Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

[Rex_Rocker]

So I went ahead and got the Pearly Gates neck to pair with the WLH-B in my PRS SE.

I gave it a few days. At first, I was liking it. It's a cool pickup, no doubt. It has a killer upper-mid grind that sounds great once you throw some gain over it. However, once I compared it to the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anni on my Ibanez, I wasn't sold on the PG's low-end. It's a bit much for me. It's not that it's too spongy. I actually kinda like that, especially the higher up the neck I play, but the PRS SE is really picky when it comes to neck pickups. It's a 22-fret mahogany set-neck LP-type, so there's naturally A LOT of low-end in that position.

So I went ahead and swapped the Phat Cat I had in the neck position before back in. TBH, I like it better. It's got spank, obviously, because it's a single coil, but it's not over-the-top chirpy because of the A2. It's got a whole lot less congestion in the lows and low-mids compared to the PG too. However, there's two things I don't like about it. First, hum. Yep. Second, and I must admit this is me just being a bit silly, I absolutely hate the looks of an uncovered black humbucker in the bridge mismatched with a covered single coil in the neck. I'd rather have a second uncovered humbucker, because I absolutely love the bridge position in this guitar and don't want to change it.

So where should I go next? Should I try an A3 in the PG? How would that change it? Should I ditch it altogether and get a different neck pickup? HELP!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I don't like either one of those PU's with the stock magnets, as they're both too dark for me. Brighter mags in the Phat Cat brought it to life, big improvement. Different mags didn't help with the PGN, must be the wind. I sold it.

These days my neck HB's are either hybrids, or are wired for spin-a-split. Both approaches add single coil tones, and that means more clarity, a sharper/crisper high end, less mids and low end. Solves any bassy/boomy/muddy issues.

 

[gregory]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Again: DP205 Steve Morse Neck.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

The best neck pickup is one that's slightly overwound and located in the bridge.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

WLH neck wired in parallel or Seth neck

 

[jeremy]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

an a3 in the pgn would lose some low mid/low end but keep a fairly similar tonality in my experience. lose a touch of output too.

if you like the phat cat but not the look, what about a cover on the bridge pup?

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I was expecting the PGn would have a upper-mid brightness that may be similar to the WLH. Do you find they match in any way?

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I also prefer singles in the neck pos.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Thanks for all the replies, dudes!

I don't think the PG-N is a complete mismatch with the WHL-B. The PG does share some of that rude attitude with the WLH. The WLH does sound drier/tighter/stiffer.

In general, I can't say I find either the PG-N or the PC-N too dark at all. The Phat Cat is smooth for a single coil, but it still has the top-end to match the WLH. It does sound a lot more polite than the edgy WLH, though. The PG, on the other hand, has some nice rasp in the high-mids, but it is too bassy for my taste.

Isn't the Steve Morse Neck like mega dark?

The Seth does seem interesting. From the clips on the site, it seems to be closer tonally to the Phat Cat compared to the PG. Maybe I should've listened to those first.

And maybe I'll give the A3 magnet a try. And noooo. I don't wanna cover up the WLH. It sounds perfect as it is!

 

[justFred]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Seth Lover

 

[gregory]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Steve Morse Neck is vocal. I thought you'd prefer the pick attack.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I have 2 PRS SE's at the moment. Seth Set in one of them, and an Air Zone/Full shred neck in the other one. I like them both. The neck positions on those can be a little muddy with the wrong pickup. I had a Humbucker from Hell in the one with the Air Zone bridge, but it was a little underpowered and a tiny bit stiff. The Full Shred Neck is a better match.

 

[gregory]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Clicky pick attack with the FSn.

I'm sticking to my guns: if not DP205 then APH-1N.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I'd run through the list of mags....A3, A4, UOA5 before I swapped again.

And - why not the PAF 36th in the SE?
Or, a WLH neck?

 

[Ben1962]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I am the newb around here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. That being said, I have plenty of Duncan Pups. I think the Sentient is the best Pup in their arsenal. Seems like it would be ultra high output, but its not. Is it too hot for the WLH? Maybe, but I think you could lower it some to balance the output. I start just jammin a little on that guy, and 2 hours go by. Absolutely killer pickup
" It delivers a balanced, versatile tone that fits right between the 59 model and the Jazz neck pickup. Youll get pristine cleans, and fluid leads under high gain. The Sentient is a very articulate vintage output pickup with great dynamic response and a wide harmonic range." Is it too powerful? Maybe. You didnt want the WLH neck?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

If you like the top end of the PG, all you need is a mag swap and at most a spin o split to reduce the bass.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Have you considered the SH-2n Jazz neck model?

It's been a while since I played one, but I recall it as a pretty good cure for woofy neck humbucker syndrome. On paper it looks like it's more bassy than the PG but the top end is brighter and the overall effect is a clearer better-balanced neck pickup sound.

As others have said, the Seth would be a good choice too. Less bottom end than a PG. I loved that in a Les Paul.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

Steve Morse Neck is vocal. I thought you'd prefer the pick attack.

His neck pickup sound is one of my all time favorite guitar tones. However, using his pickup, I was never able to quite get it- I never dug his pickup set when I use it. When he uses it, I can listen to it all day (like I did the past 2 days).

 

[gregory]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

not over-the-top chirpy

Could you explain what this means or provide a sample. I thought I understood, but I guess I don't.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Still on the search for the perfect neck pickup!

I think the Seth Lover will do what you need. It's now my default neck PAF pickup. It can be bright and chimey or roll down the tone for a darker singing tone. There is only one neck pup I like better, and it's the Custom 50's PAF wind from CM Daugherty. However, I really like to recommend SD pickups whenever possible.

One neck pup I'm curious to try is the Saturday Night Special neck with the A4 mag. The demo sounds fantastic, so I'm on the lookout for one of those. Go listen to that demo and see what you think.