Wich Neck Pickup to balance with a bridge MM?

[goldenchild]

Hi Forumers! :D

I'm new on this forum, and, in advance, sorry for my English which you may find a little cr@ppy, but I'm French, and not really used to be involved on English speaking forums.

I had posted this message in the players section, in the first time, but I've been invited to post it here

The reason of this thread, is simple:

I plan, in the near future (ASAP :twisted:), to become a part of the BKP users family, as my next buy will be a Miracle Man for the bridge position on my Ibanez Artist (which, if you don't know about it, is a mahogany body/maple top/maple set neck/rosewood fingerboard guitar AKA "The Japanese Les Paul")

My tastes go from Zakk (Ozzy's "Live and Loud") and Slash (UYI Tours) through J.Hetfield (Live 1992 in San Diego on "Live shite Binge And Purge") to Dimebag (Pantera’s Official Live)  for Rythm and Lead distorted tones in the bridge position, so that's why I plan to go for a MM (maybe a little “light” for the Dime kind of tone?). A great part of this choice has been made after hearing Redwarp samples here as they're really close to the tone I'm looking for... Thank you Man :D

BUT!!!

My problem is the following:
  - I'm in a trouble with finding a neck pickup to balance with the MM, for cleans (In the same way as the "Bridge Clean Sample" of the EMG 85 on the EMG site, maybe an alnico magnet would be best suited) and Warm Sweet Bluesy crunchy/distorted licks and solos (I mean Slash on the "Godfather theme", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and the opening solo for "Paradise City", Gary Moore on "Parisienne Walkways", Santana on "Europa" or whatever in that territory).

So my request, which may be boring for you (But I really need a reply), is:
  - Anybody, on this forum, who owns a MM, Cold Sweat, VHII, The Mule or Abraxas in the neck position on a Les Paul guitar (or equivalent) is gladly welcome to post his impresions of them on this thread.

  - Can you, in the same time, help me build my opinion on which one would be best suited to balance with a MM in the Bridge position? I plan to buy a second guitar (Probably an Epi Alpine White - still hope to find one - Custom LP), so the Ibanez would be the Rock guitar (loaded with a set of Mules), and  the new one would be the (80’s/90’s) metal (…lica/Wylde/Dime) guitar (MM, bridge +…MM or VHII or CS or Abraxas, neck?)

Isn't the Abraxas too bassy for the kind of sound I'm looking for?

In the end, I'd say that I'm looking for a neck pickup with which the MM would not be too overwhelming, in terms of output level.

Sorry for the novel-like post and, in advance, thank you for your replies.

See ya!

PS : My signal path is : Guitar => VHT GP3 => Rocktron Multivalve => VHT 2502 => Marshall 1960A

Thanx Boys!… (And Girls)
Fab.

[JamesHealey]

Cold Sweat i'd say..

[TwilightOdyssey]

The most popular recent choice has been the Cold Sweat neck, even supported by Tim himself in other threads.

[lp_man]

I'm getting a cold sweat for the neck position of my new LP that is getting a MM bridge humbucker, should be shaweet!

-Will

[TonyGibson]

I initially purchased an MM set (the CS wasn't out at the time) and I just replaced the neck with a CS and I'm extremely happy...great cleans and overdriven tone.

[goldenchild]

Wow!

It seems like the neck CS is you favourite! :D

But, what about the neck MM, neck VHII and neck Abraxas, in comparison with the neck CS?

Do they lack something, or what?

I'm glad to see that you guys, don't hesitate to share your experiences. I've read lots of your posts, on different topics, and it seems like you all know what you're talking about. That's why I posted here. I wanted firm replies (not some maybe should you try this or that, untill you find what fits your needs, and so on... ) And that's what I get from you, so... :D  :D  :D.

Now, I'd like to know a few more things:

Could you please post some samples (in the players section) of the neck CS (Clean rythms and a distorted solo)?
If the style of playing could be some Slash, or Bluesy Moore, or whatever stands in that kind of feeling, it would be great from you.

I realise that I'm a little too directive at this point, so sorry :oops: Don't take it bad, but I really need to hear it in action before going into it, and I can't find one anywhere to test it by myself.

If anyone out there owns a neck MM, a neck VHII or a neck Abraxas on a LP (or equivalent), you're welcome to post your comments here on this thread. (You can eventually post a sample in the players section, if you want. :D )

Thanx in advance guys, and thanx again for the replies.

See ya!
Fab.

[genocidal tendencies]

The most popular recent choice has been the Cold Sweat neck, even supported by Tim himself in other threads.

You say that as if he's Jesus or something.

That, and I have no idea what to suggest.

[goldenchild]

Cold Sweat i'd say..

Sorry but,

In this thread:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4575&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=vhii

You posted this:
"I've just stuck the VHII back into my strat.. stunning pickups, just a shame the Cold Sweat in the neck is so bassy compared."

Maybe I'm wrong, but, if it's So bassy for a strat, won't it be Too bassy for a LP?

I've just heard some clips of the CS, and I wouldn't say it has too much bass (maybe a little, but it also depends on the amp's settings, so...), but I'm totally unable to say what's neck and what's bridge in those clips.

See ya!
Fab.

[Tol]

I have the Abraxas neck and its excellent!  Good clean and distorted.  It gets a good jazz tone, and can handle arpeggio shredding.

Although,  for matching a MM bridge I would probably go for a MM neck.  The CS neck is popular too.  The MM and CS necks are Alnico also, unlike their bridge versions.

The Abraxas is the only neck pickup I have heard from BKP, so I can't compare.

[goldenchild]

Thanx Sean.

How would you describe the frequency response of the Abraxas neck?

thanx.
Fab.

[goldenchild]

Could you please post some samples (in the players section) of the neck CS (Clean rythms and a distorted solo)?
If the style of playing could be some Slash, or Bluesy Moore, or whatever stands in that kind of feeling, it would be great from you.

...

If anyone out there owns a neck MM, a neck VHII or a neck Abraxas on a LP (or equivalent), you're welcome to post your comments here on this thread. (You can eventually post a sample in the players section, if you want. :D )

I already have a thread for this, here:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5433&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=&sid=0bd56053e1b48da5b20b0a765027d122

Thanx.
Fab