Screamin' Demon paired with?

[audiocheck]

ok

I have had my Screamin' Demon in the bridge of two of my Les Pauls. I really, Really like this pickup, but have a real hard time pairing it with a neck pickup that doesn't mud out when switching from Bridge to Neck during solos.

Here is where I am so far:

Original install, I paired it with a Jazz Neck: After many months of tweeting the Jazz, I finally gave up. Although both pickups are very articulate (and I love the spank of the Jazz), the dramatic tonal change between the two positions left the jazz unable to cut. The lower you position the Jazz to brighten it up, the lower you would have to put the Demon for volume matching. And there lies the dilemma because then the Demon just becomes brighter and brighter.

The Demon is a mud cutter!

Now I have it paired with a Demon in the neck (so a pair of demons): I am still in the process of tweeting and getting closer to a working combo. I also moved both Demons to a fatter sounding Les Paul (more mid heavy), and the Demon just shines in this axe. It almost took on the attitude of a '59. Where the Demon was almost too bright in my earlier LP, it is not so in this heavier LP. I have raised up the Hex screws a lot on the Neck position as well as the Screws poles. The screws are orientated towards the Neck on the neck pickup, even though the logo is now upside-down compared to the bridge. Advantages the Demon has over the Jazz: Seems to cut a bit more and has a lot more grit and dirt.

So what have you successfully teamed a Demon up with?

My next move would be a FullShred in the Neck. I have already owned a FS neck a few years back in a Les Paul and sold it. I don't remember it being all that impressive as far as cutting through goes. I recall it being like a 59 without so much of the 59 low end boom. also a tad cleaner than a 59, as I recall. Duncan's wed sit says the FullShred neck is the brightest Neck pickup they make. So for those who have a FullShred neck, what is your experience with the FS neck cutting through the mix?

Thank you in advance!

I should also mention, I gave the Jazz almost a year paid with the Demon (with some real world live playing experiences) before giving up. Now I have been tweeting the Dual Demons for over 4 months in two different Les Pauls again with live real world playing experiences.

 

[Shadow78]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

Hey,

I've had similar problems with the neck position of Les Pauls myself. I haven't messed around with the Screamin' Demon myself, but I've always preferred a more open pickup with more midrange to get the mud out of a LP. I've worked with the Jazz myself and there just wasn't enough mids in that pickup. I'm at the point where I'm planning to try to Alnico II Pro or a Phat Cat...maybe a P-Rails. I've found I prefer the tone of P90's as I've experimented with different neck pickups...Hope that works out for you. I'm in my search as well. I've been trying to think outside the box myself. I have an Epi LP that I finally put in a set of Wilde Pickups L-90's and it totally transformed that guitar into a beast! Totally worked with that guitar and opened both positions up. Best of luck! Hope this helps get your brain moving. I'm right there with you in searching for the right neck position tone. Best of luck! Cheers.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I love the Screaming Demon as a standalone in most solidbody guitars. It's great as a hybrid with the SH6N with an A5, A8 or the thick ceramic. For the neck? I used to love it, but not anymore. I love the Sentient nowadays but imho the best? 59B+JazzN, alnico 5 or alnico 4. second best: 59B + JazzB with a5 or a4. (fullshred neck with 59 is also cool).

 

[lkr]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I just exchanged a Jazz neck for a Full Shred Neck. I liked the Jazz but it had too much low end in my Les Paul/Marshall. The Full Shred is cool but it too has just a bit too much low end when overdriven. Now, if i back off the bass on the amp around 2, it sounds great. Good harmonics for a neck but still creamy. My Custom bridge is then too bright. I can back off the bridge tone and find a compromise but I am still looking. Currently I have a Dimarzio HFH coming to try. I will post an update to compare. I would like to try the Demon in the neck if the dimarzio doesn't workout.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

First answer - Demon bridge. Done - why even bother playing the neck?!?!?!?!

Second, a question - I'm interested in a couple of things, the kind of tone you want from the neck, and how you are using it; Leads, rhythm, clean, dirty, both, what???

Finally, I'd have said either full shred or maybe Seths (not my thing, but…). Sounds like you need either something really balanced and clear (Seth) or something tilted really towards the high end (Full Shred).

And last….if hotness is NOT an issue, you might try a Distortion Neck.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

2 Demons is actually a good combo. The Full Shred should cut really really well in an LP. It is open, but with expanded high end. Unless you go with actives, I don't know how it wouldn't cut through. Usually I go with something more PAF-y in the neck, like Seths or A2P, but that would be too muddy for you. What kind of music is this for? And what kind of amp?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

"open with expanded high end"

I like how you turned that phrase Dave!

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

First answer - Demon bridge. Done - why even bother playing the neck?!?!?!?!

Second, a question - I'm interested in a couple of things, the kind of tone you want from the neck, and how you are using it; Leads, rhythm, clean, dirty, both, what???

Finally, I'd have said either full shred or maybe Seths (not my thing, but…). Sounds like you need either something really balanced and clear (Seth) or something tilted really towards the high end (Full Shred).

And last….if hotness is NOT an issue, you might try a Distortion Neck.

Your right the Demon covers a lot of ground and I can get very usable tones just by dialing the Bridge tone knob from 10 to 0.

Now what I need the bridge to do is for lead playing 7th fret on up. My ideal neck pup tone would be a cross between Warren Haynes, Santana, Dickey Betts and Billy Gibbons. I also like the Spank that Nuno Bettencourt got back in the 90's from his neck pup. So I do use quite a bit of gain. (my amps are Carvin (6L6 version) X100b and a V3m)

Now I ain't complaining about the Jazz or the Demon in the neck, please don't get me wrong. These are awesome neck pups. My favorite LP neck pup is the PGn, but these are both right up there with their own characteristics. In fact the Jazz really can nail that Nuno spank. My issue is when soloing and switching from the Bridge to the Neck, in comparison the Neck gets lost. And I know it is due to the Demon (bridge) being able to just slice through with it's tone. I would just like to match that kink of cut quality or presence with the neck.

I wonder if anyone ever asked for an under-wound Screaming' Demon?

I have definitely got better results using the second Demon in the neck over the Jazz, but like I said I am still tweaking it.

Just curious to see what other Demon users use in the Neck.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

2 Demons is actually a good combo. The Full Shred should cut really really well in an LP. It is open, but with expanded high end. Unless you go with actives, I don't know how it wouldn't cut through. Usually I go with something more PAF-y in the neck, like Seths or A2P, but that would be too muddy for you. What kind of music is this for? And what kind of amp?

So as stated in my last post. I use a Carvin X-100b and Carvin V3m heads. Speakers are V30. Usually set to pretty high gain (not death metal or anything). Style of playing is Heavy blues rock, sometimes venturing into Metal (think Sykes and Doug Aldridge, still very much based in blues).

I know I should not sell old gear, because this happens. I had a Full Shred from the late 80's laying around up until a few years ago, it would have been nice to have it now.

So as far as stock Duncans go, the Full Shred would be my obvious next try. I am gonna give the Demon a bit more time in the neck, just to see if I can get it to do what I want.

Maybe I should change the Capacitor value for the neck? I always thought: if the Tone knob is on 10, the cap doesn't come into play, until you turn the tone knob down.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

AHA! Haynes/Santana AND Nuno spank….

You sir - need a classic humbucker also set up to split!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I used to use a Bridge Jazz Model in the neck slot with my Demon in the bridge.

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

My next move would be a FullShred in the Neck. I have already owned a FS neck a few years back in a Les Paul and sold it. I don't remember it being all that impressive as far as cutting through goes. I recall it being like a 59 without so much of the 59 low end boom. also a tad cleaner than a 59, as I recall. Duncan's wed sit says the FullShred neck is the brightest Neck pickup they make. So for those who have a FullShred neck, what is your experience with the FS neck cutting through the mix?

I have an 80s Full Shred neck in my Les Paul and it cuts through very well. It was actually lacking a bit in the low end for me so I replaced the hex screws in the bridge side coil with filister screws. It's perfect now. Adjusting the pole screws has a great effect on the tone. I had to tweak each one until I got what I wanted. Now it's perfect.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

yeah two demons, maybe different magnets.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

Remove the 3 screws on the neck side coil under the low three strings on your FS neck. Adjust all other screws to restore string volume parity. Thank me later.

If that doesn't work, you need a single coil or a firebird.

 

[chadd]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

yeah two demons, maybe different magnets.

A Demon in the neck pairs well with an A8 Demon in the bridge. Given your issues, I can see where the FS would be the logical next step in your journey.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I used to use a Bridge Jazz Model in the neck slot with my Demon in the bridge.

Jolly, wouldn't the Jazz bridge model be beefier than the neck (i would think that would be the wrong direction for me to go, but one never knows until it's tried)? What kind of guitar was your setup in?

Thanks

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

A Demon in the neck pairs well with an A8 Demon in the bridge. Given your issues, I can see where the FS would be the logical next step in your journey.

I love the Demon in the bridge the way it is, So I don't want to change that.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I have an 80s Full Shred neck in my Les Paul and it cuts through very well. It was actually lacking a bit in the low end for me so I replaced the hex screws in the bridge side coil with filister screws. It's perfect now. Adjusting the pole screws has a great effect on the tone. I had to tweak each one until I got what I wanted. Now it's perfect.

This is intriguing, Did swapping out the screws just add low end? Was there any kind of midrange shift as well?

Been toying with the idea of removing the Screws in the Demon and putting in more Hex screws (like the FullShred).

Any idea where I can buy Hex screws to try a replacement?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

I really like the combo of the Demon in the bridge plus a DiMarzio Liquifire in the neck...but if you are worried about "mud" then I think the dual Demon combo is the best option, IMO.

EDIT: I love the Demon in the neck position btw!

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Screamin' Demon paired with?

This is intriguing, Did swapping out the screws just add low end? Was there any kind of midrange shift as well?

Been toying with the idea of removing the Screws in the Demon and putting in more Hex screws (like the FullShred).

Any idea where I can buy Hex screws to try a replacement?

It actually balanced out the pickup. It was a little thin with double hex screws. The filisters added a bit of lows and mids.

You can get all types of stuff here:

http://www.mojotone.com