80s Duncan Distortion ID

[m1989jmp]

Hello,

first time posting.

Can anyone confirm this is a legit early 80s Duncan Distortion? I can't see anything else but the DD sticker, should there be more markings?

Thanks

[Chistopher]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I can't say anything for certain, but it looks kinda odd. Everything looks alright except for the screws on the baseplate are slotted and the sticker doesn't identify the winder. The baseplate does look like the early SD baseplates before they started stamping them and putting holes for the polepieces on both sides.

[hamerfan]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

This is a very early Duncan Distortion, called DD. A timeline from Duncan junior and Orpheo says the DD came out in 1980, but the DD label without a winder initial and the slotted back screws would indicate rather 'mid to end seventies'.

[hamerfan]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

Christopher, a recently acquired 'Custom' even has nickel plated slotted screws. Its mid 70ies, i guess.

[m1989jmp]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I know vintage pickups don't have any extra value over newer used one, but since I can get it for a bit over 50 bucks, I'll go for it.

One more question; can pickups as old as this one have performance issues? Could I run into issues with excessive feedback or something like that?

Kind regards.

[Chistopher]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I won't guarantee anything, but you probably won't have any issues if you buy it from a reputable seller. For future purchases, feedback can be an issue on vintage budget pickups, but larger brands tend to be ok.

[hamerfan]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

One more question; can pickups as old as this one have performance issues? Could I run into issues with excessive feedback or something like that?

As long you can measure continuity, it should be okay. I even have two older ones with cracks, which perform fine up to now.
Feedback can be an issue, but not a function of age.

[LLL]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I'll whip out my handy chart (which I ripped from here and stored in my info "vault"):

1. no backlogo, small tag without winder initial from late 70 up to ?
2. no backlogo, small tag with winder initial from ? to 1983
3. big backlogo without MiA, small tag with winder initial from at least 1983 to 1988
4. small backlogo with MiA, small tag with winder initial from 1988 to 2002
5. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with SN and Model from 2002 to ?
6. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with date from ? to now

[hamerfan]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

Thanks LLL for reminding me. I recently bought another vintage SD pickup. So i had to enlongate my list for one more point.

I still look for people to confirm or add something:

1. no backlogo, long tag with full model name: mid 70ies
2. no backlogo, small tag without winder initial from late 70 up to ?
3. no backlogo, small tag with winder initial from ? to 1983
4. big backlogo without MiA, small tag with winder initial from at least 1983 to 1988
5. small backlogo with MiA, small tag with winder initial from 1988 to 2002
6. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with SN and Model from 2002 to ?
7. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with date from ? to ?


When did the silk screen front logo come?

[LLL]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

Also from the "info stash":

If there is an extra letter at the end it reflects who actually wound your pickup:

•A Raul Araiza (Single Coils)
•B Leticia Bautista (Single Coils)
•C Catalina Padilla (Rails)
•D Debbie Nyquist (Humbuckers)
•E Edward Madrigal (Humbuckers)
•G Gloria Ocompo (Humbuckers)
•J Maricella Juarez-83' (Humbuckers, Single Coils, Stacks, Rails)
•J Janice Salazar-til 83' (Stacks)
•L Lidia Daniel (Humbuckers)
•L Leticia Quintero-87'-90' (Stacks, Rails)
•M Martha Cameron (Humbuckers, Single Coils)
•O Oti Mora (Stacks, Rails)
•P Lupe Perez-86' on (Rails)
•P Patty Vasquez-till 86' (Stacks, Rails)
•R Connie Rocha (Single Coils)
•V Joe Velez (Single Coils)
•X Mai Xiong (Stacks)

[Discharged]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

Those bobbins don't look like Duncans, not even the early ones.

Those slotted baseplate screws don't belong in Duncan p'ups.

I don't think it's a Duncan.

/Peter

[Ayrton]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I have seen older JBs with slotted screws.

I don't know what would be original, but that in itself is not a red flag.

*EDIT*

From Darth's blog

[beaubrummels]

80s Duncan Distortion ID

Thanks LLL for reminding me. I recently bought another vintage SD pickup. So i had to enlongate my list for one more point.

I still look for people to confirm or add something:

1. no backlogo, long tag with full model name: mid 70ies
2. no backlogo, small tag without winder initial from late 70 up to ?
3. no backlogo, small tag with winder initial from ? to 1983
4. big backlogo without MiA, small tag with winder initial from at least 1983 to 1988
5. small backlogo with MiA, small tag with winder initial from 1988 to 2002
6. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with SN and Model from 2002 to ?
7. small backlogo with MiA, large tag with date from ? to ?


When did the silk screen front logo come?

Silkscreen logo was happening by the time winder initials were on the back.

I think we're still missing another point somewhere around 1-3. There were blank baseplate with small tag colored model initials and no winder initial, and there were small logo with MiA and small label black model initials with no winder initial. I don't know if the latter came before the small label black model initials with winder initials, but based on the font, I suspect the small labels with black model initials and no winder came just before the small label with black model number and serial number stickers.

All my vintage NOS Duncan's have philips baseplate screws. I can't speak to whether slotted were used also, but I can't help but wonder if slotted specimens were refurbished at some point.

[Discharged]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I have seen older JBs with slotted screws.

I don't know what would be original, but that in itself is not a red flag.

*EDIT*

From Darth's blog

Well, looks like I have to stand corrected, folks.

Seems that being from Denmark has prevented me for seen the earliest Duncan p'ups, when they were kind of a "boutique" p'up maker using off-the-shelf parts.

/Peter

[m1989jmp]

Re: 80s Duncan Distortion ID

I found one on reverb; it looks identical except it's black/cream.

https://reverb.com/item/4390351-vintage-seymour-duncan-distortion-humbucker-cream-black-1980