Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
- Thread starter motorhead
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Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
I've heard and read that they are a SD Jazz/Custom wind with a specific set of magnets, as to which magnets SD can't say due to a nondisclosure agreement.
A forum bro used to have a set and they measured 7 and some change for the neck and high 14s low 15's for the bridge. This puts them within the +-5% range for Duncans figures.
Luke
I've heard and read that they are a SD Jazz/Custom wind with a specific set of magnets, as to which magnets SD can't say due to a nondisclosure agreement.
A forum bro used to have a set and they measured 7 and some change for the neck and high 14s low 15's for the bridge. This puts them within the +-5% range for Duncans figures.
Luke
motorhead
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
Thanks.
The neck PU is too thick to be a Jazz which is why I would like to know the magnet and if possible the wire size and coating.
The bridge PU is mid to low perceived output. I forget what it measures in ohms but that definitely didn't match the tone of the Custom or the CC and more like an '78 EVH.
Thanks.
The neck PU is too thick to be a Jazz which is why I would like to know the magnet and if possible the wire size and coating.
The bridge PU is mid to low perceived output. I forget what it measures in ohms but that definitely didn't match the tone of the Custom or the CC and more like an '78 EVH.
motorhead
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
You had to make me check
... but you're right!
Bridge -13.6k
Neck - 7.2k
I can't say why I though the bridge was a lot lower. Probably because it sounds more vintage then the CC.
The neck is probably a customized version of the Seth Lover but I'd love to know for sure.
You had to make me check
... but you're right!
Bridge -13.6k
Neck - 7.2k
I can't say why I though the bridge was a lot lower. Probably because it sounds more vintage then the CC.
The neck is probably a customized version of the Seth Lover but I'd love to know for sure.
noth
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
A blurb from Ed Roman's site. Take from it what you will...
"The Black/Back Pickup is a proprietary pickup owned & designed by The Ultratone division of New Technologies Ltd.
Seymour Duncan actually manufactures the pickups in their custom shop. The Technology is owned by several different parties and it is almost impossible to patent. The R&D costs alone to try to get a patent for this product would be astronomical. The patent would also have to extend to the mounting system and wiring in the guitar. The possibilities are quite broad. Therefore anyone who is involved in the project is sworn to secrecy and has to sign a non disclosure agreement.
The original product was named Black/Back ND. ND meant non disclosure. However many people thought that ND stood for Neo Dimium which is a rare earth magnetic element. Neo Dimium is a more expensive magnet than Aluminum Nickel Cobalt (Alnico) and of course much more costly than standard ceramic magnets. Many people have heard of the Electrovoice "NDYM" Microphones "Pronounced endime". These Microphones came out in the early 90's & they literally blew the Shure SM 57 and 58 out of the water. Today many speaker companies are also using Neo Dimium technology when they want much more powerful magnets.
These pickups are slightly more expensive than the usual Duncan pickups. Although we have been told numerous times that our price of $89.95 each is much lower than they would have expected to pay. We have also been told that people have paid that much for the normal Duncan pickups.
On the discontinued Eddie Van Halen guitars the lower brass assembly and back were painted black. This is where the name Black/Back TM came from. New Technologies has simply trademarked the black painted backs in an effort to try to lock out competition. There are a few people who are Grand-fathered in before the trademark was granted so be careful. Make sure the guitar is a Seymour Duncan. Some of the very early ones about 350 were manufactured under license by Dimarzio. We have seen these sell on Ebay for $275.00 a pickup. We think that is ludicrous because the Seymour Duncan product is far superior in quality. We do have several sets of totally Brand New Dimarzio Black/Backs in stock. If you are a Dimarzio freak then please give us a call.
I realize of course that tone and sound are objective. I also know that these pickups aren't for everybody. But I feel they are the most powerful, clean and controllable pickups I have ever used. Originally they were designed for the LSR line of guitars back in 1997 and today there are about 14 companies that use them.
Seymour Duncan was not the first company to produce the Black/Back pickups for New/Tech. But Seymour Duncan was the company that helped them perfect it.
The Black/Backs are a matched set, You can use them separately of course but they are a matched set. One is specifically for the bridge position while the other one is made for the neck position.
You should never mount a single coil pickup in between them. Magnetism from the center magnet will interfere and alter the intended sound..
more coming STAY TUNED
ED
We also recommended that utilizing 2 pickups would sound better than just using one. However we have heard these pickups used individually and the still sound great."
My take on it is most of it is probably true, with a little BS thrown in here and there to hype it. It would be great if an SD rep could clarify.
Noth
A blurb from Ed Roman's site. Take from it what you will...
"The Black/Back Pickup is a proprietary pickup owned & designed by The Ultratone division of New Technologies Ltd.
Seymour Duncan actually manufactures the pickups in their custom shop. The Technology is owned by several different parties and it is almost impossible to patent. The R&D costs alone to try to get a patent for this product would be astronomical. The patent would also have to extend to the mounting system and wiring in the guitar. The possibilities are quite broad. Therefore anyone who is involved in the project is sworn to secrecy and has to sign a non disclosure agreement.
The original product was named Black/Back ND. ND meant non disclosure. However many people thought that ND stood for Neo Dimium which is a rare earth magnetic element. Neo Dimium is a more expensive magnet than Aluminum Nickel Cobalt (Alnico) and of course much more costly than standard ceramic magnets. Many people have heard of the Electrovoice "NDYM" Microphones "Pronounced endime". These Microphones came out in the early 90's & they literally blew the Shure SM 57 and 58 out of the water. Today many speaker companies are also using Neo Dimium technology when they want much more powerful magnets.
These pickups are slightly more expensive than the usual Duncan pickups. Although we have been told numerous times that our price of $89.95 each is much lower than they would have expected to pay. We have also been told that people have paid that much for the normal Duncan pickups.
On the discontinued Eddie Van Halen guitars the lower brass assembly and back were painted black. This is where the name Black/Back TM came from. New Technologies has simply trademarked the black painted backs in an effort to try to lock out competition. There are a few people who are Grand-fathered in before the trademark was granted so be careful. Make sure the guitar is a Seymour Duncan. Some of the very early ones about 350 were manufactured under license by Dimarzio. We have seen these sell on Ebay for $275.00 a pickup. We think that is ludicrous because the Seymour Duncan product is far superior in quality. We do have several sets of totally Brand New Dimarzio Black/Backs in stock. If you are a Dimarzio freak then please give us a call.
I realize of course that tone and sound are objective. I also know that these pickups aren't for everybody. But I feel they are the most powerful, clean and controllable pickups I have ever used. Originally they were designed for the LSR line of guitars back in 1997 and today there are about 14 companies that use them.
Seymour Duncan was not the first company to produce the Black/Back pickups for New/Tech. But Seymour Duncan was the company that helped them perfect it.
The Black/Backs are a matched set, You can use them separately of course but they are a matched set. One is specifically for the bridge position while the other one is made for the neck position.
You should never mount a single coil pickup in between them. Magnetism from the center magnet will interfere and alter the intended sound..
more coming STAY TUNED
ED
We also recommended that utilizing 2 pickups would sound better than just using one. However we have heard these pickups used individually and the still sound great."
My take on it is most of it is probably true, with a little BS thrown in here and there to hype it. It would be great if an SD rep could clarify.
Noth
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
A SD rep did give a statement on this a while back. The bottom line was, he reinforced the fact that they were proprietary and contractual obligations forbid any disclosure. So, without giving out any information, we were simply referred to consult Ed Roman directly.
A SD rep did give a statement on this a while back. The bottom line was, he reinforced the fact that they were proprietary and contractual obligations forbid any disclosure. So, without giving out any information, we were simply referred to consult Ed Roman directly.
Last edited:
motorhead
New member
johnny blackwater
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
I have a bridge black back that has a smokey chrome cover on it with "Seymour Duncan" in a small block type font, on the lower right hand corner of the cover. it`s a four conductor model, and the screw coil measures 7.31 ohms, and the slug coil is 6.25 ohms, for a total of 13.56, so there is part of the secret! its basicly a Duncan C5 with mismatched coils, It sounds like an A5 magnet to me, kind of like an A5 mag. CC/`59 hybrid, with the treble rolled off a little. Nice!!
I have a bridge black back that has a smokey chrome cover on it with "Seymour Duncan" in a small block type font, on the lower right hand corner of the cover. it`s a four conductor model, and the screw coil measures 7.31 ohms, and the slug coil is 6.25 ohms, for a total of 13.56, so there is part of the secret! its basicly a Duncan C5 with mismatched coils, It sounds like an A5 magnet to me, kind of like an A5 mag. CC/`59 hybrid, with the treble rolled off a little. Nice!!
motorhead
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
Interesting!
I did not think of checking each coil seperately. I'll have to do the same for the neck PU.
I really like the bridge Black Back PU for it has this textured sound.
Interesting!
I did not think of checking each coil seperately. I'll have to do the same for the neck PU.
I really like the bridge Black Back PU for it has this textured sound.
motorhead
New member
Re: Duncan Black Back (Neck) Specs
I think the brige black Back is very unique sounding. Reminds me of a more articulate and less middy/dark Rio Grande BBQ.
The neck version isn't much to talk about which is why I would like to know how it is made.
I think the brige black Back is very unique sounding. Reminds me of a more articulate and less middy/dark Rio Grande BBQ.
The neck version isn't much to talk about which is why I would like to know how it is made.
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