Neck pickup dilema.

[danyeo]

I have a Drop Top with an H2+ in the bridge and an SA1R in the neck. Not sure what's in the middle, i rarely use it. I love everything about this guitar except for the neck pickup tones. Let me say that I'm more of a humbucker guy. I love Drop Tops but when i was looking to get one most of what i saw had singles in the neck.

I play hard rock/metal and i use a modded Marshall and it doesn't even have a clean channel. I like smooth singing lead tones from a neck pickup. I do love that Eric Johnson singing tone he gets even when he uses his Strats. The problem I'm having with the SA1R is that it's just not hot enough.

My ideal sounds would be a humbucker in the neck and with the B5 switching, i could always get close enough to a single coil tone if i ever needed it.

Are there any Anderson single coil pickups that can get me close enough to a humbucker or do i dare have my Drop Top fitted for a humbucker. I know that the value would decrease on this guitar but i love the way it plays and sounds so I'm planning on keeping this one.

[tom]

an sa2 will be noticably hotter, but i don't think it's really going to get you where you want to go. if you've got a decent local guy he should be able to get the bigger rout in there for you. the one caution is to check that the ring will cover the roundover on the present cavity.

[danyeo]

an sa2 will be noticably hotter, but i don't think it's really going to get you where you want to go. if you've got a decent local guy he should be able to get the bigger rout in there for you. the one caution is to check that the ring will cover the roundover on the present cavity.

Thanks, i think i will try an SA2 and I think I've come to my sense and won't cut the body up. I forgot to mention that there is a way to really fatten up the SA1 for leads and that's with an Xotic BB Preamp. On the pedal I run the level up high, gain low, and set the bass up high and bring the treble down and it does almost make it sound like a humbucker.

But I'm seriously lazy and sometimes stepping on a pedal takes a lot of work so I thought i seek opinions on a pickup change:D

And all i can say about a Drop Top with the Basswood/Maple combo and H2+ tonewise is...WOW.

[Rupe]

I have an H2+ and an SA2 in a H/S parts Strat that I built and it works wonderfully for fat neck pickup tones. It may not be quite as round as a full size humbucker but it still sounds very warm with fantastic articulation.

[danyeo]

I installed an SA2R which works great. It can still sound like a single coil, but it can also sound pretty thick. Thanks.