desire for more power as well as giving you some great choices for sounds.