[DarthPhineas]

Looking for a neck humbucker for a darky and boomy mahogany Epiphone Les Paul, tuned to standard E. 10-46 strings. I will be wiring it to a switch for split or parallel for clean tones, so I'm focusing on finding something that will handle high gain dirty tones and not get mushy or flub out, specially I'm the lows (think of G and A barre chords, for example).

I do have experience with the HFH, but sort of find it a little rigid and stiff sounding. I'm intrigued by the output of the Super 2, but am concerned about it sounding too saturated. I'm also intrigued by the open vibe of the 36th neck, but am concerned about how it will perform with high gain.



#1. Any opinions on those options?

And

#2. Am I overlooking another option?


Thanks

[jazzfromhell]

Yes, the Super 2 is pretty saturated. It does a great early Gilbert/RX shred tone but i dont like doing lower gain playing with it. The 36th handles gain like a champ. Listen to the latest Marco Sfogli album; that's a 36th (N) and a Norton (B).

I think either the 36th or a PAF Pro is the way to go. I'd choose PP.

[DarthPhineas]

I checked out that video demo of the 36th and the PAF Master and I'm liking now the Master compares. Too many options. lol!  I do have a Super 2 on order that will be here next week, but that is more for a super strat shred stick.

Thanks for suggesting the PP. I'm gonna look into it further.

[DarthPhineas]

Any thoughts about the EJ Custom Neck or Air Classic Neck?

[buddroyce]

I was just going to recommend the PAF Master neck pickup. It's got the qualities of the PAF36th but with more bite.

[DarthPhineas]

I was just going to recommend the PAF Master neck pickup. It's got the qualities of the PAF36th but with more bite.

That comparison video does make it sound more applicable than the 36th. Didn't you get a set for testing purposes?  If so, how do the lows hold up, especially under high gain on a short scale?

[Kurt R Kish]

I didn't think I'd find another DMZ neck pick up that I liked better than the 36th A.
But I did.
The PAF Master.
However, I think the 36th would suit you better.
Splitting and/or putting a PAF Master in parallel would be too bright/zingy.
The 36th def has more apparent mids and is a bit more powerful.

The reason I love the PAF Master is because I play the E and A wound strings a lot (especially below the 5th fret) and I can't handle any mud.

IMO, the PAF Master is what I hoped the HfH would be- which didn't
 quite work for me.

[DarthPhineas]

What you're describing about the PAF Master sounds spot on. Especially with regard to the E and A below the 5th. So that's good to hear.

[DarthPhineas]

Any thoughts about the EJ Custom Neck or Air Classic Neck?

Before I make any final choices on which direction to start, thought I'd come back to these options.  I am also curious is anyone has any experience with the D Activator neck, Bluesbucker, PAF Joe, and the Dominion neck.


Thanks!

[DarthPhineas]

Tried a Super 2 and while it had the push and drive, it was a little congested and had more in the lows than what I was hoping for.

I did call DiMarzio tech support and the fella there suggested the EJ neck.

The D Activator is still interesting.

[darkbluemurder]

I am also curious is anyone has any experience with the D Activator neck, Bluesbucker, PAF Joe, and the Dominion neck.

Have the Bluesbucker in the neck position of a Tele right now paired with a Chopper T in the bridge. Had it in a Les Paul and in another guitar before (always in the neck position). It is slightly less muddy in the lows than most full size humbuckers. The downside is that in some guitars it can get thin overall. In the Tele where I have it now it works well but I found that I mostly play the bridge position on that guitar.

No experience with any of the others.

Cheers Stephan

[DarthPhineas]

I did ask about that one with the guy at DiMarzio. He kept steering me toward the EJ neck, so I've not given it a lot more consideration. Thanks for the heads-up.

[LPBII]

I use the Bluesbucker as the neck pickup in my TZ loaded Charvel. Its a great neck pickup with a high output bridge humbucker. It has a lot more power and body than a traditional strat single coil but its much more clearer than most traditional neck humbuckers.

[vincenz]

I did ask about that one with the guy at DiMarzio. He kept steering me toward the EJ neck, so I've not given it a lot more consideration. Thanks for the heads-up.

What did you finally choose?
I am close to your case, I need a neck pickup with the less mud possible in the lows, however with sufficient growl in the mid to be able to play riffs (ala Josh Homme in Kyuss)  .

My current config is :
-Big but dark sounding Les Paul
-Bridge: 36th Paf
-Neck: Super 2, setted quite low under the strings, and with bass poles slighty shorten (does helps a lot to sharpen the lows)

That config actually works quite well, but I was wondering if I could go better with something else you where turning around:
-36th Paf
-Paf Master
-EJ custom
FYI I don't like the HFH, too thin and not enough mids.

BTW, I read your Super 2 review, as almost all the reviews on your blog ;-)  very cool and very useful

[DarthPhineas]

My solution was the Duncan Seth Lover.

A BKP Mule would also do the trick.