Smooth Pickup?

[Parmesan B.]

 Hi Guys!
I Just built a guitar, and now need the best pickups for it...
But I have an issue...
The guitar is a single humbucker strat style guitar, which i bought because i did some artwork on the body. The thing is though, I'm a total neck pickup addict, and am stuck with merely a bridge pickup. So guys, what pickup would be the smoothest for my leads to best replicate my neck pup, but still crunchy enough for paul gilbert type rhythm tones?
Thanks in advance for the help!

[kevinr]

I can't see you getting anywhere near neck pickup sound out of any bridge pickup! I think you will need to get the router into gear and make it a twin humbucker guitar.

[Philly Q]

Interesting question! 

Does the guitar have a scratchplate (or somewhere to put a 3-way switch)?  Maybe you could do an Esquire style wiring using capacitors to get a warmer (or perhaps just woollier) sound.

[Parmesan B.]

Haha I'm glad i'm providing you guys an interesting challenge...
I really kind of worded my question wrong though, I don't exactly need a bridge pickup that will sound like a neck pickup, I just need something smooth for leads. I'm not THAT picky! But sadly routing for a neck pup isn't really an option, because of the drawings I did on it, and it has no scratchplate... It's basically just like a single 'bucker charvel  body. Thanks for the replies guys!

[Philly Q]

I would guess maybe the Holydiver for a relatively smooth rock tone, perhaps Crawler or Abraxas for something more vintage?

Steer clear of Riff Raff, Cold Sweat, Emerald, Rebel Yell, maybe VHII.... probably too bright.  But this is a tough one!

[Afghan Dave]

Dropping a Sprague 'Orange Drop' 0.01 Capacitor in on a switch provides excellent "SMOOVE" results

http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/.01_Capacitor_.01CAP

[BigB]

I would guess maybe the Holydiver for a relatively smooth rock tone, perhaps Crawler

I don't know if it's my guitar, but I wouldn't describe the Crawler bridge as "smooth". Warm and singing, indeed, but still very sharp.

[Parmesan B.]

   The Idea of having a capacitor on a switch is a good one... i may try and find a way to use that! I may just have to do something like that, and just deal with it... being the price you pay with a single pickup guitar. It seems like the mule might be a good option as well? My research seems to show people are pretty happy with it overall. I'll look for some holydiver clips too though...

[Parmesan B.]

 You know guys, after researching it a little more, I may have to just stop worrying about. I really don't want to put the aggressiveness of the tone at risk, just for a little smoother of a lead sound. Its probably not worth it. As for a warm lead pickup, that still crunches,  Miracle Man or holydiver?

[Philly Q]

I would guess maybe the Holydiver for a relatively smooth rock tone, perhaps Crawler

I don't know if it's my guitar, but I wouldn't describe the Crawler bridge as "smooth". Warm and singing, indeed, but still very sharp.

No, you're right, I was just trying to think of pickups which aren't too bright.  I found the Crawler bridge quite dark (in an LP), but growly rather than smooth.

To be honest, since I'm more used to mahogany set-necks, I find most humbuckers a bit bright in bolt-ons.

[MetalMongolito]

Hi Guys!
I Just built a guitar, and now need the best pickups for it...
But I have an issue...
The guitar is a single humbucker strat style guitar, which i bought because i did some artwork on the body. The thing is though, I'm a total neck pickup addict, and am stuck with merely a bridge pickup. So guys, what pickup would be the smoothest for my leads to best replicate my neck pup, but still crunchy enough for paul gilbert type rhythm tones?
Thanks in advance for the help!

Definitely the Dimarzio ToneZone. It's very smooth sounding, very fat. And it's one of Paul Gilbert's favorite pickups so I'm pretty sure you can nail Paul Gilbert sound with it if you want to :)

Be aware that it can get a bit muddy if you tune down, but as long as you're in standard or Eb it's a killer pickup for the bridge with a really fat sound. Another option could be the Dimarzio Breed, it's very similar to the ToneZone but the cons are that it's uglier than the ToneZone and that Paul Gilbert doesn't use it.

[Roobubba]

Hi Guys!
I Just built a guitar, and now need the best pickups for it...
But I have an issue...
The guitar is a single humbucker strat style guitar, which i bought because i did some artwork on the body. The thing is though, I'm a total neck pickup addict, and am stuck with merely a bridge pickup. So guys, what pickup would be the smoothest for my leads to best replicate my neck pup, but still crunchy enough for paul gilbert type rhythm tones?
Thanks in advance for the help!

Definitely the Dimarzio ToneZone. It's very smooth sounding, very fat. And it's one of Paul Gilbert's favorite pickups so I'm pretty sure you can nail Paul Gilbert sound with it if you want to :)

Be aware that it can get a bit muddy if you tune down, but as long as you're in standard or Eb it's a killer pickup for the bridge with a really fat sound. Another option could be the Dimarzio Breed, it's very similar to the ToneZone but the cons are that it's uglier than the ToneZone and that Paul Gilbert doesn't use it.

**Ahem**  BKP forums...

You will probably find a BKP to suit ;)

Roo

[MetalMongolito]

Hi Guys!
I Just built a guitar, and now need the best pickups for it...
But I have an issue...
The guitar is a single humbucker strat style guitar, which i bought because i did some artwork on the body. The thing is though, I'm a total neck pickup addict, and am stuck with merely a bridge pickup. So guys, what pickup would be the smoothest for my leads to best replicate my neck pup, but still crunchy enough for paul gilbert type rhythm tones?
Thanks in advance for the help!

Definitely the Dimarzio ToneZone. It's very smooth sounding, very fat. And it's one of Paul Gilbert's favorite pickups so I'm pretty sure you can nail Paul Gilbert sound with it if you want to :)

Be aware that it can get a bit muddy if you tune down, but as long as you're in standard or Eb it's a killer pickup for the bridge with a really fat sound. Another option could be the Dimarzio Breed, it's very similar to the ToneZone but the cons are that it's uglier than the ToneZone and that Paul Gilbert doesn't use it.

**Ahem**  BKP forums...

You will probably find a BKP to suit ;)

Roo

Don't know much about BKP's. It's kinda hard to know which BKP to get also, there isn't much info about the pickups.

Dimarzio have pretty good pickups if you want smoothness.

So no I will probably not find a BKP to suit since the info is very poor. Maybe you can find one?

[Afghan Dave]

Don't know much about BKP's. It's kinda hard to know which BKP to get also, there isn't much info about the pickups.

Dimarzio have pretty good pickups if you want smoothness.

So no I will probably not find a BKP to suit since the info is very poor. Maybe you can find one?

Errm.. You should really try reading this forum rather than answering questions then. :roll:

[Ian Price]

So no I will probably not find a BKP to suit since the info is very poor.

Excuse me for sounding rude but that is a very strange and, dare I say it, ignorant comment to make.  :?

Have you bothered having a look on the forum? With just a few minutes of searching you can find a whole host of opinions (and recordings) for the majority of BKPs.