Which neck pickup for my set-up and musical style?

[Dr. Lo]

I have a Les Paul Standard (mahogany body + neck, rosewood fretboard, and maple cap on body) that I play through a cranked Fender Pro Junior pushing a 2x12 cab with a V30 and a G12H30 in it. I have a Custom in the bridge position. I often use an OCD overdrive pedal in front of the amp. All that to say that I get a pretty thick, overdriven tone. I play hard rock and I like to shred.

I've had a nickel-covered PGn in the neck position before, but I felt it lacked clarity (it could get muddy). It wasn't as bad as the 59 I used to have in there, but it didn't cut through as much as I wanted it to. Maybe this was due to the nickel cover - I just don't know.

Would you recommend a Jazz (SH-2n), an uncovered PGn, or something totally different given my set-up and what I like to play?

[ErikH]

Jazz neck would be my first choice. It's nice and clear. If you want something a little hotter yet still nice and clear, try the Jazz bridge in the neck.

[Benjy_26]

Did you swap out your stock 300k pots for 500k?

If not, that's probably all you need to do.

[jeremy]

500k pots for sure!! and ill second the jazz neck. with a dimed pro jr id stick with the neck version. pushed that hard the extra bottom will mush things up

[Dr. Lo]

I've always had 500k pots in my LP, so that's not the issue. Too bad though, 'cause that would be a really cheap fix!

[Gearjoneser]

One of my favorite neck pickups in a LP is actually the Jazz Bridge model. It balances perfectly with a Custom, and has just a tiny bit more oomph than a Jazz neck. Perfectly balanced and crystal clear on clean and any level of gain.
I always experiment with pickups in my main LP, a Goldtop.

My favorite is the Brobucker/Jazz Bridge in neck. Right now, I'm trying out the Custom/Jazz B, and I promise you'll like it a lot. The Jazz neck is 7.7K and the Jazz Bridge is around 8K, so essentially it IS a neck pickup.

[Aceman]

Jazz, 500k, Pots, Maybe Seths....