Need a fatter but detailed neck pup...

[Kapo_Polenton]

I've got an air classic right now in the neck of an alder body and ebony fretboard strat. JB in the bridge which might get replaced with something a tad warmer but i dig it. The neck pup has no balls and is too thin and glassy sounding. I like the 36 anni with the vol rolled back to 8 and tone back to 8 but that is on a les paul type and i don't want 4 knobs on a fat strat. Is there a neck pup in the dimarzio / duncan camp that has the gain and precision of the 36 anni but a tad less quack? I'm thinking Sykes and Norum neck tones and know that both guys use PAF-ish types in their Pauls but not sure what they had used in their strat/kramers (Kramer in the still of the night vid).

What have you guys liked? I have an old Paf Pro but i am afraid it may lack some bass. I thought I might also try an airzone I had for the bridge of this guitar and stick that in the neck. It has detail and more mid/bass emphasis. Besides that, I'm open to suggestions.. I am trying out for a band next week and after putting in time really learning the material, my air classic neck has no balls and is too wimpy for those big neck runs.

 

[Orvillain]

Don't suppose you can get Bareknuckle Pickups in your area? I basically only use them. The Nailbomb or Rebel Yell would probably do what you want!

 

[rcm78]

Try the bridge version of the 36th Anni. I have it in the neck position of a warmoth strat I built and it sound great... A little thicker then the neck version.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I thought generally that bridge pups are thicker than neck? I'll have to check the specs on it.. I really like the 36 anni bridge. TO be honest, if i had one go to pup, would probably be that for multiple genres. Has just enough gain to be able to play whatever i need and it is super crunchy with a tight bottom end. Was a little unsure when i first started using it but i love it now.

 

[Anonymous]

Besides the Air Norton, check out the Breed Neck and Liquifire
They're a bit more modern sounding though

 

[DrugDM]

Dimarzio FRED is also very cool in the neck position. I had a tone zone in bridge and FRED neck which sounded great as a combo.

 

[Anonymous]

Dimarzio FRED is also very cool in the neck position. I had a tone zone in bridge and FRED neck which sounded great as a combo.

FRED is my favorite neck pickup of all time
Not sure it can be described as "fat" though

 

[snowdog]

not sure what they had used in their strat/kramers (Kramer in the still of the night vid).

80's Metal History 101 : the guys in that video weren't on the record.

 

[DrugDM]

not sure what they had used in their strat/kramers (Kramer in the still of the night vid).

80's Metal History 101 : the guys in that video weren't on the record.

This man speaks the truth. That was John Sykes and he used Gibson pickups.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

not sure what they had used in their strat/kramers (Kramer in the still of the night vid).

80's Metal History 101 : the guys in that video weren't on the record.

This man speaks the truth. That was John Sykes and he used Gibson pickups.

That would explain why I wondered if Sykes had dyed his hair and partially straightened it lol... I know Vandenberg toured it but was unsure what leads he would have added to that album. (Here I go again solo maybe?)

So if those are the dirty fingers, is that what the neck pup is called too?

 

[rupe]

Kramer in the still of the night vid

There was a Kramer in that vid?

As for neck pickups, the Duncan Pearly Gates is one that I like a lot, along with the Jazz.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Have you tried the BG Lizard? Very warm, articulate and PAF-y.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Kramer in the still of the night vid

There was a Kramer in that vid?

As for neck pickups, the Duncan Pearly Gates is one that I like a lot, along with the Jazz.

Pearly gates will be brighter than the 36 anni neck won't it? Jazz I've always wondered about.. i'm assuming it rolls off the top end, does it have decent output?

 

[bulletproof_funk]

I have a Jazz neck and JB bridge in my alder LTD Elite, the two match output very well, with the Jazz being pretty clear with decent and not overly bright top end and full without sounding too woofy/middy. I also have a Liquifire that also has a lot of output that it overpowers my AT-1 bridge (similar output to JB I believe), it's a little warmer than the Jazz and big sounding. I like both the Jazz and Liquifire for leads on the upper registers, I like both split or parallel for rhythm. Not sure they're close to the tones your asking for though.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Interesting someone mentioned the 36 anni bridge for neck position because i used the dimarzio pup picker and they suggested this as well.Knowing that I like the 36 anni's, i might just jump on getting another bridge for the neck. Also interested in the Transition which is what dimarzio suggested to me when i emailed them. That one also showed up on the pickup picker.

 

[rcm78]

I thought generally that bridge pups are thicker than neck? I'll have to check the specs on it.. I really like the 36 anni bridge. TO be honest, if i had one go to pup, would probably be that for multiple genres. Has just enough gain to be able to play whatever i need and it is super crunchy with a tight bottom end. Was a little unsure when i first started using it but i love it now.

So do I!!! I have it in two guitars. Love the 36th!!!

 

[BigBrewtus]

I vote for the Air Norton. Perfect for those warm woman tones. That Air Classic is a great bridge pup.
Very balanced. I had the AClassic and an Eric Johnson bridge hum in the neck. Made a great sounding
Paul.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

Kramer in the still of the night vid

There was a Kramer in that vid?

As for neck pickups, the Duncan Pearly Gates is one that I like a lot, along with the Jazz.

Pearly gates will be brighter than the 36 anni neck won't it? Jazz I've always wondered about.. i'm assuming it rolls off the top end, does it have decent output?

The Jazz is the most articulate neck pickup i have ever tried, and also delivers the least amount of Bass from any neck p/u I've tried

 

[shgshg]

Jazz neck + JB bridge is THE classic Seymour Duncan combo, don't knock it until you've tried it. Best tone I've ever had in ash, and crap in basswood so it depends on the guitar of course.

In order of brightness from bright to warm the Duncan neck buckers I've tried and liked are

Jazz; 59 Model; Pearly Gates; Full Shred.

The Jazz is almost single-coil like with distortion as a lead pickup; the 59 Model has that classic Nuno/Dime shred tone.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Jazz neck + JB bridge is THE classic Seymour Duncan combo, don't knock it until you've tried it. Best tone I've ever had in ash, and crap in basswood so it depends on the guitar of course.

In order of brightness from bright to warm the Duncan neck buckers I've tried and liked are

Jazz; 59 Model; Pearly Gates; Full Shred.

The Jazz is almost single-coil like with distortion as a lead pickup; the 59 Model has that classic Nuno/Dime shred tone.

I think i need to stay away from the Jazz then.. I'm likely going to go 36 anni bridge for the neck. I know what i'm getting and that pup just has the right amount of gain, clarity, and oomph. With the bridge being slightly warmer than the neck, i'm hoping it will roll off that little bit of bell like chyme on the top end. That's all I want, a wee little shaving of that attack.In the meantime though, I'll probably throw the paf pro in there for this audition because i need me some gains!