Pickup suggestions

[agentzero12]

Since I don't have the unlimited budget for experimenting I want to get some suggestions from you guys. I know seymour does exchanges but I want to narrow the field some.

In my explorer I have an alternative 8 in the bridge and a jazz in the neck. The alt 8 is pretty much what I'm looking for out of a bridge pup in that guitar (although I may experiment with pot values) but the neck isn't quite doing it for me. It's a bit bright and not quite 'sweet' enough in the midrange. I like alot of mids and without a good amount of cut, I get buried by the rhythm guitarist's emgs. From looking at the tone chart the jazz is too much treble and not enough mids. I've heard the full shred is a good pair with the alt 8 but I've also head it's very similar to the jazz.

The sound I'm going for is a sweet singing lead tone that distorts well, still keeps a good clean tone, and has a decent amount of cut through the mix. I really like John Petrucci's tone and I like the Paul Waggoner (btbam) tone. I know Petrucci uses dimarzio and wagoner uses prs. I'm not above using a dimarzio but I've always found Seymour Duncan's to give me the response I want from a pickup.

What suggestions do you guys have for a neck position lead humbucker?

On a side note, I'll consider trading my jazz humbucker for a different pup if someone is willing.

[Rockstar216]

You can try a Pearly Gates or 59 in the neck. Petrucci uses the liquifire from Dimarzio Ive heard that its a dark sounding pup and hot so it should match well with the alt 8 or try the 36th anniversary PAF from them.

[simply rod]

I never use the neck pickup with my rock band, but once I inadvertently hit the rhythm/treble switch mid-song on an LP, and the drummer said, "Wow. Now THAT's a guitar tone." I've found that drummers don't often dish out that kind of praise. The neck pu on that guitar is an APH-1n. Something to add to your list of possibles. BTW, I'm also a big fan of the Alt 8.

[darthphineas]

The LF is a cool neck option

For Duncan, consider a Full Shred neck.

[kramersteen]

The LF is a cool neck option

For Duncan, consider a Full Shred neck.

I second the full shred there a good pup

[Funkfingers]

You could alter the tone of the Jazz HB by changing its bar magnet to Alnico 4 or Alnico 2.

[80's_Metal]

Sh6n

[LesStrat]

Doesn't Duncan still have the return policy?

[agentzero12]

They do. But id rather have a good idea of what I want before buying. Otherwise you can get lost in all the different models. From looking, it seems the liquifire is going to be what I want. Too bad I can't trade them my sd jazz for one.

[elelpe]

Trade your Jazz with Screamin Demon. Sweet singing lead tone from neck position.

[Aceman]

GAd - can't believe I'm saying this, and I may be wrong. Sounds like he needs a 59 with an a4. Aayone?

Tough call. Mids, but with cut.

Try a PG.

[gibson175]

try a pair out. There is a 21 day return/replace period of you buy from an authorized dealer. If the 59's are not spot on then you have many other options in the range (not including mag swapping which would void the returns policy).