*REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus middle?

[Despised]

Okay, so now that I've grown bored with the DiMarzio D-Activator 7's and Blaze SC in my Stephen Carpenter 7 so I am now finding myself looking at using the Nazgul in the bridge and the Pegasus in the middle. I'm finding that a normal neck position humbucker in the middle position to be too dark/warm and it's throwing the tone off between the bridge, middle humbucker and neck single coil tone off - the middle tone is too dark and the neck single coil tone is almost equally as dark. So that's why I'm looking at a hot bridge pickup, a moderate output bridge pickup in the middle, and I'm having the toughest time trying to pick out a single coil for the neck position. That, and I'm curious to know if I should get and use a middle position single coil in the neck, to better accommodate the two bridge pickups in the other positions...

So I'm torn between a few different single coils to use with the Nazgul and Pegasus. I was initially considering the SSL-6, but I have found a few others I'm also considering. So can syou guys give me some suggestions, thoughts and input on which single coil would be best suited with these humbuckers???

My other considerations are:
* SSL-2 Vintage Flat 7-string (Shop Floor Custom...)
* SSL-3 Hot For Strat 7-string (Shop Floor Custom...)
* SSL-4 Quarter Pound Flat 7-string (Custom Shop...)
* SSL-6 Custom Flat 7-string (Shop Floor Custom...)
All models listed would be middle position, with the RW/RP (reverse wound, reverse polarity) option, as well as the tapped option for the two output modes (on the models that offer the tapped option...). Tapped option models will be wired to a push/pull pot for the output mode select.

As for the gear details...
Guitar: ESP Stephen Carpenter 7-string Custom replica. Basswood body, maple neck, bolt-on construction, rosewood fingerboard, tune-o-matic/string-thru, each humbucker wired to a mini toggle switch for coil splits, Shadow KillPot, 5-way selector switch. Tued standard E-E w/ low B.
Amp & Cabinet: Line 6 Vetta HD 200 watt head, Ibanez ToneBlaster 412 strait cabinet
Currently playing: Metal and classic rock, but also do jazz, blues, and funk. Lately, a lot of Deftones, Crowbar, Fear Factory/Brujeria/Divine Heresy, Pig Destroyer, Carcass, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, AC/DC, Weezer, and a lot of the similar styles.

So what would YOU guys recommend for a single coil to pair with the Nazgul & Pegasus? I thank you in advanced, and hope for some good, awesome tones in the future with this guitar.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: *REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus mid

I'd try an SSL-6 first myself, but I have no idea how well it will match up in the neck, I like it in the middle though.

 

[Despised]

Re: *REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus mid

I'd try an SSL-6 first myself, but I have no idea how well it will match up in the neck, I like it in the middle though.

This very thought was why I was thinking a middle position model, to try and help keep the tonality more even going from bridge to neck. And after seeing the (rough estimate known as the...) EQ shape of them all, it appears that either the Vintage Flat 7 (SSL-2) or the Custom Flat 7 (SSL-6) would be a tie for first choice.

The Vintage Flat would be a more true medium/vintage output, where the Custom Flat is more a medium-hot output, which may fiar better in terms of output as ccompared to the Nazgul and Pegasus... But since I've always found the neck position itself in general to be too dark, this is why I'm considering the Vintage Flat and it's high-end spiked scoop. But then again, the Custom Flat has a little less high, and an increased mid to compensate...

And the other heavy consideration with the Custom Flat, I can get it not only in the RW/RP option but also with the Tapped option for the 2 different output settings. This is something that weighs in a little heavier, and would be great wiring options to go with the coil splits on the Nazgul and Pegasus as well.

Okay, so am now kinda leaning towards 2 out of the 4 a little more now. Anyone else care to shed some light, thought or suggestions in on this subject???

(And not to mention, I can actually have this done with Duncan - meaning if I want an SSL-2 or an SSL-6, I can get either one as a shop floor custom. Dimarzio wouldn't do this for any of it's customers... Yet another reason why I'm bored with DiMarzio stuff now.)

 

[Despised]

Re: *REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus mid

Okay, so here's my next question. Can anyone tell me or give me a link to a diagram showing how to wire a Duncan tapped version single coil to a push/pull tone pot?

Or how to wire the same said pickup to a blend pot?

I am thinking that I am going to replace the two 2-way mini toggles with 3-way mini toggles, so I can get the series/split/parallel modes out of the humbuckers. Combining this, with the tapped single coil on a blend pot I think will give me some pretty tasty tones between all 3 pickups and all the different modes.

 

[Despised]

Re: *REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus mid

Thanks Scott and everyone who's voted in the poll so far. I am now inquiring with the folks at SD to get a price on the SSL-2 and the SSL-6 made. I am leaning more towards the SSL-6 due to the available Tapped version for the two different output settings. I love having as much diversity as I can from my pickups!

I am still curious to know if anyone can post a link or something to a diagram as to how to hook the tapped version SSL-6 up to a blend pot... I am soon to start placing orders for the other pickups and parts as I'm twitching to hear what ne tones I can get and achieve... So if anyone can tell me or point me to the diagram I'm asking for, I'd greatly appreciate it.

And again, I appreciate those of you who voted. I hope more and others will do the same. Please also state why you chose the pickup/s you voted for, to give me a little more insight on them. From what I've been hearing of demos and reviews of the single coils in question, I'm liking what I hear so far. So thanks again everyone!

 

[Despised]

Re: *REVISED* What neck single coil should I use with a Nazgul bridge and Pegasus mid

So a little update on this since the last post... Derek Duncan and I are in the works of getting the details worked out for the single coil, which is going to be the SSL-6. I have gotten a rough price quote and am working on this, and the Shop Floor Custom versions of both the Nazgul & Pegasus.

And aside from the few votes that have chosen, I have found thru several demos that the SSL-6 is going to be my best bet tonally. In addition to this, I have had the pleasure of getting an opinion and recommendation from Mr. Keith Merrow regarding this issue, and he too favors the SSL-6. So the SSL-6 for the win with the Nazgul & Pegasus!

I'll post back when things move along further...