Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output...

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Hi guys.
how are you!?!?

I recently bought an IBANEZ RG550 used and im going to switch pickups from my charvel (duncan custom and jbjr neck) to my ibanez.
But theres this neck slot empty.
i was researching on the SD page but didnt come across any pickup that, IN MY OPINION, would suit my needs .

I want a smooth, creamy, fluid, slightly dark, balanced EQ, something like 6,6,8 or 7 . (this means, NO REDUCED , scooped mids. ) , it needs to take distortion well and not to take it out from me and spit CLEAN tones. i guess the air norton does that a bit. it takes your distortion and reduces it a bit.
i will use it mainly for solos and clean sound. so , it needs to have a very nice clean sound, and clarity and articulation. singing highs, smooth and creamy middles, and slightly tight, rubby bass. Hahahahahahahah

i was checking the pickups, eq wise speaking, but the only two i could think of are the P-RAILS and The Alnico II Pro Slash.
i have tried the Jazz but it had not enough mids to me and it was too bright for my tastes.
i dont want to go either dimarzio nor emg . my favorite neck pickusp so far are the emg 60Am and the Dimarzio Liquifire(even though it isnt quite what i want. but comes close).

Q: )
let me know.. i sent some emails to the duncan custom shop and im waiting their reply. But in the meantime ill ask you folks about this special neck pickup for me. Of course ill play with FULL Distortion Q: p
Thanks in advance
JP

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

HAILS! LOL.

Jazz bridge model or a Screamin' Demon with normal screws in both coils, both will cover most of that.

DDn would too, but will overpower the Custom.

 

[superpete]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

i've found the pearly gates in the neck to be smooth and slightly dark. this was in an explorer.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

i've found the pearly gates in the neck to be smooth and slightly dark. this was in an explorer.

I absolutely second that. I have a Pearly Gates in my Schecter Ultra and its unique in the sense that the wound E, A, D strings are dark sounding and have a spongy attack but the G, B, E plain strings have a somewhat bright/slightly biting singing character to them.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

iLL THINK about the pearly gates... but what about my first 2 options?
the perfect option would be a custom custom NECK Version.
Just a reminder : the guitar in question is a Maple neck/fretboard , 24 frets, 25'5 scale length. with basswood body.
would the pearly gates be a bit overpowered by the DUncan CUstom?

 

[superpete]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

iLL THINK about the pearly gates... but what about my first 2 options?
the perfect option would be a custom custom NECK Version.
Just a reminder : the guitar in question is a Maple neck/fretboard , 24 frets, 25'5 scale length. with basswood body.
would the pearly gates be a bit overpowered by the DUncan CUstom?

No, but the cc neck could overpower a custom in the bridge

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

if you are already leaning on custom shop option, you should consider duncan 59/jazz hybrid with alnico 4 magnet. It will do everything you just described. You can make it easily yourself or pay the custom shop to do it for you. Best neck pickup ive ever heard. its smooth, creamy, fluid, slightly dark(not overly bright, but not dark),and very balanced EQ.

 

[chadd]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

HAILS! LOL.

Jazz bridge model or a Screamin' Demon with normal screws in both coils, both will cover most of that.

DDn would too, but will overpower the Custom.

My first thought was a Demon in the neck or an APH1. I love the split tones from my A8 Demon.

 

[guitar74]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

A guy who played in one of the two lead bands I was in had the Screamin' Demon in the neck and it sounded great. I use the '59 in the neck of all of my guitars, but I like that noodly kind of neck pickup sound. Have in with a Pearly gates in the bridge of my strat (my desert island play everything on guitar), and with a J.B. in all of my other guitars. It has a dark sound, but more of a vintage tone, works great for sweeps, and I can still get my pseudo pinch harmonics (I actually touch the string with my ring finger instead of pinching-just how I learned how to do it back in the '80s). A full shred neck might work for you in the neck as it is kind of chunky toned, but still articulate enough to not much up if you do some neck pickup shredding. You might also consider two tone controls so you could back the tone control off on the neck.

The hybrid would be nice too.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

i've found the pearly gates in the neck to be smooth and slightly dark. this was in an explorer.

+1. A PGN should be just what the OP wants for smooth and creamy.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

Pearly Gates or Air Norton. Air Norton handles loads of distortion better.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

Air norton for me doesnt work. Q: ( but ill try the pearly gates. if im not satisfied, then ill try the slashs alnico II pro and/or the Prails . what are your thoughts on the P rails and Phat cats? antquity maybe?

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

This is almost impossible. You say you want a pickup that handles loads of distortion, but dismiss all Dimarzio pickups in your initial post. You say you want smooth and creamy, but also clear and articulate, which in my mind are polar opposites. The one pickup that does seem to satisfy your requirements, the Air Norton, you say doesn't work for you. My other guess would have been Liquifire, but again you say that is not working. My only other though would be a Demon in the neck as a few have suggested. It would probably balance well with the Custom. I dunno...

 

[soulforger]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

The demon does balance well with the Custom, takes distortion very well, and it's articulate, but I wouldn't call it dark, smooth or creamy. I think, as earlier suggestions, the Pearly Gates neck fits the bill here. You'll give up a little clarity, but it covers the tone desired.

 

[chadd]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

The demon does balance well with the Custom, takes distortion very well, and it's articulate, but I wouldn't call it dark, smooth or creamy. I think, as earlier suggestions, the Pearly Gates neck fits the bill here. You'll give up a little clarity, but it covers the tone desired.

It all depends on what the OPs base tone is going to be.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

ill pull the trigger on a pearly gates as you guys recommended me. but if i dislike, what could you tell me about the alnico II pro SLash and , maybe, a phat cat neck or a P rails neck? wouldnt any of these match my needs??

I have a Ibanez RG7420 with a DImarzio AIr Norton 7 in the neck. that wah sound and teh fact that it cleans the distortion and take a bit of it makes me a bit upset. but besides of that, i like the pickups. i also have a liquifire. but none of them comes close to the EMG 60A. AWESOME PICKUP.

Thanks GUYS
JP

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

PGn. Without a doubt.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

If you went with the P-Rails I would suggest flipping it around so the rail is up against the fretboard. For a 24 fretter that shifts the sensing closer to the neck.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

i was checking the pickups, eq wise speaking, but the only two i could think of are the P-RAILS and The Alnico II Pro Slash.
i have tried the Jazz but it had not enough mids to me and it was too bright for my tastes.

put an A2 in the Jazz and you'll have an A2P.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Sd pickup for the neck position. smooth,creamy.velvet,balanced, moderate output..

I'd go with the PGn. Not the clearest, but definitely the tone that you want.