BKP neck humbucker with the most 'character'

[Serratus]

Okay, I realise this is all extremely subjective, but here goes!

I'm putting together a new project -  in an ash tele body - with a Crawler bridge pickup.

Normally I prefer neck single coils, but this time I want a humbucker.

I have a Cold Sweat neck in another guitar which does sound great, but I tend to prefer more vintage pickups so was wondering about something else.

So, bearing in mind that I love that really vocal, flutey neck single coil sound, which neck humbucker has the most characterful tone? Not just bassier and more fluid than the bridge, but with those real nice vocal mids?

I realise I may well still go for a Cold Sweat, as most seem to really love them aswell!!

[Nolly]

I'll try and kick start this thread by reiterating that I highly recommend the VHII neck  :)

[Philly Q]

In an ash guitar you want a warm pickup, IMO.  

I don't know about "character", but I'd say don't rule out a Crawler neck to go with your Crawler bridge.  It's only a tiny bit hotter than the "vintage" neck models.

[kevinr]

The Holydiver neck p/up is very sweet, the Crawler is also great, in fact I am hard pushed to say which out of the 7 neck p/ups that I have is my favourite as they all sound great, maybe Abraxas!

[Serratus]

I'll try and kick start this thread by reiterating that I highly recommend the VHII neck  :)

Thanks Nolly!! And great ideas so far guys - I'm pleased that you all seem to understand what I'm after; I was sure I'd just get a load of replies saying 'what do you mean by character?'!!!! I hope I explained myself enough in the opening post.

Maybe I should think about crawler neck - just wasnt sure because IMHO the clip on the BKP product page for the crawler neck hasnt got lots of the character I'm after. Dont get me wrong, its a nice clip, but I have heard neck buckers with more fruitiness. My Cold sweat certainly has, but as I said before, I'm not sure the voicing will match the crawler bridge :-/

[closetrockstar]

I have VHII's in my LP and I love them in both positions however the neck pup is insanely sweet.   

[Serratus]

Cool!

Anyone got any clips of the abraxas or holy diver neck?

I'm still completely stuck between cold sweat / crawler / VHII for the neck, so getting more ideas will probably just confuse me more!!! But I want to hear all suggestions!

Might be time to ask Tim, I think.

[Copperhead]

What you really want is an MQ neck.  :D

[Serratus]

What you really want is an MQ neck.  :D

Well, you could be right........................but..................this is all for a 7-string and Tim doesnt do 7-string MQ's.
Although (as an aside) I do have a (kind of) MQ7 that I built and had Tim wind and pot for me - actually I think that pickup in this new guitar would probably have the sound I'm after. At the moment its in a Korina LP style 7-string and its a bit bassy, and lacks some of that top-end, but thats probably the korina. In ash I think it'd be lovely, but I want this new guitar to have aged raw nickel covers aswell, so it really needs to be normal humbuckers.

[Serratus]

Just an update - Tim recommended Cold Sweat neck, which is what I thought originally!!!
So I think its gonna be Crawler bridge, CS neck, both in raw aged nickel (cos they're going into a custom 7-string Tele deluxe style guitar that I've relic-ed!!!).
Can't wait - I'll post some pics when it's finished.

[Serratus]

Went with a crawler bridge and cold sweat neck both in aged raw nickel covers.
Pics here: http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=21380.0