Best Duncans for old school thrash?

IceThrash

IceThrash

New member
Hi I'm new to the forum, and I have A Gibson Flying V which has the stock 500T/496R set, and I think i want to change to Duncans.

I play old schoool thrash metal (but not exclusively, I play a bit of everything else too), but i still want passives, since i want a versatile sound. Which Duncans would best fit my style?

My guitar is all mahogany, and I'm not sure, but I think it has 330k pots

I want a neck pickup for creamy buttery leads and nice cleans, and an aggressive high output bridge pickup

Should I change the pots?

I'm Thinking A Distortion SH-6 Bridge (Or a TB-6? which one fits a TOM bridge?),
and a '59 SH-1 neck

Or should I perhaps just keep the 500T/496R if they are perfectly adequate?

Advice appreciated - IceThrash... and I'm sorry if this has been covered a million times before.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

Yes, just change the pots and then decide if the 500T/496R don't work for you. Pots are cheap, and those pickups are pretty good for what you're going for. You aren't hearing their full capability with those 300(more likely down around 250)K pots.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

Welcome no worries if its been covered before its all good.

What do you find lacking in the 500T? Some people dig it others dont. If you have the 330k pots in yoru flying V upping them to 500k would help if your finding you lack highs. What amp are you running.

The SH6 is a great choice (shouldnt need a Tb6 with a TOM) and so would the 59 neck. Though im kinda partial to A2 mags in the neck i like the mids and rounded highs of an A2 better so I would go with a Pearly gates neck with the SH6 in the bridge.


Dimarzio has some great choices also the Super Distortion is a classic sound that works in lots of guitars. It would have more low mid grunt than a SH6 while the SH6 would have more singing highs. With a norton in the neck would be a great combo.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I actually found the 59/Custom Hybrid quite cool for old school thrash and Maiden-esque type stuff. I might also suggest the DiMarzio Dominion bridge, it's an awesome pickup for thrash rhythms. JB is a classic for old school thrash too.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I Have a Roland Cube 30X practice amp, but i also play various tube amps regularly. I generally like the 500T but I find the highs a bit too piercing when not playing hi-gain, and I think it could have a better clean sound.
And i also just wanted to hear if there was something way better than the 500T/496R for what i play.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I have to agree with the pot change first then evaulate pups later.

For old school thrash it seems that three choices can do it for you, the Distortion, JB or Custom. I've tried all three and preference the Custom. I like the aggressiveness of its low end and the definition and articulation of its palm mutes. It's also versitile enough to do a variety of styles very well. The JB probably has the best lead tone and the Distortion is the highest output and will hit your amp the hardest if you need that.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I'm just afraid that the 500T will become way too bright if I change to 500k pots, since it is already very bright.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

James Hetfield recorded Master of Puppets with Invader in his Flying V. Done.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I highly endorse the Duncan Distortion Sh6- if you try it, you' ll probably love it: it's very violent.

I use one on a cheapo ax w tube pedal & 22w combo (this is a video demo) cuz it pushes hard so I can get lots of tone without turning up much gain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8El0e5ksclo
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I think back in '84 or so James Hetfield used an Explorer with the 500T/496R. Doesn't get any more 'old school thrash' than old school Metallica.

I have Super Distortions and really like them. They do great for the '80s stuff.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

Measure your bridge, the newer Gibsons will work better with a TB-Spaced pickup.

I'd go for the TB-5 Duncan Custom.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

I highly endorse the Distortion. Great thrash pup period. That said....

I'd never take a 500T out to replace with a Distortion. Almost the same pup, IMO. Soem say the Duncan is the rhythm version and the 500T is the lead version.

I also really like the 300k pots with the distortion (or 500T)

There is a tone knob, you know, for when you go clean. Which isn't often in the majority of your thrash type metal....

(also a Cube 30 player...)
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

IceThrash said:
I'm just afraid that the 500T will become way too bright if I change to 500k pots, since it is already very bright.
Click to expand...


This is probably true if you already think that 500T is bright higher k pots wont help alleviate that.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

Duncan distortion..... No matter what other pickup I try I always come back to it. And even still I still want it to be clearer in the mids, so I switched leads last rehearsal to a planet waves and it helped alot, I just changed from dunlop heavycore strings to GHS dave gilmore custom strings and the clarity improved (though GHS tend to go dead quick). Also I have just ordered svetlana EL34s to replace the mullards and have more mids, so I have decided to hold off trying a ceramic Nailbomb or a WRC Ironman.
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

If you change the Pots like advised the 500T can do just about everything the Distortion can....If you are hell bent on versatility for thrash than go with a Custom.....
 
Re: Best Duncans for old school thrash?

Like Ace said, dont change the 500T out for a DD. There wont be that much of a difference as they are fairly similar
 
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