Is the duncan distortion trem the exact same as the original duncan distortion just with farther spread poles like would a 59 and dd trem sound the same as a 59 and a original distortion :dance:
To answer your question, a trem spaced Duncan Distortion will sound just like a regular spaced distortion, just like a trem spaced Duncan 59 will sound like a regular spaced Duncan 59. A Distortion Trembucker will not sound like a regular Distortion. You do not need a trem spaced pickup for the neck.
All of the pickups we are talking about here are passive. Duncan does make some active pickups, they are called Live Wires.
most of them are...the only active Duncans i can think of are the LiveWire Classic and the LiveWire Metal. unless there are other ones from the custom shop...
the SH-6 and TB-6 share the same tone.... The PATB-2 Distortion Trembucker is a bit darker, but just as high output... It´s a great pickup, but I think I have it in the wrong guitar (parrticularly bass-heavy Rhoads)