Johnny Tenderloin
New member
Just wanted to post a review of the Phat Cat and Duncan Distortion combo that I just had installed in my 2017 Les Paul Traditional.
The Phat Cat neck wasn't a new pickup, but the guy that installed the new bridge pickup recommended Alnico V magnets in the neck, like most P90s have. Swapping the stock Alnico II magnets for Alnico V transformed it from smooth and vintage to tighter and more articulate. The lows are firmer, the mids more balanced, and the highs clearer without harshness. It feels slightly hotter with a quicker attack and better note separation, especially under gain. Clean tones sparkle more, and the pickup cuts through a mix without losing warmth. Overall, the Alnico V swap gives the Phat Cat more focus and punch while keeping its P-90 character intact. Definitely sounds a lot closer to a real P90.
The Duncan Distortion in the bridge of my Les Paul delivers exactly what the name promises—aggressive, tight, and full of authority. It has huge output and a strong upper midrange that makes riffs hit hard and leads cut effortlessly. Despite the power, it stays surprisingly articulate, with palm mutes that punch cleanly and harmonics that jump out without effort. Paired with the Alnico V Phat Cat in the neck, it balances beautifully, giving the guitar a wide tonal range from crisp cleans to searing gain. It’s not subtle, but if you want clarity, sustain, and controlled aggression in a Les Paul, the Distortion nails it.
I didn't actually care much for the middle position at first, but then my guy recommended doing the "Peter Green mod" where he swapped the hot and ground wires of the bridge pickup to make the middle position out-of-phase. Man, its the sort of thing you don't notice until you hear it, but that's a sound I have heard on so many records, but didn’t even know it was a thing until now. It sounds closer in my head to the Les Paul sound than anything I ever got on a stock one.
Just wanted to let the folks at the Seymour Duncan factory know they are doing a great job!
The Phat Cat neck wasn't a new pickup, but the guy that installed the new bridge pickup recommended Alnico V magnets in the neck, like most P90s have. Swapping the stock Alnico II magnets for Alnico V transformed it from smooth and vintage to tighter and more articulate. The lows are firmer, the mids more balanced, and the highs clearer without harshness. It feels slightly hotter with a quicker attack and better note separation, especially under gain. Clean tones sparkle more, and the pickup cuts through a mix without losing warmth. Overall, the Alnico V swap gives the Phat Cat more focus and punch while keeping its P-90 character intact. Definitely sounds a lot closer to a real P90.
The Duncan Distortion in the bridge of my Les Paul delivers exactly what the name promises—aggressive, tight, and full of authority. It has huge output and a strong upper midrange that makes riffs hit hard and leads cut effortlessly. Despite the power, it stays surprisingly articulate, with palm mutes that punch cleanly and harmonics that jump out without effort. Paired with the Alnico V Phat Cat in the neck, it balances beautifully, giving the guitar a wide tonal range from crisp cleans to searing gain. It’s not subtle, but if you want clarity, sustain, and controlled aggression in a Les Paul, the Distortion nails it.
I didn't actually care much for the middle position at first, but then my guy recommended doing the "Peter Green mod" where he swapped the hot and ground wires of the bridge pickup to make the middle position out-of-phase. Man, its the sort of thing you don't notice until you hear it, but that's a sound I have heard on so many records, but didn’t even know it was a thing until now. It sounds closer in my head to the Les Paul sound than anything I ever got on a stock one.
Just wanted to let the folks at the Seymour Duncan factory know they are doing a great job!
