Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

ibanez4life SZ!

ibanez4life SZ!

New member
Hey guys!

Went through my EMG phase, and quickly fell out of it. They're cool pickups for what they do, but the tone got VERY boring very fast. I miss the natural and organic bloom of passive buckers.

So, I'm back to Duncan. I play through a Mesa Stiletto Deuce into a Mesa Traditional 4x12....I play modern rock, hard rock, and the lighter side of metal, but I also LOVE my cleans and crunch tones, so those shouldn't be compromised either.

I need pups for:

PRS Singlecut tuned to standard
PRS CE-24 tuned to Eb (half step down)
PRS Singlecut tuned to D (Whole step down)

I've tried a Custom and Custom 5 in the past, and they honestly never really did it for me....also been through a bunch of PRS pickups aswell.

So, what would you recommend? I get the feeling that it may be time to try a more modern output bucker...maybe that's what I've been missing... For the bridge, I'm debating between the Screamin Demon, JB, or 59b....opinions? Which will work best in the guitars, and for each tuning? The Screamin Demon is my #1 candidate right now....

For the neck, I think the 59 would be my choice, unless if you guys seriously recommend the jazz above it.

Thanks much for the help!

Eric
 
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Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

Just an update...did some more research, and I'm still sitting on the Demon or JB for the bridge more than likely...maybe the 59 if you guys REALLY think it will work for me.

BUT...

Will the JBs low end hold up in D standard / Drop C? Or is the Demon the way to go if I'm drop tuning?

Thanks much!
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

Do you live in the US? If so, remember Duncan has a 21 day exchange policy.

I myself like the JB/Jazz combo with 250K pots. I'll let some of the other bros chime in on this one though.
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

Appreciate the input.

I'm having a really hard time deciding what to go with...

The 59 or Screamin Demon seem like a good lower output route...something new for me that I haven't tired before....might just be what I've been missing.

But the JB seems to be a good overall pup aswell...

Which would you gives recommend?

Thanks much!
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

On the standard tuned Singlecut, I'd do a 59, just to get it closer to the sound of an old Gibson.

The CE would get a JB, just because it sounds better in a bolt on guitar than a set neck axe, IMHO.

For the down tuned SC, go with the Demon. It's tight, detailed, and chunky. Great for down-tuning.

As far as the neck pickup, go with a 59 on the standard tuned single cut, and a Jazz in the other two.
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

That's almost exactly what I had come to after some thought aswell!

The only thing I'm worried about...if I drop a JB in the CE-24, I don't want to deal with the largely varying output between it and the Demon and 59.

Would the 24 do ok with a Demon or 59?

And why Jazz in the neck of the other two? I hear it's clearer, but does it hold up to the nice lead tones of the 59 in the neck?

Thanks much!

Eric
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

^Anyone else who can chime in on the last questions?

While the guitars don't have to be identical, it's important to me that they have similar response to them. I don't want one to be overly compressed due to high output, and the others to play completely differently.

Thanks much!
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

ibanez4life SZ! said:
That's almost exactly what I had come to after some thought aswell!
The only thing I'm worried about...if I drop a JB in the CE-24, I don't want to deal with the largely varying output between it and the Demon and 59.
Would the 24 do ok with a Demon or 59?
And why Jazz in the neck of the other two? I hear it's clearer, but does it hold up to the nice lead tones of the 59 in the neck?
Thanks much!
Eric
Click to expand...

Then balance out the pickups based on how high they are, i.e. how close to the strings. As for holding up for lead tones, the Jazz has all that and more. It sounds sort of PAF-ish, but has less mids. Basically if you play it clean through a clean amp, you get Jazz. The '59 sounds more Zeppelin to me, but the Jazz can still do Zeppelin sounds as well, just not as good in my opinion. But the Jazz also does metal better in my opinion. It's all about taste, rig, your ears, and your preferences.

Besides, the JB is higher output than the Demon.
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

ibanez4life SZ! said:
Hey guys!

Went through my EMG phase, and quickly fell out of it. They're cool pickups for what they do, but the tone got VERY boring very fast. I miss the natural and organic bloom of passive buckers.

So, I'm back to Duncan. I play through a Mesa Stiletto Deuce into a Mesa Traditional 4x12....I play modern rock, hard rock, and the lighter side of metal, but I also LOVE my cleans and crunch tones, so those shouldn't be compromised either.

I need pups for:

PRS Singlecut tuned to standard
PRS CE-24 tuned to Eb (half step down)
PRS Singlecut tuned to D (Whole step down)

I've tried a Custom and Custom 5 in the past, and they honestly never really did it for me....also been through a bunch of PRS pickups aswell.

So, what would you recommend? I get the feeling that it may be time to try a more modern output bucker...maybe that's what I've been missing... For the bridge, I'm debating between the Screamin Demon, JB, or 59b....opinions? Which will work best in the guitars, and for each tuning? The Screamin Demon is my #1 candidate right now....

For the neck, I think the 59 would be my choice, unless if you guys seriously recommend the jazz above it.

Thanks much for the help!

Eric
Click to expand...

Is that a mahogany or alder CE?

If you want variety I'd put a JB with A2 into one of the downtuned ones.

The Demon and PG are pickups that IMHO do better in Fender style instruments. The Demon can be a great heavier neck pickup, though.

So:
PRS Singlecut tuned to standard - Antiquity neck and APH1 or Seth bridge
PRS CE-24 tuned to Eb - pair of '59s
PRS Singlecut tuned to D (Whole step down) - JB/A2 and Demon in neck

Alternatively you could designate one as a P-90 machine with Phat Cats.
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

Any reason why you wouldn't want one with a different/more agressive tone? Say, a pair of Duncan Distortions?
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

1st Guitar. JB & Full Shred neck
2nd Guitar. Pearly Gates bridge & neck
3rd Guitar. Dimarzio D Sonic & Breed Neck
 
Re: Back to Passives....recommend me some Duncans!

PFDarkside said:
Any reason why you wouldn't want one with a different/more agressive tone? Say, a pair of Duncan Distortions?
Click to expand...

I don't like Ceramic neck pickups. For a heavy bridge humbucker I prefer the 500T over a Distortion or Invader (the Invader is great/better for rhythm, but the 500T is more flexible).

But you are right, one of these could be turned into a real screamer. The method of choice for me would be a Full Shred or L500XL (the ones with A5). Probably a pair, but I never had a FS neck. So either a FS pair or FSb + 59n.
 
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