Neck humbucker for guys that hate neck humbuckers?

[fdesalvo]

Maybe I need to take this one straight vintage/classic. So many options. I know I love low output neck humbuckers. The challenge might be finding a bridge that balances while being able to handle moderate gain. Low output bridge humbuckers tend to be soft under gain, so I might start researching candidates off the vintage list. I feel like my problem is not knowing what I need this guitar to do, so I should step back and finish its physical design first, then sort out the electronics. 

[seancorker]

Maybe I need to take this one straight vintage/classic. So many options. I know I love low output neck humbuckers. The challenge might be finding a bridge that balances while being able to handle moderate gain. Low output bridge humbuckers tend to be soft under gain, so I might start researching candidates off the vintage list. I feel like my problem is not knowing what I need this guitar to do, so I should step back and finish its physical design first, then sort out the electronics.

If this is a custom build have you considered a bridge and middle combo? I've got a mahogany Kramer Nightswan and a Bridge RY in the middle position works superbly well. No flutiness just a slightly fuller bridge tone option.

[Serratus]

FWIW I've recently tried a Stormy Monday neck (I've got it paired with an Emerald bridge), and I love it! After doing a bit of youtube research I decided that what I really wanted was a low output Alnico II neck pickup, and it definitely has more character than most other higher output AlnicoV neck pickups I've had before. If you love neck single coils (which I do too) then you might be happier with this than anything else (expect maybe a P-90 of some sort). Worth a try maybe :)

[Telerocker]

Mule: metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe9zcmmdz50

Mule in a H-H-telecaster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWqfFwbgx8A

BKP Mule vs Lollar El Rayo in H-H-strat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEolcuLnY60

Rebel Yell in Charvel tele:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20zSjw98Gvg

RiffRaffs in mahogany tele:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Oo7bV8h6s

[fdesalvo]

Hey, guys. I can't thank you enough for your efforts in assisting me with finding the sweet spot for my next build. This forum has a ton of institutional knowledge and everyone has been so consultative. Refreshing. I'm responding from my phone, so Multi-quoting isn't something I can handle at this hour ha.

Anyway, wow. The low powered neck humbuckers I've heard are definitely ok with me. Neck-wise I was really impressed by the Mule and will have to venture on to check out the Stormy Monday.

I liked the Mule at the bridge, but I need something that can split here for Tele tones while still being able to balance out convincingly with the neck in dual coil mode.

The Emerald/Stormy combo sounds intriguing and the Rebel Yell really captures that gritty 80s vibe that I also dig.

I must say that I have a full blown strat with Abraxas and 2 Apache pickups and a tele with The same, but in HXS format, so I've got those tones covered in spades!  I love the Abraxas in the bridge spot, but my fear is ending up with the same sound and having redundancy.  Samples of what I will ask these new pickups to potentially cope with are below, as they may be called into studio duty.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you guys consider the "middle position"?  This guitar is a HxH, so no middle space - unless you mean on the toggle switch haha. Sorry it's a rough morning and I'm a bit dense I'm sure.

Thanks and rest assured, I'll have plenty of new songs written with this next combo, so I'll be able to give back as I have with the Abraxas and Apache. Cheers all!

---------------
samples:

Heres one that's shows a bit of range from crunch to more saturated tones:
https://soundcloud.com/frankdesalvo/the-deep-field

Here's another that's a bit more extreme and one-sided, but the solo tone is usually what I go for.  Doesn't have to be exact, just capable.
https://soundcloud.com/frankdesalvo/they-fell-to-earth

Finally, this one demonstrates some cleans that I typically go for:
https://soundcloud.com/frankdesalvo/the-april-narrative

Again, the Abraxas does this really well.  I don't need a clone, but something that could pull this off, as well.

[Dave Sloven]

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you guys consider the "middle position"?  This guitar is a HxH, so no middle space - unless you mean on the toggle switch haha. Sorry it's a rough morning and I'm a bit dense I'm sure.

Middle position: both pickups on (toggle in middle)

Middle pickup: the middle pickup on a three pickup guitar.

[fdesalvo]

I get that, but the phrase "middle combo" threw me off.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you guys consider the "middle position"?  This guitar is a HxH, so no middle space - unless you mean on the toggle switch haha. Sorry it's a rough morning and I'm a bit dense I'm sure.

Middle position: both pickups on (toggle in middle)

Middle pickup: the middle pickup on a three pickup guitar.

[nkay]

I have the same feeling about neck pickups. I like something bright, thin, flute-like myself.
My only real experience is with the Cold Sweat neck. It's really good clean, very middy though for fluid soloing in a shred environment. I've heard the Riff Raff neck might be closer to what I'm looking for though.

[fdesalvo]

I heard the riff raff neck on a couple YouTube videos last night. Pretty nice.

I solved my problem!  I had my order changed to HXS route. I have to just deal with the fact I'm a singlecoil neck guy at heart. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

[m t soule]

When I contacted bkp for single coil sounds from a humbucker they recommend the vhii for the neck and ry for bridge.

I have to say that of all my pick ups the vhii neck is my fave so far. It delivered what I wanted and so much more. The A5 magnet gives it a great attack that simulates the fender style cluck as well as being nice and rich but not over powering. Splits really good with the irish tour nicely and the drop of in power from hum to single is there. To compare it to the crawler and dimarzio evolution necks I would say it got more liveliness to it. I use it in a basswood superstrat,  maple neck and board.

If you want a demo giz a shout I'll sort something out for yer.

[fdesalvo]

That's very generous of you and I really appreciate you weighing in.  I may have decided already haha.

When I contacted bkp for single coil sounds from a humbucker they recommend the vhii for the neck and ry for bridge.

I have to say that of all my pick ups the vhii neck is my fave so far. It delivered what I wanted and so much more. The A5 magnet gives it a great attack that simulates the fender style cluck as well as being nice and rich but not over powering. To compare it to the crawler and dimarzio evolution necks I would say it got more liveliness to it. I use it in a basswood superstrat,  maple neck and board.

If you want a demo giz a shout I'll sort something out for yer.

[m t soule]

My pleasure sir/lady/being.

It helps me carry my learning journey on top of helping others.

Tommie

[fdesalvo]

I'm Frank (a fellow maiden fan).  It's a pleasure to meet you, my friend.

[Alex]

The VHII neck is something I've really wanted to try. Also, if you want something like the VHII, but with more output, look at the Juggernaut. Misha says he thought the VHII was the perfect pickup, but the balance just wasn't right with the higher output models, so the decided the make it hotter to balance for his set

I used the VHII in the neck and had the split option. In both modes it was ok, but didn't blow me away, which, in all honesty, probably was more the guitar than the pickup.

How about a P90 in humbucker casing? That would be different.

[darkbluemurder]

Late to the thread here but I have the same issue with full sized humbuckers. My favorite in the BKP line is the Holydiver neck - clear, bright, the least muddy of them all but still sounds like a full sized humbucker. Paired with a stronger bridge pickup it works very well though. Currently I use it in my LP custom together with the Rebel Yell bridge.

I found HxS to be a great combo. The single coil never gets muddy, not even on the low strings, and you can use a lower output humbucker in the bridge spot while maintaining a good volume and tonal balance between the two.

Another nice alternative is a minihumbucker or firebird pickup in the neck spot.

Cheers Stephan