Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

[Soulcrusher_X]

I know this sounds like an odd question. I'm considering getting either a Custom or a Distortion, but was just wondering if the DD can go a little bluesy. I used the DD once before (a long time ago) and I remember the cleans were pretty decent for such a high-output bucker. A touch of 'verb made it really shimmer actually. But....can it do midgain tones? I never tried it that way and I wish I gave it more time and tinkering. I know the Custom can cover all grounds, but how about the DD?

 

[Chuck_Norris]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

I wouldn't recommend it for blues. It can be harsh on the treble side and it's really powerful and aggressive. Perhaps you could get some bluesy tones out of it with a little tweaking but seriously, it's not made for those sounds!

Bluesy, midgain pickups should sound mellower - at least for me.

 

[skynyrd]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

If you wanted to sound like Gary Moore on Steroids maybe,,LOL

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

Hmm. now that I think of it, maybe blues wasn't what I meant. How about more of a classic/southern rock tone with a 'lighter' gain setting? Kinda like how the Super D does good classic/southern rock tones.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

. . . but was just wondering if the DD can go a little bluesy.

"Blues", like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. The Duncan Distortion is made for this app. And I hate saying the word "app".

The Distortion is much more organic than that.

Artie;

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

Some of the bluesiest I ever sounded was with a 22k ceramic ironman. Sometimes specs and materials can suprise you!

 

[formula73]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

Hmm. now that I think of it, maybe blues wasn't what I meant. How about more of a classic/southern rock tone with a 'lighter' gain setting? Kinda like how the Super D does good classic/southern rock tones.

Absolutely. Half of what I played with my old band was in that vein and I did a lot of it with a DD.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

The Custom is an amazing pickup. It is very warm and organic sounding. A lot a blues fans/players also enjoy metal. I play metal and blues and the custom
Will always be in my rig. But I also play bluesy rock tones so the custom works perfect for me. Custom is vey warm and natural sounding and it has a very defined bottom end and is very clear. The distortion is well... For distortion. It has it's place for that type of music and does it very well. It's very good at that. Just like Seymour's website says, the custom is paf on steroids! I find it to be a great all around pickup. It does rock and blues rock very very well. I like it for everything that I do. If you want strictly blues I would consider a 59. Very bassey sounding and defined. Or if you want raw huge sounding distortion then The custom is great. I cannot recommend that pup enough. try them out. Duncan has a 21 exchange program that I would highly recommend taking advantage of. They have a great customer service team that will help you find the right pup for your needs.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

Can a Tele get a little Bluesy?

If you want to get Bluesy like a Tele, but with a Les Paul - try a distortion.

The amp is important....you'll want some decent headroom. Or turn the volume down on the guitar. A lot.But hell yes it can.

Mid gain here is all about the amp it's settings. It wouldn't take much at all pregain-wise on the amp for a DD to push it to midgain land.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

Can a Tele get a little Bluesy?

If you want to get Bluesy like a Tele, but with a Les Paul - try a distortion.

The amp is important....you'll want some decent headroom. Or turn the volume down on the guitar. A lot.But hell yes it can.

Mid gain here is all about the amp it's settings. It wouldn't take much at all pregain-wise on the amp for a DD to push it to midgain land.

Well, my JSX is a 3-channel, so I can set it up for pretty much anything.
Now, for this question, I'm looking at you Ace. Ive read a few posts of yours that mention 300k pots work a litte better to tame the somewhat 'brittle' or 'piercing' top end that the DD can sometimes have. Does it make the DD feel a little crunchier at the same time? Like midrange crunch? Last time I tried it with my Les Paul, te DD was stiff and hell, but in the SG, it was pretty crunchy and fairly warm. I THINK it's because the SG had 300k pots and the LP had 500ks. I figure if I can get the crunch and roar of the tones I had in the SG with the firmer, bigger bottom of a LP, I will be golden. I just dont want the DD to sound stiff and carboardy, even if I change to 300k pots.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Can the Duncan Distortion do bluesy tones?

I'm a longtime blues/classic rock player and after using dozens of models of PU's, I just don't like the sound and feel of ceramics. To my ears, they're stiff and harsh, and don't clean up as well. I think blues really needs the color and organic sound of alnicos. Yes, you can use ceramics, and add things with effects, but it's taking the harder road to get there. Why not start off with a blues tone to begin with?

With a Custom, you're only a mag swap away from one of Duncan's best bridge PU's, the Custom 8 (Custom with an A8 mag). That PU works for blues, rock, metal, etc. It covers more genres and more gain levels better than either a stock Custom or DD. You're wanting versatility, and C8's are very versatile.

I have a C8/'59N in an LP and a 335; it's great in both.