Duality

[Calsip]

Hey guys,

I am thinking about trying the duality pickups in an EC-1000. My big question was how do they sound compared to other pickups that are active like the EMG 81/85 set? How do they sound compared to other active PU’s with the EC 1000 guitars? What’s the tone profile? Are they any better than just a plain old passives? I read that they combine the best of active and passive and have watched videos with comparisons but would like this communities input.

I am currently Using a Jazz/JB set and do not like that upper-midrange spike associated with the JB coming out of a V30 speaker.

Thanks in advance!


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[Calsip]

So nobody?

 

[beaubrummels]

I think only a couple guys on here have experience with the Dualitys. Maybe Jolly? Can't remember who, sorry.

 

[Masta' C]

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/for...608-brief-review-of-the-duality-bridge-pickup

Nothing like the EMG 81/85 at all. Really the most "passive-like" active pickups you can get and more like the PRS 57/08 set in voicing. After I gave my thoughts on the bridge model (linked above), I got a neck to try out. Very nicely matched set, but ultimately not quite what I was after, even though they sounded great!

 

[Calsip]

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/for...608-brief-review-of-the-duality-bridge-pickup

Nothing like the EMG 81/85 at all. Really the most "passive-like" active pickups you can get and more like the PRS 57/08 set in voicing. After I gave my thoughts on the bridge model (linked above), I got a neck to try out. Very nicely matched set, but ultimately not quite what I was after, even though they sounded great!

So you would not advise these for metalcore/hardcore then?


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[Masta' C]

So you would not advise these for metalcore/hardcore then?

That really comes down to your amp setup, if I'm being brutally honest. I have no doubts that the Duality set could be dialed in for killer metalcore/hardcore tones, especially the more modern takes on those styles that let the low end shine through, but the attack isn't going to be as strict and percussive as your traditional EMG setup without some EQ tweaking. On the other hand, I would argue that the Dualities are more versatile than your traditional EMG's if you tend to incorporate other styles, so there's that.

FYI...there's a clean zebra set on Reverb for $100 right now. At that price, I'd say just grab 'em, play through your own setup, and decide for yourself!

 

[Demanic]

That really comes down to your amp setup, if I'm being brutally honest. I have no doubts that the Duality set could be dialed in for killer metalcore/hardcore tones, especially the more modern takes on those styles that let the low end shine through, but the attack isn't going to be as strict and percussive as your traditional EMG setup without some EQ tweaking. On the other hand, I would argue that the Dualities are more versatile than your traditional EMG's if you tend to incorporate other styles, so there's that.

FYI...there's a clean zebra set on Reverb for $100 right now. At that price, I'd say just grab 'em, play through your own setup, and decide for yourself!

Couldn't a compressor be used to accentuate the attack?

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[Dahla]

Couldn't a compressor be used to accentuate the attack?

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Probably, given the right compressor and right settings. But if that is the mindset, OP i probably better off with an eq pedal to make his JB/Jazz work, not new pickups to begin with…


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[Masta' C]

So you would not advise these for metalcore/hardcore then?

That's sort of a loaded question!

I think they could work very well for metalcore/hardcore styles, but that's really going to come down to your particular rig and playing style. Plenty of guys have used stock Les Pauls and gotten great MC/HC tones, so pickups aren't the only factor.

That said, expect the Dualities to require more tweaking than your typical EMGs to get a sound that cuts through a mix and you may find the lows and/or highs are a bit overly emphasized, depending on your amp.

If I was to get another set of Dualities, I would experiment with swapping the magnets to A5 or Ceramic. One of the benefits of the Duality design was, as I recall, that magnets could be swapped. Wish Duncan would have done more with these...

Couldn't a compressor be used to accentuate the attack?

I typically dial in a small bit of compression with my own metal tones, but I never thought to try a compressor with the Duality set. Maybe I should have... Certainly not a bad suggestion!

 

[JOLLY]

I think only a couple guys on here have experience with the Dualitys. Maybe Jolly? Can't remember who, sorry.

This is kind of an ironic post. I don't have any experience with the Duality pickups, but I am about to. I've been thinking about buying some for about the past month. I was about to buy some from a guy on ebay, that I bought some Guys G Fire pickups from recently. I decided to look on Reverb just for the hell of it when I saw and bought the pickups that I believe Masta C was talking about. I figured since I had bought them, I would hop on the forum and see if anyone had any opinions of them.... that's when I saw this thread.

 

[beaubrummels]

This is kind of an ironic post. I don't have any experience with the Duality pickups, but I am about to. I've been thinking about buying some for about the past month. I was about to buy some from a guy on ebay, that I bought some Guys G Fire pickups from recently. I decided to look on Reverb just for the hell of it when I saw and bought the pickups that I believe Masta C was talking about. I figured since I had bought them, I would hop on the forum and see if anyone had any opinions of them.... that's when I saw this thread.

Ha that is pretty funny. I just remembered you had like 50+ clips of Duncan pickups going on, so I thought there must be Dualitys in there also.

 

[JOLLY]

Ha that is pretty funny. I just remembered you had like 50+ clips of Duncan pickups going on, so I thought there must be Dualitys in there also.

There will be within a couple of hours after they arrive.

 

[Masta' C]

That's awesome! Glad someone snagged those...very tempting at that price!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

 

[beaubrummels]

There will be within a couple of hours after they arrive.

BTW off topic, but can we get that thread of yours with links to all the Duncan samples stickied here somewhere? Mincer ?

 

[Mincer]

Send me the link.