Hey all just registered. So I've got a Duncan Distortion set in one of the Dave Mustaine ZERO Explorers. I must say I freakin love the set, its just a touch hotter than I would like. I absolutely love the voicing, but I was wondering if there is an option that is just not quite as hot. I do alot of fast palm muting ie Iced Earth, Orden Ogan, and Testament. The Bridge pup has a great attack to it, its tight and sounds great, I'd just like it to be a littler clearer. I should mention too I'm not a fan of the JB, I know its supposed to be like the Distortion but I've never gotten along with it. Hope someone can help!
Duncan Distortion alternative
- Thread starter Khaine
- Start date
ToneFiddler
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
maybe try the neck pickup in the bridge. it was once the SH-7 seymourizer II
maybe „the hunter“ or dokken bucker. (duncan custom shop)
the screamin demon fits the bill for „let the amp do the heavy lifting“.
quite a different voice though.
maybe try the neck pickup in the bridge. it was once the SH-7 seymourizer II
maybe „the hunter“ or dokken bucker. (duncan custom shop)
the screamin demon fits the bill for „let the amp do the heavy lifting“.
quite a different voice though.
Last edited:
BleedingFingertips
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
I think your options are Pegasus and Custom 5 (sh 14).
I think your options are Pegasus and Custom 5 (sh 14).
Blackie13
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Try listening to those clips...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...rzios-Bill-Lawrences-Emgs-Bare-Knuckles-Oh-my!
Try listening to those clips...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...rzios-Bill-Lawrences-Emgs-Bare-Knuckles-Oh-my!
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Unfortunately, you like a particular EQ for which there is no mid-power equivalent. That I know of....
And a DD w/ an A5 is close to a JB....just sayin'. I might try the Neck in the bridge first. I'd think at ~12k it will be what you want most closely. Then, if that's a no go, try the a5 swap.
Unfortunately, you like a particular EQ for which there is no mid-power equivalent. That I know of....
And a DD w/ an A5 is close to a JB....just sayin'. I might try the Neck in the bridge first. I'd think at ~12k it will be what you want most closely. Then, if that's a no go, try the a5 swap.
EDX
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
quick trick before you are fully set on a new pickup, roll back your tone pot from 10 to about 7 or 6 and add more treble on the amp, you may also roll the volume slightly too to about 8, in pickups voiced with some "grind" in the highs rolling the tone back a bit can clean them up under heavy gain as the highs will be less "busy" when palm muting and chording
quick trick before you are fully set on a new pickup, roll back your tone pot from 10 to about 7 or 6 and add more treble on the amp, you may also roll the volume slightly too to about 8, in pickups voiced with some "grind" in the highs rolling the tone back a bit can clean them up under heavy gain as the highs will be less "busy" when palm muting and chording
bigcupholder
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Try the Distortion neck pickup in the bridge and then let us know how that goes.
Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
Try the Distortion neck pickup in the bridge and then let us know how that goes.
Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
Distortion neck is a great bridge pickup - as ToneFiddler mentioned, it was originally designed for bridge position.
If it's a tad too bright there an A8 mag can mitigate the harshness nicely but it also gives a bouncier, slightly looser feel.
For fast palm mutes IMO you're likely to prefer the ceramic.
Distortion neck is a great bridge pickup - as ToneFiddler mentioned, it was originally designed for bridge position.
If it's a tad too bright there an A8 mag can mitigate the harshness nicely but it also gives a bouncier, slightly looser feel.
For fast palm mutes IMO you're likely to prefer the ceramic.
Nagisa
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
The regular custom is really your best option here. I had distortions and switched to the custom before - all documented on this site. The Custom was better for me. That said, it sounds like you really love the distortion but want to also have lower gain sounds. I'd personally suggest keeping your current guitar as is, then getting another guitar with lower gain pickups. No need to buy an expensive guitar - about $400 can get you some great guitars nowadays, even more so if you get used. It's not as cheap as a pickup swap, but I think outside of the Custom, anything else will disappoint you.
The regular custom is really your best option here. I had distortions and switched to the custom before - all documented on this site. The Custom was better for me. That said, it sounds like you really love the distortion but want to also have lower gain sounds. I'd personally suggest keeping your current guitar as is, then getting another guitar with lower gain pickups. No need to buy an expensive guitar - about $400 can get you some great guitars nowadays, even more so if you get used. It's not as cheap as a pickup swap, but I think outside of the Custom, anything else will disappoint you.
bigcupholder
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion alternative
The Evo is more articulate (because it doesn't have the grainy treble) but it's definitely not tighter. The bass on the Evo is too boomy to handle palm muted chugging riffs like the Distortion. I recently swapped from the Evo to the Distortion and the difference in the bass response was huge.
The Evo still has the screaming upper mids. The mids overall are more vocal and less barking. It's definitely not a subtle or subdued pickup and IMO it's a bad pickup for rhythm, whereas the Distortion excels at chugging rhythms.
I wouldn't recommend it at all to someone looking for a slightly tamer Distortion.
Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
The Evo is more articulate (because it doesn't have the grainy treble) but it's definitely not tighter. The bass on the Evo is too boomy to handle palm muted chugging riffs like the Distortion. I recently swapped from the Evo to the Distortion and the difference in the bass response was huge.
The Evo still has the screaming upper mids. The mids overall are more vocal and less barking. It's definitely not a subtle or subdued pickup and IMO it's a bad pickup for rhythm, whereas the Distortion excels at chugging rhythms.
I wouldn't recommend it at all to someone looking for a slightly tamer Distortion.
Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
