Sg neck pickup

[feeble knievel]

Ive got an sg special with mules in and the bk 550k pots and was wondering what pickup would come closest to the neck sound of a strat. the neck single coil on a strat is my favorite neck tone and was wondering if theres a p90 that would help to get there. it needs to work well the mule bridge though

[_tom_]

Not sure whether it sounds like a strat but I really like the MQ neck in both guitars I've tried it in. About halfway through this (awful, playing wise) clip when I start playing little wing, I'm using a neck MQ with the volume rolled down on the guitar into a dirty Laney GH50L :) - https://dl.dropbox.com/u/15027660/untitled.mp3

The first tone is a bridge pig 90 with the volume slightly rolled down into the same amp settings. Both in an all mahogany les paul.

[Mr. Air]

The vh2 neck is often described as having a single coil quality to it. If you pair it with a sd triple shot mounting ring you can get split and parallel options.

[BigB]

Well, the best way to get a strat neck tone would be to use a strat neck pickup in a strat :mrgreen: - a SG is not going to sound like a strat whatever you do. This being said, a P90 neck sounds great on it's own and while being a different beast it does have some of the "strat neck" vocality, clarity and vibe.

[Fourth Feline]

If going down the P90 route, consider the ( Alnico III ) Manhattan. Much more 'air' and more subtle  dynamics than the Mississippi Queens  ( as good as the M.Qs undoubtably are ) .  The Manhattan has a very rich tone, which you may / may not not wish for your current needs ;  but  I mention it ( in your situation ) -as it has the Alnico III magnet,  which is much used in the sweeter / detailed Tele and Strat pickups.

I have also been experimenting with a VHII ( Bridge) in a 'Superstrat' type guitar recently - and if you get a pot/ switch to coil split it, the classic single coil tone is surprisingly well represented - whilst a very clear and relatively  'single coil-ish' tone is also found when operating it as a Humbucker - but in the later case with more power of course.

If in doubt, of course ask the chaps at B.K.P.  :)


(* Edit *)

Upon reflection the VHII split , will probably cut through the  solid slab Mahogany of the S.G better than the Manhattan.

If you do go down the path of a B.K.P Humbucker being 4 conductor wiring / Coil split, it would also be very worthwhile trying the pickup mounted in different directions (  i.e screw coils closest to neck / screw coils closest to bridge ) - to effectively put the resulting single coil about 1cm further up or down the guitar .

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I would say MQ.

[Philly Q]

The vh2 neck is often described as having a single coil quality to it.

I think that's the VHII bridge pickup more than the neck model(?)

I'd say a P-90 type like the MQ or Manhattan is probably the best bet to give a single-coil sound without losing the general Gibson vibe, but it must be worth experimenting with splitting the Mule you've already got.

Or you might try a series/parallel switch rather than coil splitting?  A humbucker in parallel doesn't sound like a true single coil, but it will give you a tighter, less bassy sound than a series humbucker without sounding weedy like a split humbucker often does.

[ericsabbath]

The vh2 neck is often described as having a single coil quality to it. If you pair it with a sd triple shot mounting ring you can get split and parallel options.

not in my experience, if you referred to the hb mode
it sounds fatter and less bright than the mule and cold sweat
didn't try it splitted or paralleled, though

the neck nailbomb is VERY singlecoilish

[feeble knievel]

Cheers for all the suggestions, I'm currently having a tech re wire it and make a bone but for it so will have to see how it sounds before making any decisions. Think p90 is the way though, I always find that neck humbuckers on mohangy bodies have too much warmth for my taste

[Deafcat64]

I think you would be more than pleased with the MQ neck. I have one in my SG Standard. It is by far, the is best neck pickup I have used. Very responsive and dynamic, with an amazing depth and clarity. So much going on through the entire tonal spectrum, but the mids are spectacular.