DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

[book_of_lies777]

I'm about this close (holds fingers an inch apart) from buying an X2N for the bridge of my Epi LP, to be my "metal" guitar - I've got a Lil'59 in my Strat, and I love it - so which Duncan would be a viable/possible alternative to the X2N? Like I said, this is going to be my go-to axe for the heavy stuff...

thanks in advance!

 

[Diego]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

Are you going for a modern metal tone or it's 80s oriented?

Oh and by the way, welcome to the madhouse.

 

[book_of_lies777]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

Are you going for a modern metal tone or it's 80s oriented?

Oh and by the way, welcome to the madhouse.

modern metal - I can get the 80s stuff with my Strat, ala Maiden & Priest *thumbs up*

and thanks for the welcome!

 

[Diego]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

No problem.

If you're going for a really tight sound, and you are willing to forget about any decent clean tones on the bridge, the Dimebucker is a common, although very discussed choice among the 'family'. :fing2:

Also, never overlook the Duncan Custom. It may not qualify as a modern metal pickup on it's description, but it can nail heavy tones and add lots of chunk as well. It doesn't have any resemblance at all with the Dimarzio X2N... but it can do it.

Good luck brother!

 

[Jay 77]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

yeah the custom in an LP is wicked. huge sounds all around, and awesome harmonics

 

[kneadmomunny]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

x2n in my lp is a very warm rounded 80's tone. and, shredding gets mushy really easily.:no:

you want something like the dimebucker, or maybe an active pup :11: for most "modern metal"

metallica uses emg 8*, the livewire metal sounds pretty sweet through an amp that can handle it.

dimarzio has some pretty bright metal sounding pups though if you want one of theirs. i have no experience with dimarzio other than the x2n though.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

the LP has to much Wood for X2N IMO.Go with the Original Trembucker PATB-1..
1)The best Harmonics you can get from a Duncan
2)Every tone is really well pronounced
3)Lead tones are awesome!

if you need more bite try the PATB2..It is little more loose than the PATB1 ,and has more top ,and high mids.Sounds nastier.

The Duncan Distortion is a common choice for LP ,and it is one of the rawest and heaviest PUs on earth.

If you want to pay more and go some Butiqoe ,try BAreKnuckle Miracle Man..

Welcome to SD Forum anfd good luck!

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

I never tried it but heard very good reviews from metal guys. The Full Shred.

 

[Martian]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

The Invader is probably closest to the X2N.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

If you're going for the icepick in the forehead sound, then the X2N is it.

 

[book_of_lies777]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

If you're going for the icepick in the forehead sound, then the X2N is it.

there's this guy named Chuck Schuldiner, who unfortunately passed away a few yers ago, that used the X2N exclusively, and he sounded pretty freakin' sweet to me, as far as metal tones go...

I play everything from Deep Purple to black metal, so this is gonna be my "extreme" guitar sound. :fing2: My Strat and Tele can handle the other stuff...

 

[Aceman]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

I recently played an LP with an X2N. An ok tone. I've mainly dealt with these in strat thypes. Awesomely powerful mega-pup. and I hate to sound like a DiMarzio add, but definitely wire it for parrellel and series also. The parellel sound for cleans in an LP might be great. The single is fairly smokin' for single coil also. But like I said - I only really like it in stratty guitars for obnoxios loud. It's really for pimp-slapping the bejesus out of a preamp tube. Otherwise totally uncalled for. I don't know that Duncan has a similar enough pup

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

I def wouldn't put an X2N in a LP unless it's basically all mahogany. The X2N has decent bass but it really is all mids and treble. kinda like a Gibson 500T but totally outta control.

Basically, using an X2N is like plunging a ginsu knife into your ear. sometimes I'm into that though.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

I never tried it but heard very good reviews from metal guys. The Full Shred.

The full shred in an LP is tone heaven, it totally cleans up the "les paul mud" and turns it into a chainsaw, lol.

 

[Colma]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

invader wont hit anything close to the X2N.
if your bent on SD i really cant help you.
but if your looking for an alternative i personally have to give the BKP miracle man a thumbs up for being slightly more organic while still retaining the harmonics of the X2N

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

If you want a straight-up heavy-sounding LP there are lots of options available depending on your rig and stuff. If you crank a decent tube amp and use an OD pedal, 59's or other PAF's would probably work (didn't Tony Iommi mostly use PAF's and *gasp* P90's?)

If you're looking for the modern, super-growly, gainy sound, I would actually recommend EMG's...the 81 never stops sounding pissed and the 85 never stops sounding smoothe. Good combo for METAWWWLLL.

And for what it's worth...my go-to-guitar for metal has a Custom Custom in the bridge.

-X

 

[Fusion1]

Re: DiMarzio X2N vs. which Duncan?

I'd vote the Invader with hex poles for the bridge of that LP. Eitherthat or the X2N, you shouldn't be disappointed. The X2N has a nice treble response and in a LP even with 300k pots it will sound much better than stock Gibsons or even a Duncan Distortion and he DD is my favorite Duncan. Just with the wood of the LP an X2N works better.