Neck pickup to compliment Black Hawk?

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I know people will immediately say the BH neck, but I just wanted to ponder this a bit more. Can people first tell me what the Black Hawk neck is like though?

I only ask this as I know I want to kit out this guitar for a pure metal sound, but wanted to see all my options regarding neck. I want something metal, fluid, but something versatile. I may end up with the BH neck afterall. But it would be cool to hear peoples opinions on the other neck pickups for metal :)

[vprietob]

I have a BH set in a les paul standard and the neck is so loud, i've tried different heights but always too loud, at the end i opted to lower the neck volume and i found a great sound.

My opinion however does not have much value because i don't use the neck pickuo too much.

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I have a BH set in a les paul standard and the neck is so loud, i've tried different heights but always too loud, at the end i opted to lower the neck volume and i found a great sound.

My opinion however does not have much value because i don't use the neck pickuo too much.

Do you mean output wise, or that the EQ is making it sound very "out there"?

[vprietob]

Do you mean output wise, or that the EQ is making it sound very "out there"?
[/quote]

I think it has too much output, the eq is ok the tone is cool

[AnnunakiMassacr]

What would you have gone for if you had the choice to change it?

[Dave Sloven]

You might want to remember here that he put it in a Les Paul, and Gibsons are known for suffering from  'boomy neck / thin bridge syndrome' ... what kind of guitar are you planning to put these in?

[AnnunakiMassacr]

ESP Eclipse. Full Thickness

[JimmyMoorby]

The black hawk neck is a lot more versatile than the bridge.

Cleans seem to take on a dark jazzy tone.
Add a little drive and oddly enough I got a bit off a Dave Gilmour type tone.  I say this is the loosest sense because im not a blues player but it's what it reminded me of more than any other neck ive ever played.
Under hi gain its a powerful, crystal clear best.  It feels like an active pickup. I love an EMG 81 in the neck and its a little warmer and a lot fuller than that.  I'd be inclined to say it could sound like an EMG 85 but I played one once in the neck and for some reason it sounded awful......

I highly recommend the black hawk neck but it depends for what application as with all things.  Mine is in a les paul custom.

I've had more pickups in my les paul than a porn star has d**k.  I too wanted it sound sound like a beasty metal guitar for huge riffs and huge shredding solos andf it does that and quite a bit more.

[AnnunakiMassacr]

The black hawk neck is a lot more versatile than the bridge.

Cleans seem to take on a dark jazzy tone.
Add a little drive and oddly enough I got a bit off a Dave Gilmour type tone.  I say this is the loosest sense because im not a blues player but it's what it reminded me of more than any other neck ive ever played.
Under hi gain its a powerful, crystal clear best.  It feels like an active pickup. I love an EMG 81 in the neck and its a little warmer and a lot fuller than that.  I'd be inclined to say it could sound like an EMG 85 but I played one once in the neck and for some reason it sounded awful......

I highly recommend the black hawk neck but it depends for what application as with all things.  Mine is in a les paul custom.

I've had more pickups in my les paul than a porn star has d**k.  I too wanted it sound sound like a beasty metal guitar for huge riffs and huge shredding solos andf it does that and quite a bit more.

How is it for cleans? I'm not looking for Paradise City style cleans. Just something which can handle cleans live. Kind of like if we was playing Master of Puppets, and needed the play the clean bit under the solo. That's just an example btw.

[JimmyMoorby]

The black hawk neck is a lot more versatile than the bridge.

Cleans seem to take on a dark jazzy tone.
Add a little drive and oddly enough I got a bit off a Dave Gilmour type tone.  I say this is the loosest sense because im not a blues player but it's what it reminded me of more than any other neck ive ever played.
Under hi gain its a powerful, crystal clear best.  It feels like an active pickup. I love an EMG 81 in the neck and its a little warmer and a lot fuller than that.  I'd be inclined to say it could sound like an EMG 85 but I played one once in the neck and for some reason it sounded awful......

I highly recommend the black hawk neck but it depends for what application as with all things.  Mine is in a les paul custom.

I've had more pickups in my les paul than a porn star has d**k.  I too wanted it sound sound like a beasty metal guitar for huge riffs and huge shredding solos andf it does that and quite a bit more.

How is it for cleans? I'm not looking for Paradise City style cleans. Just something which can handle cleans live. Kind of like if we was playing Master of Puppets, and needed the play the clean bit under the solo. That's just an example btw.

I have a Roland Jazz Chorus at home which im sure Hetfield uses for cleans.  When I get chance i'll give it a go and let you know!  Might do it soon or in next day or so!  Cleans are good but on the jazzier side but through that amp i'll see how 'Hetfield' it sounds.

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I'm not after a Hetfield clean. It was just an example. Any clean is fine tbh. I play through an AXE FX, so I have any type of clean amp setting at my disposal.

[JimmyMoorby]

Then you'll be fine they do nice cleans

[AnnunakiMassacr]

What they they like for shred? Are the fluid and articulate like the Cold Sweat?

[JimmyMoorby]

What they they like for shred? Are the fluid and articulate like the Cold Sweat?

Awesome for shred.  Thing is I love the cold sweat at bedroom volumes but for shred in a mix and at band volumes I felt it didn't have enough weight and felt a bit flat.
 I can only say it has an active feel to it but rounder, fuller and more toneful.  In my les paul and with my 5150 iii I think it sounds somewhere around Jeff Loomis and Alex Skolnick on DROTE

[AnnunakiMassacr]

Would you say the Black Hawk neck is very fluid for sweeps and fast picking then?

Also have you owned both the C-Hawk, and A-Hawk?