Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

[FilipKo]

Hello,
I am considering venturing into passive pickup world, and these two pickups have sparked my interest. Currently I use EMGs - 81/85 and 57/66 sets. I like them overall, especially the 57/66 set but want to get rid of the battery in one guitar at least (it feels weird to have battery in guitar and I try to minimize amount of batteries I use) and have a bit more dynamics in my rhythm playing. I play mainly in Standard E and drop D and I want really tight and aggressive pickup with fast response and nice clarity when I play chords under high gain. I want it to sound mean and pissed off, crisp, as I do mainly heavy aggressive rhythm playing - lots of gallops, chugs, palm mutes, downpicking, single notes and stuff, mostly thrashy style, but also open chords, so it cannot mush out, but I need it to chug really well and cut really well, but not be overly harsh. From the Keith Merrows video, I liked the SH-5 the best soundwise, both in 6 and 7 string comparison. But few days ago Dominion sparked my interest, and I can get Dimarzio pickups considerably cheaper where I live, too. So, which is more aggressive and meaner sounding for heavy and fast rhythm playing? I know both are not very high output, but that should not be an issue (sometimes play metal on a Tele with standard single coil, sounds wicked) and some versatility for other styles would not hurt either. Or should I just get SH-6 or something and call it a day? Oh, and guitars are LP type guitars, but I might acquire more Ibanez-y guitars in future. Thanks

 

[Demanic]

Re: Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

If you can get the Dominion easily where you live, I don't think that you will be disappointed. It seems to work just fine for Mark Morton.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[FilipKo]

Re: Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

Yeah thanks, I can get both, but Dimarzio for cheaper, and as I would have to buy 2 pickups as a set for guitar, it would save some cash. If I did not find that Dominion few days ago, I would probably go for Custom right away. I just wanted to know which is more evil, tight, precise and aggressive sounding .

 

[OLDERBUDWISER]

Re: Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

I think the Nazgul should be on your radar as well

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

The Dominion is a cool pickup, but I wouldn't say it's close to the Custom. The Custom is scoopy, bassy, and bright. If there's a Duncan I'd compare the Dominion to, it would be the JB. Now, that's not to say the Dominion is a clone of the JB, but it has about the same output, and both have a strong mid emphasis. The Dominion however, has a stronger, more dynamic attack. The mid emphasis seems to be shifted down from the high mids of the JB too. The Dominion also has a faster, bolder low-end that's a bit leaner and less stuffy in the low mids. I almost like to think of it as a Duncan Distortion light with a touch of those DiMarzio AWWW mids.

I guess my point is, if liked the clips of the Custom, and you didn't particularly like what you heard of the JB or Distortion, I don't think the Dominion would be your thing.

 

[FilipKo]

Re: Dimarzio Dominion vs Duncan SH-5

Thanks. Yeah, the thing I liked about the custom most in demos was its brutal chugging tone, tightness and good clarity. But those demos were downtuned and also a different style of playing than mine. Distortion sounded cool too, but I found it a bit too harsh/ grainy, not in a best way with some spike in upper mids or treble probably, but I would be able to live with that. JB seemed a bit flubby to me. The thing I liked about Dominion in demos was how fast and precise it is, but mostly its almost whip-like, juicy attack (similiar to BW in demo) that might actually suit my playing style a bit better, as long as its palm mutes are aggressive enough (maybe turning up treble would be enough to accomplish this as i like pretty aggressive tone). I like EMG 85 in the bridge more than 81, and 57 most of those three, so I like mid emphasis in pickups, but it has to have some aggression. There may be a difference in my preferences between something I hear in a pickup demo and between sound I feel/enjoy when I play. Well, maybe I will toss a coin and see