New neck pickup for prs custom 22

[Jonnygal]

Hi all,

Looking into replacing the neck pickup in my PRS custom 22.

I have an alnico nailbomb in the bridge at the moment and would like to get something to complement this.

I would like something that can do cleans well but will be able to match the volume of the nailbomb as I know this is one of the higher output pickups.

Looking for something with a smooth tone but with good articulation. Good coil tap/split tones would also be nice.

I play a mix of clean stuff like Radiohead, Mogwai, Jimi hendrix to grungey/Hard rock stuff like Alice in Chains, Sound Garden, RATM.

What can you guys recommend?

Cheers

Jonny

[Telerocker]

From another thread about BKP-neckpickups:

Here are some really interesting quotes after further inquiry with Ben & Tim on neck pickups, that I would not want to keep to myself, as I'm sure it can be of good help to anyone researching these models:

"The Cold Sweat neck is fatter than the VHII and BD neck. The BD neck is a little sharper and offers a blend of classic power but with cut."

"The HD neck is slightly stronger than the BD neck, more sustain, smoother too. The RY neck is rounder, still quite strong, but classic too."

And here's the reply from Tim regarding the difference of the Mule / Abraxas / Emerald neck:

"the Abraxas neck has a little more output and more mid range compared to the slightly flatter response of The Mule.
The Emerald neck is darker in the mid range with quite a bit more output by comparison because it is wound with a finer wire gauge."

[ericsabbath]

The vhii neck is definitely fatter than the CS neck
Its texture is closer to the nailbomb, but has a more classic voicing

[Yellowjacket]

I have had great results with the Rebel Yell neck paired with the A-Bomb bridge in my Les Paul Standard. 

[lamp]

I have had great results with the Rebel Yell neck paired with the A-Bomb bridge in my Les Paul Standard.

Same here the RY neck is great with the NB.

[Yellowjacket]

For sure!  I always want a slightly more open and dynamic neck pickup with a more distorted and mean bridge.   For instance, I have my A-Bomb set quite high while the Rebel Yell Neck is further from the strings.   I also have the same setup with my super strat / juggerset with the bridge PUP quite close to the strings and the neck pick further away.

[darkbluemurder]

The vhii neck is definitely fatter than the CS neck

That's also the way I hear it.

Cheers Stephan

[darkbluemurder]

"The HD neck is slightly stronger than the BD neck, more sustain, smoother too. The RY neck is rounder, still quite strong, but classic too."

I am not clear to which pickup Ben compared the RY neck here (the BD neck or the HD neck) but I recently swapped out the RY neck in my LPC for a HD neck and can give a comparison there. The RY neck is definitely darker with more midrange, the HD is brighter and clearer and matches equally well with the RY bridge. Both are great pickups. I prefer the HD neck over the RY neck because I like brighter pickups in the neck position.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

"The HD neck is slightly stronger than the BD neck, more sustain, smoother too. The RY neck is rounder, still quite strong, but classic too."

I am not clear to which pickup Ben compared the RY neck here (the BD neck or the HD neck) but I recently swapped out the RY neck in my LPC for a HD neck and can give a comparison there. The RY neck is definitely darker with more midrange, the HD is brighter and clearer and matches equally well with the RY bridge. Both are great pickups. I prefer the HD neck over the RY neck because I like brighter pickups in the neck position.

Cheers Stephan

Yes, those were your accurate descriptions. I thought they might help the OP. I should have mentioned these were your observations.