Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

[Mwening]

I like the looks of some of the Mid-level guitars like Schecter and Esp/Ltd are making but how do the Ducan Designed and EMG-Hz Humbuckers sound on them?

Does anyone use these guitars or pickups?
Do you think they are worth shelling out $400-500 for these guitars?

[scooter]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

The duncan designed actuall aren't that bad. I'd stay away from the EMG-HZ though. Personally I think they are horrible.

[Mwening]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

I read that the Hz-4 pickups sound like the Duncan JB's. I don't know if that is true or not.

[Xeromus]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

They are far better than most factory pickups, very usable, good sounds for the most part, but they still don't come close to the Duncan originals.

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

I don't have any experience with the EMG HZs, but the Duncan Designs *can* be good. The quality control isn't as good, so they're really hit or miss. I have a DD HB-102B (JB knockoff) that sounds as good as either of my real JBs, and I have another that sounds horrible. For what its worth, the good one came in a Schecter 006, and the crappy one came in my ESP/ltd Viper. Funny thing, though, the neck pickup from the Viper is awesome. Sounds as good as my real Jazz.

[skyydogg01]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

stick with the duncan designed ... when choosing my ESP, my choices were the mv-300 and the mv-200. the 300 had a neck through body, all mahogany, EMG-HZ pups, while the 200 had a maple neck bolt on, mahogany body, Duncan designed pups. if i was going with feel i would have chosen the 300. the duncans sound so much better ... full tone, thick and clear. the emgs sounded sterile, bland and lifeless. I got the 200 and saved me about $100. after some mods (changing the designed HB102B to a true JB and adding a push/pull for a coil split), this is my fave out of my arsenal. now the only reason i changed to the jb was that i had it lying around and wanted to do something with it ... the sound of the designed is damn close to the real thing.

[nuntius]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

for 500 you can get this schecter with Duncans already in it, and a tonepros bridge

C1 artist

[Nem]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

i have EMG H1 in my Jackson and tbh they sound pretty hollow...theyre ok for a distorted sound, it sounds pretty tight but again, you get that hollow feeling which you dont get with active EMGs....im changing to Duncan Alnico 2 Pros soon, that should get me the sound im looking for

[RG 2570]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

all EMG hz's are made in the USA and are very high quality as good as the quality of the 81 or 85 actives but they are passive versions.
the HZ 4 set is very good for those that like the emg 81 without them being active
EMG selects are rubbish

[7th Hell]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

I have both- Duncan Designed in my Schecter Omen 7, and EMG-HZ's in my LTD 7 string. The Duncan Designed were a little hollow sounding, but overall similar to a JB as far as tone and output- but it was way lacking in the harmonics department. I swapped these out pretty quick!

The EMG-HZ's in my LTD sound very good- lots of bass response (very necessary in a 7 stringer!) as well as good overall tone and harmonics. The output is a little hotter than a JB- more along the lines of a distortion.

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Are Duncan Designed and EMG-Hz good quality?

I have DD's in my Samick SG clone that are supposedly modeled after the Distortion and I like them. Chrome covered so they look great and get a good Black Sabbath tone out of them to my ears, anyway.