DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

A

AustinS

New member
Hi guys, I'm wanting to swap out the pickups in my guitar for something a little more to my tastes (they're vintage voiced and I like to play grunge and punk so they don't really cut it for me). I'm looking for a bridge pickup that's preferably higher output that has more harmonics and a crisp and clear neck pickup for to go with it. I was thinking a DiMarzio Mo Joe in the bridge and a Duncan Custom in the neck would work great for me, but I'm worried this pickup combination will be too unbalanced in output. What do you guys think, would they work? Thanks

EDIT: They're going into a PureSalem Mendiola (mahogany body and neck if you think it matters)
 
Last edited:
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

I am occasionally surprised by some pickup combinations I would not have thought would work well together. I would be VERY surprised if those two balanced well. I would almost think they would work better the other way around (custom bridge/Mo joe neck). If I were going for higher output and crisp and clear, I would go with a Custom in the bridge and a Jazz Neck.

You didn't say what guitar it is going in...
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

Mr. B said:
I am occasionally surprised by some pickup combinations I would not have thought would work well together. I would be VERY surprised if those two balanced well. I would almost think they would work better the other way around (custom bridge/Mo joe neck). If I were going for higher output and crisp and clear, I would go with a Custom in the bridge and a Jazz Neck.

You didn't say what guitar it is going in...
Click to expand...

Sorry I should've specified, it's going into a PureSalem Mendiola. I see what you're saying, i just love the sound of ceramic pickups clean so i was hoping the custom wouldn't overpower the bridge (I also love the sound of alnico pickups distorted so I'm in kind of a predicament here lol). Maybe I'm just being too picky
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

I wouldn't expect those two to balance very well either. DC resistance doesn't tell us everything, but the Mo Joe uses an A5 magnet and is wound to 9.7K so I'm guessing hot PAF in terms of output. The Duncan Custom OTOH is wound to 14.5K with a ceramic magnet and is far hotter than anything PAF-ish. If you want the brightness and clarity of a ceramic in the neck position, the Jazz is a good choice. I've been rocking the Custom / Jazz combo in my Explorer since 2003 and it's awesome.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

dystrust said:
I wouldn't expect those two to balance very well either. DC resistance doesn't tell us everything, but the Mo Joe uses an A5 magnet and is wound to 9.7K so I'm guessing hot PAF in terms of output. The Duncan Custom OTOH is wound to 14.5K with a ceramic magnet and is far hotter than anything PAF-ish. If you want the brightness and clarity of a ceramic in the neck position, the Jazz is a good choice. I've been rocking the Custom / Jazz combo in my Explorer since 2003 and it's awesome.
Click to expand...

That description helped me understand a lot, thanks :) I'll definitely look into the jazz now.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

AustinS said:
That description helped me understand a lot, thanks :) I'll definitely look into the jazz now.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that Seymour Duncan has a 21-day exchange policy on any pickup that you buy new. If you try the Jazz and find yourself wanting a bit more clarity and bite, go for a neck position Full Shred.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

The Jazz has an A5 magnet too, the only neck pups with ceramic magnets are pretty high output, like the Distortion neck, Black Winter neck, or the Invader neck.

If you really want a ceramic neck and an A5 bridge, you might try the Evolution neck with a Breed or Tone Zone in the bridge, or in Duncans maybe the Black Winter neck and a JB or Custom 5 in the brideg. Those are about the only combos I can come up with that might balance well.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

dystrust said:
I wouldn't expect those two to balance very well either. DC resistance doesn't tell us everything, but the Mo Joe uses an A5 magnet and is wound to 9.7K so I'm guessing hot PAF in terms of output. The Duncan Custom OTOH is wound to 14.5K with a ceramic magnet and is far hotter than anything PAF-ish. If you want the brightness and clarity of a ceramic in the neck position, the Jazz is a good choice. I've been rocking the Custom / Jazz combo in my Explorer since 2003 and it's awesome.
Click to expand...
Then do what was earlier suggested and put the Mo Jo in the neck with the Custom in the bridge.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

Yeah, I'd certainly put the Custom in the bridge. I don't think many people would like it in the neck position at all.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

i had a custom in the neck and it was fine for solos but for rhythm work it was thick and darker than i prefer. much better in the bridge
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

The Mo Joe might be better for the bridge, rather than the neck. I think the FRED might be a better option for either position. And there's also the PAF Joe, intended for the neck. Those sort of walk a line between vintage and shred.

The PAF Pro might be a strong contender. The cool thing about the PAF Pro is that it's good for either position, so you can get it first and try it in both slots before making a decision on what you want for the other position.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

In his OP, he wants a ceramic in the neck for cleans and an A5 in the bridge for dirt, tough recipe.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

I can't think of any ceramic magnet neck that is cleaner than the A-5 magnet Jazz.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

Mr. B said:
I can't think of any ceramic magnet neck that is cleaner than the A-5 magnet Jazz.
Click to expand...
Dimarzio D-Activator neck might be.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

devastone said:
In his OP, he wants a ceramic in the neck for cleans and an A5 in the bridge for dirt, tough recipe.
Click to expand...

And people in California want rain while people in Florida don't want to see clouds for a while. LOL!

Much like DCR doesn't equal output, magnets don't always equal the voicing.
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

Yeah I guess a ceramic in the neck and an A5 in the bridge is kind of unrealistic, thanks for all the info guys :) I would go for the DiMarzio gravity storm set because they have that configuration but the bridge will be way too smooth for me
 
Re: DiMarzio Mo Joe + Duncan Custom, unbalanced?

I don't think it's entirely unrealistic. In the end, try it and let your ears be the judge.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mincer
Seymour Duncan Announces The Joe Bonamassa "Bolin Burst" Humbucker Set!
2 3
Replies
40
Views
587
Masta' C
Masta' C
Mincer
Introducing The Joe Bonamassa "Greenburst" Stratocaster Pickup Set!
Replies
19
Views
514
jeremy
jeremy
I
Recommend a bridge pickup with less mid-range honk than the Duncan Custom
Replies
17
Views
425
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
midnite_man
humbucker comparison
Replies
13
Views
352
Mincer
Mincer
G
59/Custom
Replies
4
Views
181
Mincer
Mincer
Back
Top