Duncan Distortion alternative
- Thread starter Khaine
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deathbyguitar
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Have you considered swapping the Distortion's magnet for a regular-sized ceramic magnet? I've put ceramic JB's in all of my guitars for the last 10 years or so and it gave me the middle ground I was looking for. JB's sound really nice but palm mutes are a bit fiubby and it doesn't sound great for drop tunings. The Distortion is cool but too aggressive, IMO. A ceramic JB was the sweet spot for me. Funny thing is I came on here tonight to make a post about the differences between JB's and Distortions outside of the magnets. Will make another thread though to not derail this one...but I'd imagine the Distortion with a regular size magnet will be exactly what you're looking for.
Have you considered swapping the Distortion's magnet for a regular-sized ceramic magnet? I've put ceramic JB's in all of my guitars for the last 10 years or so and it gave me the middle ground I was looking for. JB's sound really nice but palm mutes are a bit fiubby and it doesn't sound great for drop tunings. The Distortion is cool but too aggressive, IMO. A ceramic JB was the sweet spot for me. Funny thing is I came on here tonight to make a post about the differences between JB's and Distortions outside of the magnets. Will make another thread though to not derail this one...but I'd imagine the Distortion with a regular size magnet will be exactly what you're looking for.
deathbyguitar
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?320431-THE-MISTERY-OF-DOKKENBUCKER-!!!!!!!!
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?320431-THE-MISTERY-OF-DOKKENBUCKER-!!!!!!!!
deathbyguitar
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Yeah it looks like a JB+/Distortion Lite or whatever you wanna call it. Again, OP...give it a shot. They sell ceramic 8 mags at Mojotone for a few bucks...and the BAM! New pickup!
Yeah it looks like a JB+/Distortion Lite or whatever you wanna call it. Again, OP...give it a shot. They sell ceramic 8 mags at Mojotone for a few bucks...and the BAM! New pickup!
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Silly question : Why not just turn the guitar volume down or the amp gain down? That is what I do with my DD bridge
By the way, I don't wire a tone knob, I guess it helps to keep some high end when turning the guitar volume down. That or lower the pickups what I did.
Silly question : Why not just turn the guitar volume down or the amp gain down? That is what I do with my DD bridge
By the way, I don't wire a tone knob, I guess it helps to keep some high end when turning the guitar volume down. That or lower the pickups what I did.
vinta9e
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
For what it's worth Duncan themselves used to recommend the Full Shred as a Distortion alternative when you'd rather trade some of the aggression for more articulation. The FS can be pretty awesome in low tunings as it stays tight on the low end but retains the alnico "flow" in leads.
I am currently working on a guitar that shunned the JB for being too muddy, then the Demon for being too scooped and feeble, and the Distortion which was brutal as expected - but a little too much over the top. I am now going to plant a Full Shred there and see what happens. It should fix both the DD's "buzzsaw" or "screaming through a megaphone" quality and the Demon's "underdrive". Lacking a better metaphor, the Distortion felt as if the accelerator pedal stuck wide open hooked on a ridge in the floor mat while the Demon felt as if the floor mat curled up under the accelerator so the latter doesn't depress beyond 30%.
Based on prior experience, I expect the FS to mesh better with everything although I haven't yet had the chance to test the new setup. Whenever I choose pickups I try to guess the overall picture in rather vague terms but I cannot predict if each particular pickup in each particular guitar hits the sweet spot despite years of experience.
The DiMarzio Evo excels at heavy overdrive but somehow is not quite my favorite flavor. Still, it is pretty hot so you might be better off with an Evo2, for example.
For what it's worth Duncan themselves used to recommend the Full Shred as a Distortion alternative when you'd rather trade some of the aggression for more articulation. The FS can be pretty awesome in low tunings as it stays tight on the low end but retains the alnico "flow" in leads.
I am currently working on a guitar that shunned the JB for being too muddy, then the Demon for being too scooped and feeble, and the Distortion which was brutal as expected - but a little too much over the top. I am now going to plant a Full Shred there and see what happens. It should fix both the DD's "buzzsaw" or "screaming through a megaphone" quality and the Demon's "underdrive". Lacking a better metaphor, the Distortion felt as if the accelerator pedal stuck wide open hooked on a ridge in the floor mat while the Demon felt as if the floor mat curled up under the accelerator so the latter doesn't depress beyond 30%.
Based on prior experience, I expect the FS to mesh better with everything although I haven't yet had the chance to test the new setup. Whenever I choose pickups I try to guess the overall picture in rather vague terms but I cannot predict if each particular pickup in each particular guitar hits the sweet spot despite years of experience.
The DiMarzio Evo excels at heavy overdrive but somehow is not quite my favorite flavor. Still, it is pretty hot so you might be better off with an Evo2, for example.
