software

Hey guys,

I hate to be asking this, because I know people ask it all the time. But I've looked around and done a bunch of research already, and I just need some help on what would be best for me, as I know there are a lot of very knowledgeable posters here.

I'm looking to replace the NECK pickup of my Ibanez Blazer (H-S-H), an ALDER bodied guitar, which currently holds an Air Norton in that spot.

I orginally got the Air Norton, because Dream Theater a lot, and I love John's tone when he uses that pickup. Unfortunately, after having it for about a year and a half, I've realized that I've never really been all that satisfied with it. I say this win no disrespect to the pickup or anyone who uses it, but it's just not vesatile enough for ME. I think it's fantastic pickup, it just doesn't work for me with the current setup I have:

Carvin Legacy Half Stack...for those who are not familiar, it's already an inherently MIDRANGEY amp to begin with, (which is understandable when you think about it, as it is Steve Vai's amp and he needs to be out in front, so he needs more midrange).

Well the problem I have with the Air Norton as you can imagine, is that combined with the Legacy, and in my guitar it's too thick. It's not muddy, it's just too thick in the middle for my tastes. I use my neck pickup primarily for cleans, and a solo here or there. In any event, I want a pickup that's more OPEN, that has some space in the middle. I'm not saying I want something really scooped, but I want something that's more balanced and has a little sparkle. I want the Bass notes to be clean, and the top notes to be warm.

For cleans, I want a more OPEN, WIDER, BIGGER, and BRIGHTER w/ a little Sparkle (not to the point where it's harsh and too much though) sound-Think Eric Johnson's or Joe's Satriani's cleans. The Air Norton to me sounds more focused, and while it's great for jazz cleans because it is very dark, no matter how I EQ the Legacy I can't seem to get rid of that really quot;fatquot; midrange and open and brighten it up a bit.

For leads, I again want something more open sounding, yet balanced. The one thing I did love about the Air Norton was how the notes on the higher frets were very articulate, and WARM and SMOOTH. If there's a pickup that's like the Air Norton in this respect, only more open, that's what I want.

Here's some things to remember and help further narrow it down:

-I play A LOT of different styles. I play Jazz, Fusion, solo stuff like Satriani, Vai, etc, Dream Theater, Blues, etc. So I need something that is VERSATILE.
-It's going in an ALDER body
-The amp I play is already inherently VERY MIDRANGEY
-It would be going along side a Blue Velvet in the middle and a Custom 5 in the bridge.
-CLEANS are more important than lead sounds. I want to use it for both, but cleans are more important.

So, I've looked at a bunch of possible choices (in no particular order):

1.) Virtual PAF
2.) PAF Joe
3.) PAF Pro
4.) Humbucker from Hell (although I think it might be a tad too bright for my tastes, and too one dimensional. What do you guys think?)

I'm leaning more towards the first 2, the Virtual PAF and the PAF Joe.

What would the pros and cons be of each?

Also, feel free to recommend anything else that you think would better fit my tastes!

Thanks in advance guys!

Mike

BUMP

FWIW, the Jazz might work - don't know if you mentioned this already, as it has a flat EQ should not bother that midrangey amp too much.

I'm looking for a neck pickup as well and as soon as a PAF Joe or Pro shows up on Ebay or the classifieds in double creme, I'm on it, I'll post my results here.

Finding a clear sounding neck humbucker is a challenge. I'd like to see Seymour start making a 7.5K alnico 4 neck pickup like the Fralin. It's the clearest one I've ever heard. I'd like to see Seymour make something like that but work his magic to make it a little woodier sounding...like the alnico 2 Seth or A2Pro or Pearly Gates. Any of those might please you...especially the Pearly Gates neck. Lew

1.) Virtual PAF - Sounds great but probably less gain than what you'd like.
2.) PAF Joe - Haven't really heard this one so I won't comment.
3.) PAF Pro - I think this would probably be your best choice. Very balanced amp; versatile, and would blend well with the Blue Velvet.
4.) Humbucker from Hell - You may also want to consider this one. It could be a tad bright for alder, but if you like Petrucci's tone on quot;Images amp; Wordsquot; this is what he used in the neck back then.


Originally Posted by LewguitarFinding a clear sounding neck humbucker is a challenge. I'd like to see Seymour start making a 7.5K alnico 4 neck pickup like the Fralin. It's the clearest one I've ever heard. I'd like to see Seymour make something like that but work his magic to make it a little woodier sounding...like the alnico 2 Seth or A2Pro or Pearly Gates. Any of those might please you...especially the Pearly Gates neck. Lew

Hey Lew, thanks for the reply! I never thought of the Pearly Gates, although I guess I should consider it since Satch did use it for a while. I'll have to consider that. Although I have to ask, it does seem to have a fair amount of treble based on the tone chart. Do you think it would be excessive and brittle in an ALDER guitar, in the neck position?

Also, I also see people talking about the DC Resistance, and things of that nature. How does this affect a particular pickup's sound?

Thanks again,

Mike

Jazz is the best neck humbucker i know , wonderfull clean and a shredder pickup with gain , the most precise and articulate like Humbucker from Hell but with basses .

why do you lean towards dimarzio so much? have you researched any duncans? what about bill lawrences?


Originally Posted by nepalnt21why do you lean towards dimarzio so much? have you researched any duncans? what about bill lawrences?

Your 100% correct. I should research more Duncans. Hehe, that's why I'm here! LOL, what's funny is that I like the Custom 5 in the bridge more than the Dimarzios I have now-Air Norton and Blue Velvet. Thanks for the Bill Lawrence tip. I'll have to check em out!


Originally Posted by GuitarDreamer131Hey Lew, thanks for the reply! I never thought of the Pearly Gates, although I guess I should consider it since Satch did use it for a while. I'll have to consider that. Although I have to ask, it does seem to have a fair amount of treble based on the tone chart. Do you think it would be excessive and brittle in an ALDER guitar, in the neck position?

Also, I also see people talking about the DC Resistance, and things of that nature. How does this affect a particular pickup's sound?

Thanks again,

Mike

You're welcome! The PG also has a fair amount of mids and IMO that balances the treble of the PG. I think most of the complaints about the PG being to bright pertain to the bridge version and not the neck version and that many confuse it with the PG which is a differant pickup: the PG is an alnico 5 pickup PG Duncan makes for Fender and used in the bridge position of the Lonestar Strat but the stock Duncan PG is an alnico 2 pickup and not so bright and glassy sounding as the PG .

I like alnico 2 neck Humbucking pickups like the Seth Lover, A2Pro and Pearly Gates because they have less quot;boomquot; to the bass which helps me get a clearer tone for chords and rythym playing.

I'm a single coil guy mostly and most humbuckers lack the clarity I can get from the neck pickups in my Strats and Teles.

Hey guys, I've been considering the Jazz and even the Full Shred as neck pickups...What's the difference between the 2? They seem pretty similar. How do you think they would balance with a Custom 5?

Mike

I had the same problem with the Air Norton, but really really loved it otherwise.

Virtual PAF Neck is what you want. Definitely, no question, hands down! At least for Dimarzios... Humbucker from Hell is nifty, and gorgeous on cleans. I have it in my baritone and it's heavenly. But the VPAF Neck kinda combines the best qualities of humbuckers and single coils in one pickup, while the HFH really does just sound like a single coil. VPAF is more versatile.

In Duncan-land, the Jazz and 59 come to mind immediately.


Originally Posted by wildstarI had the same problem with the Air Norton, but really really loved it otherwise.

Virtual PAF Neck is what you want. Definitely, no question, hands down! At least for Dimarzios... Humbucker from Hell is nifty, and gorgeous on cleans. I have it in my baritone and it's heavenly. But the VPAF Neck kinda combines the best qualities of humbuckers and single coils in one pickup, while the HFH really does just sound like a single coil. VPAF is more versatile.

In Duncan-land, the Jazz and 59 come to mind immediately.

Ah, thanks wildstar! Glad to see that someone else had the same problem as me! Thanks for the advice!

I've heard that the Virtual PAF and 59 are very similiar, only that the VPAF is warmer on the high notes and the bass notes are clearer. That's more of what I want, so that's why I didn't list a 59.

My question is, what's the difference between the Jazz and the VPAF?

Pros and cons of taking either one?

Mike

I'd say go to a guitar shop and plug your guitar into several amplifiers, listen to how they sound with EQ at 50% all ranges, etc. It could be the amp, etc.

I work for Carvin and have lots of experience with the legacy and I own a Carvin DC127c with an alder body and what I have in the neck is the same thing you should get. Let me end your search with two words:
Full Shred.


Originally Posted by frehleyI work for Carvin and have lots of experience with the legacy and I own a Carvin DC127c with an alder body and what I have in the neck is the same thing you should get. Let me end your search with two words:
Full Shred.

Frehley, that's awesome! Glad to have someone who has experience with the Legacy. I've actually been leaning towards the Full Shred! Thanks so much for the advice.

It's not too bright though and has enough bass when mixed with the Legacy? Cleans are great like everyone implies, and you can get warm, articulate, and clear leads?

If that's the case, then I think I found my pickup!

Ya, jazz r a full shred (I just got my jazz, but im not running hsh and I have mahogany body.


Originally Posted by frehleyI work for Carvin and have lots of experience with the legacy and I own a Carvin DC127c with an alder body and what I have in the neck is the same thing you should get. Let me end your search with two words:
Full Shred.

Sounds like you should listen to frehley! I've only heard good stuff about the Full Shred.

If you opt for Dimarzio, the VPAF neck won't let you down.


Originally Posted by fab.regnautJazz is the best neck humbucker i know , wonderfull clean and a shredder pickup with gain , the most precise and articulate like Humbucker from Hell but with basses .

I second that. My Jazz in my Washburn Alder N4 is excellent. When played clean it is Bell-Like and bright and balanced. Beautiful.

Overdriven, it is pure woman tone

Guys thanks for all the replies!

Can someone give me a good description of the jazz vs. the full shred in the neck?

I've heard people say they are very similar, but what's the difference?

Also would the VPAF have less output than either of those?

Thanks again so much. You guys are so cool for taking your time to help a newb like me out!

Mike