Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

[Hank-]

With SuperD in the bridge spot?

What is the deal with the Super 2? There aren't any clips on dimarzios website for it, number of artists endorsing it on the product page is two or three. And importantly, i dont think i found a worthwhile video of it on youtube either. For a pickup released in 70s or 80s, you'd figure there might be more clips around for it.

I read some forum posts on it, but no samples leaves me confused.

My understanding is that if its a neck version of the SuperD, their combo as a set for split/parallel/series options might yield a bigger pallete of tonal options.

So apart from that I could consider a PAF in the neck with the SuperD, actually done that in a PRS Se Cu22/24, using a sh1n and superD, it worked very well. But in a LP copy I dont wanna go with a 59n, the SuperD sounds fatter than ever in it, so I'm afraid the 59 maybe too much. I'm open to any other duncan option in there.

The PAF 36ths I could try but I was wondering about the Paf Pro, both aren't exactly vintage sounding to me. The PP I've been wanting to collect, now that I have a space for it I could get it for neck spot. But I feel the Super2 might just compliment the Super D better, although it might compliment it so well that it turns out there is not much EQ tonal variation from neck to bridge with gain characteristics being same/similar.


I so dislike having to shop neck pickup options lol :ugh1:

 

[Aceman]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

The Deal is it's a neck SuperDistortion. So, if you want loud, hot and thick, go for it. Back in the day, REAL men just put another regular SuperD in the neck.

I have a PAF/SuperD in my 73 Les Paul. Sounds fantastic. Why mess with perfection? I also have PAF/SuperD in my Ace Frehley, not that the neck pickup works...still. Just sayin'

If you are worried about the SUperD being fat, and thus muddy / boomy neck....

Full Shred - if you are really really worried
A PG is NEVER a bad choice for a woofy boomy LP (My first choice)
Might even go with a Demon, not as extreme as the full shred, but less PAF than the PG
I think a PAF Pro is a really cool neck pup. Very middy, round, not to bassy. Not feeling it for you though....

If you want a full range guitar, you might try a Duncan Jazz, actually. Again, not a PAF style. My number one vote is a PG.

But really, I'd just roll with a DiMarzio PAF and twerk height/poles until happy.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

So the Super2 + SuperD is sort of like a calibrated set, right?

The SuperD is fat & thick, highs are fat but not cut out, not like a FT2 for example. I never find the Sd muddy to be exact. Its hot output but I keep it 1mm more away from the strings(basically wherever it sounds right) than what Dimarzio recommend the height. So I dont use it for its whole output per se. So I could do the same for the Super2 too in the neck. This guitar is quite balanced sounding, tilting slightly towards bright side compared to some actual LPs I have tried in stores.

Ace if you have had a Super2 before, what other pickup does it sound like? Its EQ ratings are different from the SuperD. It may have the same distortion character as the SuperD, but with a EQ like that & placing it in the neck, I wonder if it will sound the same as the SuperD in the bridge, switching back and forth.

One benefit I see of the Super2/SuperD combo is that the gain on the amp could be adjusted so that they both sound similar crunch wise. Right now there is some Paf asian variant in there that sounds much cleaner than the SuperD but I have it adjusted to same loudness level. Problem is the middle & bridge position sound crunchy while the neck quite doesn't but when I had the 59n + Super D combo in my Korean PRS, I used to get almost acoustic like clean in the middle while the individual positions were crunchy.
That is throwing me off & I'm not sure if having a vintage PAf in the neck would work as I want. If both pickups had similar crunch to them, I could lower the gain on the amp & hit an OD for crunch sound. Right now having an LP style guitar is new to me, maybe that's why I'm having trouble getting my head around it lol.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

So the Super2 + SuperD is sort of like a calibrated set, right?

kinda sorta. or the Super 2 can be used in the bridge, if you want the same flavor but brighter. it can be a little thick in the neck, but not like a muddy mess.

if you look at the specs on the DiMarzio site, it has a LOT of output, but a pretty moderate resistance (for those that swear that resistance = output. lol!).

 

[Aceman]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

It's a brighter SuperD. You are wayyyyyy over thinking it. It will have the general character of a SuperD, but it will have the neck tone.

If a guitar is super dark & bassy in bridge, use the super 2
If you want a superD in the neck, use a Super 2
If a guitar is super bright & trebly in bridge, use the super 3
If you want to sound like Slash, except have a wimpy amp, and want to use DiMarzio, use a Super 3 in the neck.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

I'm pretty sure Super 2s were Jerry Garcia's go to for awhile.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

Back in the 80s I had an aluminum neck Kramer with Super IIs at both neck and bridge. Very hot, very bright. Never had 'em in anything else so I can't be sure how much of the brightness was due to aluminum neck/resin fretboard. Still, they were trebly without sounding overly thin and as I remember they actually cleaned up pretty well for a pickup that loud. I think the brightness helped there. Lows were nice and tight but the overall feel was fairly stiff.

I agree with Aceman about this one. A little harsh for bridge position, maybe a good fit for a very dark sounding axe. Too hot for my personal taste in neck pickups but if you want a loud neck pickup with a certain amount of SuperD character this might suit you quite well.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

I've always suspected the PAF Pro and the Super 2 are related based on the specs.

The PAF Pro is alright. It is not very vintage-sounding, IMO. It's bright, snappy, and louder than the average PAF, and not middy but not too scoopy either.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Super 2 in LP copy neck, yay?

I may have found two vids that have a Super2 in the neck, neither the description or comments provide much specific details

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uZ82kDlnuI4


https://youtube.com/watch?v=goYAW1JkpK4

If that is how it would sound, then its good enough for me. This is one guitar I'm gonna go full on rock with.

Now I can get the PAF36ths neck or bridge models only but everything else you guys suggested is out of stock, so it will take few months or a year before I finally can get my hands on a super2 or even a pearly gates neck. Importing anything myself sucks at the moment, customs & taxes are brutual at my place. Gonna have to wait a long time for these, atleast I don't have to pay immediately for them which is good.

The PaF Pro would have given me a whole different character & tonal change in the neck, but I think I'll got nuts on this axe with the super distortions for now, save the PAF thing for next guitar purchase next year.