The Electra Forums

Has anyone found a neck position pickup that sounds fantastic in an LP-style MPC? I really love the distorted power chord sounds I can get out of the Super-Magnaflux pups, but even a nice open D just sounds squished and warbly in the highs. I'm looking for something with some sparkly chime on open chords that can also sound huge when overdriven at high volume.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions!

Thanks!

Matthew

I just re-read my original post and realize that I should have written BRIDGE position, not neck. I like the neck pickup just fine.

Electraman - I look forward to hearing about your new custom pups!

Matthew

The best pickup I have ever had (and currently have) in my MPC is the harmonic designs vintage plus humbucker. It is all the things you wanted. It is expensive! about $135 or so each last I checked. But it is worth it. I like my neck pickup too in mine, so I left it in. The pickup is nearly the same output as a PAF (only slightly hotter) but is much fatter and more articulate sounding (if that makes sense). It has the desirable qualities of a PAF, but a little more articulation and warmth. I love that pickup.

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Thorny

Thorny!

Thanks for responding! I have Harmonic Designs Z90s in my Electra SG and think they are fantastic, so I have a feeling for where you're coming from on the humbucker. I've actually been really close to ordering one of those for the X340 but wanted to hear a few opinions before I took the plunge. The Z90s were pretty expensive, too, but they really do sound great. I originally only ordered one for the neck position, planning on putting a Duncan SH-55 in the bridge, but I was so impressed with the neck sound (I used to never use my neck pup at all) that I immediately ordered the matched bridge pickup. The guy at Harmonic Designs wrote "I told you so!" on the invoice for the second pickup.

Electraman: have you gotten any of your custom pups yet? If so, how are they?

Matthew

Holy Somkes!

Thorny is still out there!

Welcome back bud! Glad to see you are still out there rockin'! Love the work you have done on your guitar site!

Hey, Thorny!

Quick question: when you say Vintage Plus Humbucker, do you mean the VP90 or the Classic Humbucker? It sounds like you may be describing the Classic Humbucker, but I wanted to confirm before I make any drastic decisions...

Thanks!

Matthew

Thanks for the review and the inexpensive pickup lead, Electraman. I may give them a whirl before dropping another $120 on a Harmonic Designs.

I haven't had the money to buy anything lately, but I did get around to potting the Super-Magnaflux bridge pickup in the X-340. It really made a huge difference, and the pickup can be played at pretty intense volume without any squeal now. The tone seems less metallic as well. Plus, the whole process was actually kind of fun.

If anyone else is reading this thread, please let us know if you discover any great pickups!

Matthew