Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
but what did eddie use?
but what did eddie use?
Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
- Thread starter GuitarGuru88
- Start date
notryt
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
My c-1 plus originally had hb-103s in it ( pre-2005) when I modded it and put in the tap I replaced the 103s with the 102s. I found the 103s to be harsh, flat, and dog whistle like... I have never liked scooped sound. but to do it with an amp setting is one thing. To make a pickup that out of the box produces the tone is very limiting.. I thought that's what they sell pedals and modelers for. The 103s are very limited. neck position no mids.. bridge..BOW WOW:eyecrazy:
My c-1 plus originally had hb-103s in it ( pre-2005) when I modded it and put in the tap I replaced the 103s with the 102s. I found the 103s to be harsh, flat, and dog whistle like... I have never liked scooped sound. but to do it with an amp setting is one thing. To make a pickup that out of the box produces the tone is very limiting.. I thought that's what they sell pedals and modelers for. The 103s are very limited. neck position no mids.. bridge..BOW WOW:eyecrazy:
nicholaspaul
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
The idea of preferring a cheaper pickup to the name brand variety is perfectly reasonable. If your ears tell you it sounds better, go with it. Don't let the price tag fool you!
The idea of preferring a cheaper pickup to the name brand variety is perfectly reasonable. If your ears tell you it sounds better, go with it. Don't let the price tag fool you!
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
I just swapped my designed for the real ones on my Schecter Diamond Gryphon, they are just completely different pickups altogether. I found the designed ones had a cool DJent type sound when in single coil mode, but were mostly just picking up way to much stuff and making for muffly mixes so matter the amp or modelers I tried. The SH-6B sounds great, it's much better. You can open up the highs and not worry about scratchy noises and the lows don't sound like you're playing a bass guitar on the top string lol. But they certainly could have their use if you view them as their own type of pickup with a unique sound. The designed also had like no sustain, BUT had an awesome pick attack I don't get with the real ones. But this is just my first day with the real duncans and I would NEVER go back. I'm not even detuned yet and getting some serious harmonics and sustain. Everything just works, when you want harmonics they are there, when you mute it's there...no muffly randomness or craziness just great balance and dynamics.
I just swapped my designed for the real ones on my Schecter Diamond Gryphon, they are just completely different pickups altogether. I found the designed ones had a cool DJent type sound when in single coil mode, but were mostly just picking up way to much stuff and making for muffly mixes so matter the amp or modelers I tried. The SH-6B sounds great, it's much better. You can open up the highs and not worry about scratchy noises and the lows don't sound like you're playing a bass guitar on the top string lol. But they certainly could have their use if you view them as their own type of pickup with a unique sound. The designed also had like no sustain, BUT had an awesome pick attack I don't get with the real ones. But this is just my first day with the real duncans and I would NEVER go back. I'm not even detuned yet and getting some serious harmonics and sustain. Everything just works, when you want harmonics they are there, when you mute it's there...no muffly randomness or craziness just great balance and dynamics.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
Now, if I were only smart enough to discern opinions from facts…
Now, if I were only smart enough to discern opinions from facts…
M
malymal86
Guest
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
I'm waiting for my first DD HB-102 pup in the mail! It's going in my strat project....
I'm waiting for my first DD HB-102 pup in the mail! It's going in my strat project....
GinoAmes
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
YES they do! Trust me on that one!
YES they do! Trust me on that one!
notryt
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
the hb-102s are a bit hotter than the SD's. the 102b(modeled after the jb) is a arguably a bit darker pickup than its duncan counterpart.. and I can not really discern any real difference in the output between the 2 but I know the duncan designed meters hotter. I compensate for the extended low end by setting my amps low setting form 11 o'clock to 9ish and thats it... I can understand why someone would draw the opinion that it sounds like a bass playing the Low-e . I still think the HB-102s sound better or as good as the seymour duncans. Ive put the 102 sets in 3 of my hollow bodies and have one with giovanni gvh-2s (alnico 3 magnets) all 4 sound good
the hb-102s are a bit hotter than the SD's. the 102b(modeled after the jb) is a arguably a bit darker pickup than its duncan counterpart.. and I can not really discern any real difference in the output between the 2 but I know the duncan designed meters hotter. I compensate for the extended low end by setting my amps low setting form 11 o'clock to 9ish and thats it... I can understand why someone would draw the opinion that it sounds like a bass playing the Low-e . I still think the HB-102s sound better or as good as the seymour duncans. Ive put the 102 sets in 3 of my hollow bodies and have one with giovanni gvh-2s (alnico 3 magnets) all 4 sound good
Last edited:
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
This thread has died twice, yet still comes back to haunt us all. Halloween is over guys.
This thread has died twice, yet still comes back to haunt us all. Halloween is over guys.
SAVAGE DISTORTION
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
the newest 102's from the last 3-5 years are all just as good as the usa made ones.
for whatever reason the asian made products(korea,indonesia,china) are really on par these days.
that goes for guitars,amp,pickups and whatever else,
have a DD 102 from 1997 and one from 2011 and the newer one is the same as any JB i have owned. the 1997 one is bassier/muddier/hotter
the newest 102's from the last 3-5 years are all just as good as the usa made ones.
for whatever reason the asian made products(korea,indonesia,china) are really on par these days.
that goes for guitars,amp,pickups and whatever else,
have a DD 102 from 1997 and one from 2011 and the newer one is the same as any JB i have owned. the 1997 one is bassier/muddier/hotter
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
I can't decide if the sheer amount of false information presented in this thread is more amazing or amusing...
I can't decide if the sheer amount of false information presented in this thread is more amazing or amusing...
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
yeah, I'm sure the guitar around the pickup couldn't have anything to do with how it sounds, right?
In particular with random-country Schecters which are all made of so consistent wood.
yeah, I'm sure the guitar around the pickup couldn't have anything to do with how it sounds, right?
In particular with random-country Schecters which are all made of so consistent wood.
FluffChop
New member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
You always post this sort of comment in old threads. It just adds so much to the conversation at hand :rocket:
If people are posting then it's currently a thread. If people wish to close a thread they can do so.
On topic, I had in 1996 a Samick Blues Saraceno model which had Duncan Designed pickups which were fine for Jazz to Rock. I've also had plenty of Hamer Specials from the 90's with original Seymour Duncans. I remember swapping in a couple of different Dimarzio choices in that guitar to better judge the quality of the Duncan Designed pickups as I was suspect about them. I think if you can't get a useable tone out of the Duncan Designed pickups it's probably not the pickups fault but rather the amp. Seymour Duncan is a name you are paying a premium for, but other pickups made in Asia also work well. There is far more to getting a good sound than JUST weather you have Duncan Designed or Seymour Duncan pickups. Of course many on this board won't see it that way and insist on using Seymour Duncans and that's fine. For myself having been through more than half the Seymour Duncan catalogue of humbuckers in all manner of guitars I am even less convinced that having originals matters in the slightest. As always opinions are like *******s and I admit mine stinks. Just get in there with the Klennex cottonelles and all is well lol. Amps and speakers matter!!!
Really? A thread from 2005?
You always post this sort of comment in old threads. It just adds so much to the conversation at hand :rocket:
If people are posting then it's currently a thread. If people wish to close a thread they can do so.
On topic, I had in 1996 a Samick Blues Saraceno model which had Duncan Designed pickups which were fine for Jazz to Rock. I've also had plenty of Hamer Specials from the 90's with original Seymour Duncans. I remember swapping in a couple of different Dimarzio choices in that guitar to better judge the quality of the Duncan Designed pickups as I was suspect about them. I think if you can't get a useable tone out of the Duncan Designed pickups it's probably not the pickups fault but rather the amp. Seymour Duncan is a name you are paying a premium for, but other pickups made in Asia also work well. There is far more to getting a good sound than JUST weather you have Duncan Designed or Seymour Duncan pickups. Of course many on this board won't see it that way and insist on using Seymour Duncans and that's fine. For myself having been through more than half the Seymour Duncan catalogue of humbuckers in all manner of guitars I am even less convinced that having originals matters in the slightest. As always opinions are like *******s and I admit mine stinks. Just get in there with the Klennex cottonelles and all is well lol. Amps and speakers matter!!!
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Duncan Designed HB-102 sounds better than a Duncan JB!!!!!
You resd this thread for a 4th! time to add that? If the thread was useful and had good info in it I would be a bit more sympathetic but its a train wreck and then adding a little anecdotal quip to it is like trying to put a cherry on a dog turd.
You resd this thread for a 4th! time to add that? If the thread was useful and had good info in it I would be a bit more sympathetic but its a train wreck and then adding a little anecdotal quip to it is like trying to put a cherry on a dog turd.
Similar threads
- Featured
