Opinions/Advices wanted for the neck pickup choice

[Ranve]

Hi, community!
So, a friend of mine have recently brought ESP LTD M-252BB guitar to me, asking whether we could resurrect it from the previous owner :) The instrument had half of the pickups replaced and there's obviously a free slot now in the neck position. The specs are as follows:
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Bolt-on Maple
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-13
Middle Pickup: EMG HZ S4
Neck Pickup: ?
The reason I ask for your advise is that I do not really want to go for traditional scheme of sh-13/JB, sh-13/'59 or any of the EMGs. Instead I want this wood-piece to benefit from it's lightweight and to balance the ceramic duncan in bridge with smth sweet and warm (?Aftermath?).

In any case, I will be grateful for any response or thought on the topic :)

[darrenw5094]

Sweet and warm neck could be anything from Mule to Aftermath unless you specify the tone you are after or the type of bands/music.

[Ranve]

Sure, sorry for not specifying this at the beginning...
The guy is going for modern metal sound wiht hi-gain in general (bands like devil wears prada, I killed the prom queen, trivium, disturbed, etc.), but at the same the point is to have a distinctive "jazzy" clean sound in certain moments (that goes for some clean sound parts of memphis may fire or august burns red bands).

[EffigyForgotten]

The Dimebucker being the worst bridge pickup I have ever played I highly suggest switching that as well.

EMG 81/89.

Seymour Duncan Distortion/Jazz

Miracle Man/Cold Sweat.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Dimebucker being the worst bridge pickup I have ever played I highly suggest switching that as well.

EMG 81/89.

Seymour Duncan Distortion/Jazz

Miracle Man/Cold Sweat.

That was sort of my first thought too. If you put a Cold Sweat in the neck, other than sounding fantastic, the main thing it will do is highlight how relatively poor the other pickups are.

[Dave Sloven]

If you like Dimebag's sound it seems like out of the BKP range the Cold Sweat humbucker gets the closest to it, so it might also be worth considering a Cold Sweat set as an alternative to the CS/MM combo.  The CS set also has the advantage of two different but both excellent clean sounds that blend together well in the middle position.

[JimmyMoorby]

I had the sh-13 in my ESP George Lynch and whilst it did sound cheap and nasty so was dimebag's tone most of the time but it clearly worked for him being one of the best metal guitarists of all time.
 
It was great for pinch harmonics, divebombs and huge bottom end but it has a nasty abrasive sound that you either love or hate it.  It has its place but in the end it just wasnt versatile enough for my tastes.

I think your mate or you should consider replacing what youve got with bkp's but of course it's up to you and they arent cheap.  I'm not sure what to suggest based on what tone youre seeking but if it were me id match the painkiller neck with it for some screaming riffs and leads but the cold sweat is generally considered the best neck pickup for shred.

Youve already mentioned the aftermath neck but ive not heard any one play any thing other than djent type stuff with it but it sounds like it could be really good

[darkbluemurder]

If volume balance with the SH-13 is critical to your mate, look to the following neck pickups: Painkiller, Aftermath, Juggernaut, Black Hawk, Nailbomb, Miracle Man or Warpig. I would not go lower in output than a VHII neck or a Cold Sweat neck.

Cheers Stephan

[Lucas]

That was sort of my first thought too. If you put a Cold Sweat in the neck, other than sounding fantastic, the main thing it will do is highlight how relatively poor the other pickups are.

Totally agree, CS is an amazing pickup. Have it paired with CBomb. CS neck is a bright pickup which really sings on solos and have really good and organic clean tone as well. Really defined and clear.
Before in neck position I had Dean Hands without Shadows (Michael Angelo Batio signature pickup), which on Dean website sounds fantastic. Cold Sweat was  TRULY GREAT improvement on both clean and distorted tones (especially clean ones).
Even though Dean MAB pickup meant to be a shredder pickup, in comparison with CS is not at all, muddy, flat, not defined and not as clear as it supposed to be to play screaming fast solos or mellow ones. CS is much much better.
Hope it helps.

[Ranve]

Hey all!
THanks for the opinions/advices. That all really helped!