Neck Pickup Recommendations

rgorke · Post by **rgorke** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:54 pm

I am looking for recommendations for a neck pickup. Something that is really glassy yet creamy that will sound great rolling down the volume for doing stuff like chord melody, etc.

I am thinking a SD '59 neck. I have a vintage '70s Dimarzio PAF in one guitar that I really like but I thought I would seek others' ideas.

Could be humbucker, could be single coil, not committed either way.

Thanks

vanhalen5150 · Post by **vanhalen5150** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 4:24 pm

59 would be a safe bet.

rgorke · Post by **rgorke** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:08 pm

vanhalen5150 wrote:59 would be a safe bet.

Thanks S, just thought I would see if there might be another obscure one.

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:22 am

rgorke wrote:I am looking for recommendations for a neck pickup. Something that is really glassy yet creamy...

These two qualities in a pickup seem to be in conflict with each other, IMO. To me, a Strat sounds glassy... a mellow humbucker (Dickey Betts) sounds creamy. Unless Im misunderstanding what you're looking for, it would be hard to find both in the same pickup.
Anyway, the closest I can think of for what it sounds like you're looking for would be:

DiMarzio DP163 (Bluesbucker)
DiMarzio DP211 (EJ Custom Neck)
DiMarzio DP190 (Air Classic Neck)

They're under "Vintage Output" Humbuckers:
http://dimarzio.com/site/#/pickups/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its not like Im a big DiMarzio fan, but they have a pretty big selection as compared to Duncans. I know some guys like the SD '59, but Im not one of them. To my ears, thru my rigs, they sound cold and lifeless with no "dimension" or complexity to the tone at all... a very generic humbucker, IMHO.
(Just my opinion though).

SteadyEddie · Post by **SteadyEddie** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 9:09 pm

Maybe a P-90 would have some of the "glass" of the single coil and some of the "cream" of the humbucker.

darkbluemurder · Post by **darkbluemurder** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:10 am

fillmore nyc wrote: DiMarzio DP163 (Bluesbucker)

+1. Solved the problem of overly bassy and muddy neck pickups in one "problem" guitar. However I would not describe its tone as glassy. It's more or less a P90 tone in a regular sized humbucking format without hum.

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 7:27 pm

IMO Between 7.5 - 9.0 would put you in that "glsssy" ballpark. 2¢

T.L. · Post by **T.L.** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:04 pm

I don't care for the sound of a neck-position '59. I do like it in the bride-position though.
I'd suggest the SH-2 "Jazz" for the neck position...

toner · Post by **toner** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:13 pm

T.L. wrote:I do like it in the bride-position though.

Bride-position, eh?

I don't have much advice other than to say that most SD pickups sound too "polished", smooth and compressed to me. That may be what you're looking for though.

somethin'else · Post by **somethin'else** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:40 pm

Here I go again

High Order Pickups.

The fun is spec'ing your own.

JimiJames wrote:IMO Between 7.5 - 9.0 would put you in that "glsssy" ballpark. 2¢

That's what I'd say too, and add an AlNiCo 2 mag in there.
If I could venture into abstract cross-reference territory, comparing pickup magnets to speaker magnets ...
The AlNiCo 2 would be akin to an M75 or Greenback, and an AlNiCo 5 would be more like an H75 or G12H30.
I know that's a stretch, but you get my gist?

I'd get something in the upper 7k and lower 8k with an AlNiCo 2, a "PAF type", and asymmetric wound (uneven wind) for a little airy (glassy) top end. Like 8.1-8.3k. Just enough to go into "overdrive compression" full on, but clean up well a couple/few clicks back.

Two more cents, have fun!

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:25 am

somethin'else wrote:Here I go again High Order Pickups.

The fun is spec'ing your own.

JimiJames wrote:IMO Between 7.5 - 9.0 would put you in that "glsssy" ballpark. 2¢
That's what I'd say too, and add an AlNiCo 2 mag in there.
If I could venture into abstract cross-reference territory, comparing pickup magnets to speaker magnets ...
The AlNiCo 2 would be akin to an M75 or Greenback, and an AlNiCo 5 would be more like an H75 or G12H30.
I know that's a stretch, but you get my gist?

I'd get something in the upper 7k and lower 8k with an AlNiCo 2, a "PAF type", and asymmetric wound (uneven wind) for a little airy (glassy) top end. Like 8.1-8.3k. Just enough to go into "overdrive compression" full on, but clean up well a couple/few clicks back.

Two more cents, have fun!

Not trying to initiate a Jihad or anything (

) but Im not understanding how a 7.5k to 9.0k humbucker with an A2 mag would sound "glassy". Anything in that resistance range with an A2 mag would sound soft, IMO, more toward the "creamy" side of what Rgorke is looking for, and venturing into 9.0k territory is gonna make that pickup pretty strong and less defined for a PAF style HB.

As far as the "abstract cross-reference territory", strictly speaking of the Celestion reference (not familiar with Scumbacks, Im afraid), Im surprised to hear this comparison... Greenbacks seem more presence-y and peaky with not much bottom end or "softness", and that seems in contrast to an A2 mag in a pickup.
On the flip side, an G12H30 seems a bit stronger and more middy than a GB, which would more parallel an A5 mags response in a pickup.

To me, the elusive combination of glassy and creamy in a humbucker "might" be achieved in the 6.5k to 7.0k range, A2 mag with an air gap between the mag and slugs/screw block... like maybe see if DiMarzio is in a good mood and will wind you something custom in an Airbucker.
They USED to do shit like that, but at least when I asked them to do something custom, they gave me a whole whiny song and dance about how they cant predict, and are not responsible for the outcome. Hey... Im not buying a custom home!! Its only a pickup!!
If its FUBAR after all is said and done, Ill survive!!

The other thing that comes to mind (if you wanna get creative) is maybe putting a Duncan Antiquity Firebird pup under a HB cover, maybe even experimenting with some sort of thin shim between the HB and FB covers. FB's ARE glassy, and can be warm (creamy) sounding too especially if set far from the strings, and the FB Antiquities are warmer than regular SM1 FB pups... its not just an aged look, they so something different under the cover (mag, winds??) to make them sound warmer.
IF you try that idea, just make sure to put some sort of potting agent (silicone) between the pup covers to avoid noises and squealing... could be a cool project!!

Glassy and creamy... sounds as elusive as Al-Qaeda and compassion.

somethin'else · Post by **somethin'else** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:15 am

fillmore nyc wrote:
Glassy and creamy... sounds as elusive as Al-Qaeda and compassion.

Or Jumbo Shrimp!

But I dig that Firebird pup idea!

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:30 pm

Jumbo Shrimp
Military Intelligence
Happy Marriage....

somethin'else · Post by **somethin'else** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:55 pm

NY Chief wrote:Jumbo Shrimp
Military Intelligence
Happy Marriage....

Glassy, yet creamy . . .

kinda like an asbestos milkshake, right?!

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:04 pm

NY Chief wrote:Jumbo Shrimp
Military Intelligence
Happy Marriage....

Business ethics...
Free with purchase...
Poor 'ol Charlie Sheen...
Turkey bacon...
Alone together...
Synthetic natural gas...
Pretty disgusting...

COUNTRY MUSIC!!!!!

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