Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

A

amithkallupalam

New member
Hey people.
Im gonna get a guitar soon. http://www.cortguitars.com/en/product/cr250
These are the two pickups I've decided for the bridge. Which on would be better? I'll be playing cleans, classic rock, hard rock, metal, heavy metal and metalcore. Im part of a hard-rock/heavy metal band too. But we cover a lot of songs ranging from early rock to modern metalcore.. So which one would be better? I need really tight bass and also good mids and highs. Nice harmonic response.. When I palm mute on my current guitar, there is a lot of loose bass.. I can hear the BMMMMMM sustain after I palm mute once even when the bass is 0. And about the neck pickup. masta 'C advised me to get the sh-6n because its a good neck pickups and it has a good tone. Any inputs on this? Ill need the guitar to do good cleans too so the name Duncan Distortion is a little misleading.... Thanks in advance and please help me out!
Amith.
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

Both will do what you want but the custom will be a bit better at the early rock. Its cleans are better also but neither has good cleans imo. I say use a neck pup for cleans.
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

The Custom might have a bit too much low end for your taste 'cause it's a really fat sounding pickup. It's tight but the bass is huge. The Distortion has a little more edge and graininess to it, the bass is tighter and a bit less present. It an LP type of guitar, the Distortion will work for all kinds of heavier rock/metal. It's a lot more than just a metal monster and in the right guitar, it delivers awesome crunchy rock tones.

For the neck position, I'd suggest something with lower output since you wanna cover lots of different styles. The '59 is an awesome pickup for all kinds of leads - from cleans and blues to hard rock and metal. The Jazz is another option if you want a little more clarity/cut in the highs and a tighter low end.

This video shows the ESP Gus G RS NT-II loaded with the Distortion (SH-6) in the bridge and the '59 in the neck and it sounds fantastic for both metal and hard rock applications (even for bluesy stuff!).
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

based on my experience with the DD, it might not be what you want if you want it to pull off clean tones. my suggestion would be the JB. and based on what you say you play and that you want to avoid a loose low end, a Full Shred neck might be worth looking in to.
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

Thanks people but just so you know, I could just roll down the volume knob a little to reduce output :P . So are you guys saying that the SH-6n isn't good for cleans?
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

amithkallupalam said:
So are you guys saying that the SH-6n isn't good for cleans?
Click to expand...

in my experience, no.

but that was with a push/pull to split the coils, and using the same amp setting that I use to get clean tones from every other pickup I have. it was giving me gritty, grainy, distorted sounds on a split coil on a clean amp setting. so for my setup and my rig, no. I can say that I'd never had that with any of the other pickups I have or have tried - JB, Full Shred, X500XL, '59, PG, Hot Rails, Cool Rails, Demons, Tone Zone, Air Norton, J90C, PATB1.

but that is just my experience. others may have had better luck.
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

If your goal is to play cleans on your bridge pickup, you should go for something low output. Though you can get pretty decent clean tones from the DD if you roll down your volume knob a bit. But your cleans will sound much better with the neck pickup ('59 or Jazz) or both pickups anyway so why worry about that? You can't have it all. From what you described, either the DD/59 or the DD/Jazz combo should be perfect for your guitar and cover all the styles you've mentioned ;)
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

amithkallupalam said:
Thanks people but just so you know, I could just roll down the volume knob a little to reduce output :P . So are you guys saying that the SH-6n isn't good for cleans?
Click to expand...

Totally depends on the guitar. In my Les Paul, it was an abortion. In my PRS, it's heavenly. I've gotten some of the best clean tones in my life out of it, but only with the volume rolled down about halfway.
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

I've had both pups in the bridge of my Parker which is my "modern metal" guitar and I preferred the Distortion to the Custom....for me the Custom was slighty tighter on the bottom end but the Distortion has a sizzle and cut that the Custom lacked.....Custom is a great PU I just preferred the Distortion.....
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

Thanks for the replies people.
@misterwhizzy
Damn, so it wont work well with a les paul eh?
 
Re: Duncan Custom TB-5 VS Duncan Distortion TH-6

amithkallupalam said:
Thanks for the replies people.
@misterwhizzy
Damn, so it wont work well with a les paul eh?
Click to expand...

I'm just telling you my experience. I ended up getting real close to liking it with an Alnico 5 in there. The stock magnet just said, "Eeeewwww," all the time, and I agreed with it. (It was a very voweley sound, if that makes any sense, like an open wah.) I ended up settling on a 59n with Alnico 4 after a bunch of tweaking. By the way, I really dislike anything A2 in the neck.
 
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