Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

panamang · Dec 23, 2005

Dropped a SH-6b Distortion into my fat strat bridge last night but am not happy about it. Have an Invader in my Epi Les Paul that has that thick, warm and heavy tone and am very satisfied. Wanted something similar but a little brighter in the fat strat so I picked up the Distortion. This humbucker sounds like Mud on Mud all the way through. The Invader has more tone than this thing! I own 3 different Duncans and am happy with all of them. This is my first disappointment. I pulled out the SH-6 and dropped in an old DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge. The DiMarzio smokes the Duncan. Guess I'll go on ebay to dump this pup. Too bad!

ranalli · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

I've never heard a Distortion described as muddy. Are you sure it was wired right or not defective??

panamang · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

It was wired up right, in series with the red/white tied together. It could be defective, I don't know. Output is good but very dull. Could phasing be a problem?

Benjy_26 · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Are you still running the stock 250k pots?

The DD seems to like pots that are at least 500k.

Kommerzbassist · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Uhm... I've heard many Distortions before... and what you described is definately not what a DD should sound like

panamang · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Running on 500k tone pots now. Sounds great when I pull out the Duncan Distortion and put the DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge. Other pups in guitar are a JB jr in the neck and a DiMarzio "Chopper" in the middle. They work fine. I must have a lemon! Thought this HB would be fairly bright but it is muddy throughout tone range. Dull. Ugh..........

Marcel · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

that sound like something is wrong

Davey · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

sounds very wrong

shred-dog · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

something is wrong, wrong, wrong a DD is anything but muddy

Marcel · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

do have an multi meter? so you could measure the dc resistance!

panamang · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Yes, have a multi meter at home and can check resistances when I get there. Another member has told me that he believes it is a phasing issue and that I should reverse connect the leads. Will also do this when I get home. Shouldn't the Duncan Distortion compare favorably with an old DiMarzio Super Distortion? Was hoping this would be an upgrade.

Dave Z · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Phasing only matters when you are selecting 2 pickups at one time. You wired in series according to your description, even if you ran black to grnd & green to hot (backwards) it should still sound the same.

Sludgenutz · Dec 23, 2005

Re: Duncan Distortion...a disappointment

Directly solder the pickup temporarily to the output jack, all by itself, and give it a listen.

Marcel · Dec 23, 2005