Duncan Distortion mag swap?

[ledvedder]

I just put a DD in my Washburn N24 to replace the BLUSA L500xl that came stock in it. The BLUSA I thought was too spiky in the highs and I wanted a bridge pickup to fill out the tonal spectrum more. Man is the DD just gutteral sounding. But it's a bit too deep for the tone I like, which is more Marshall hard rock tone. Would a magnet swap with the DD help with this?

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[Ayrton]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Swapping in an A5 will get very close to a JB, which in many ways is similar to the BL.

You might want to consider a lower output pickup like the Custom (with whatever magnet)

 

[Adieu]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Adjust pickup height/angle, fiddle with volume and tone controls?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

I just put a DD in my Washburn N24 to replace the BLUSA L500xl that came stock in it. The BLUSA I thought was too spiky in the highs and I wanted a bridge pickup to fill out the tonal spectrum more. Man is the DD just gutteral sounding. But it's a bit too deep for the tone I like, which is more Marshall hard rock tone. Would a magnet swap with the DD help with this?

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The DD is one of the pickups that sound flat out good out of the box e.g. for a hard rocking Les Paul.
The A5 version is the JB. I tried the JB with a A8 and a standard sized ceramic. The JB8 and the JB ceramic were quite similar and show greatly the difference between ceramic and Alnico. Alnico a bit warmer and woolier, the ceramic a tad more higher mids and highs with a strong attack - kind of a DD lite.

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Is the jb with standard-size ceramic the same as the dokkenbucker?
Can he just go standard-size with the Distortion and have the same thing?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Its a bit more complicated, as the screws and shims are larger than in standart HBs. Better modify a JB, if you want smoother sounds.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

I just put a DD in my Washburn N24 to replace the BLUSA L500xl that came stock in it. The BLUSA I thought was too spiky in the highs and I wanted a bridge pickup to fill out the tonal spectrum more. Man is the DD just gutteral sounding. But it's a bit too deep for the tone I like, which is more Marshall hard rock tone. Would a magnet swap with the DD help with this?

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Got to ask why you went with a DD? It is mids and highs, with low/tight bass. Spikey? Maybe not. Would it "fill out" anything....more than the BL. Doubt it.

A mag swap may help...but the DD mag swaps will involve the spacers etc. And more importantly - we can't really tell what you want/need.

Tell us how this N4 sounds. What you don't like and what you want. Please avoid cool but non-tonal terms like guttural. Talk about bass/mids/treble, and output, and sharpness/roudness/tightness etc.


Lets see if we can get away from random magnet and pickup swaps.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Got to ask why you went with a DD? It is mids and highs, with low/tight bass. Spikey? Maybe not. Would it "fill out" anything....more than the BL. Doubt it.

A mag swap may help...but the DD mag swaps will involve the spacers etc. And more importantly - we can't really tell what you want/need.

Tell us how this N4 sounds. What you don't like and what you want. Please avoid cool but non-tonal terms like guttural. Talk about bass/mids/treble, and output, and sharpness/roudness/tightness etc.


Lets see if we can get away from random magnet and pickup swaps.

Sorry for the terms. The BL was just too hi-fi sounding for me. Lots of highs and lows, but not much midrange. I wanted something with similar output, but warmer, more round tone. Decent across the tonal spectrum. Not shrill and not boomy. This guitar is made of agathis and I've read that it's difficult to find the right pickup for this wood.

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[Aceman]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Ahhhhh - warmer and more round toned. The Distortion certainly set you up for the mids! But warm and round it is not!!!

Something not too hi-fi sounding, not boomy, round vs sharp highs, and in ~17k heat range. Now. THAT we can work with.


When I hear hot, mids, not boomy and round highs, I'm maybe feeling a Custom Custom...I'll let those familiar with Agathis chime in. Not solidly recommending a CC here - but it might be what you want.

Guys?

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Ahhhhh - warmer and more round toned. The Distortion certainly set you up for the mids! But warm and round it is not!!!

Something not too hi-fi sounding, not boomy, round vs sharp highs, and in ~17k heat range. Now. THAT we can work with.


When I hear hot, mids, not boomy and round highs, I'm maybe feeling a Custom Custom...I'll let those familiar with Agathis chime in. Not solidly recommending a CC here - but it might be what you want.

Guys?

I do have a Custom that I could try. I also have various magnets (a2, a3, a4, a5, a8). It's standard spaced, but the N24 takes f-spaced. It's also zebra and I want double black for this guitar. But, I suppose it could try it to see if it's what I'm looking for. I just don't want to waste a ton of time doing pickup and magnet swaps. That's why I figured I'd ask here. People with much more experience with this stuff.

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[Aceman]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

I do have a Custom that I could try. I also have various magnets (a2, a3, a4, a5, a8). It's standard spaced, but the N24 takes f-spaced. It's also zebra and I want double black for this guitar. But, I suppose it could try it to see if it's what I'm looking for. I just don't want to waste a ton of time doing pickup and magnet swaps. That's why I figured I'd ask here. People with much more experience with this stuff.

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OK - then: A Custom with an A2 is a Custom Custom (not close, not almost, it IS a CC).

As for F-space - easily fixed by raising a pole here/there. The pole does not care where it is in relationship to the string - only the distance. If it is a little off, just raise it a touch.

Final Custom Custom note for you - IF (and in the N4 this is probably a non-issue) the bass is a little too loose, you can either a) shorten the bass poles by cutting, or use short hex poles like in a Full Shred. Short pole = tighter bass.

But a Floyded Strat style is where the CC shines. I have one is a Dean Custom 350 and love it. I also loved it in an Epi Les Paul but it was a way different vibe there.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

I know this is his N4 with the BL pickup, but I just wasn't getting this with the N24. Maybe it's because the N4 is alder? But, this is the type of tone I'm striving for with this guitar. Not the intro, the actual song. Notice how the harmonics jump.

https://youtu.be/Y3wuyDIovCA

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[Demanic]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Alternative 8.

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[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Alternative 8.

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That seems pretty similar to the Distortion, but with an a8.

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[Gtrjunior]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

If you figure out what works...let me know. Thats MONSTER tone. I’ve always loved it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

That seems pretty similar to the Distortion, but with an a8.

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It is, but it also fits the hot with mids not boomy and with rounded highs bill.

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[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

If you figure out what works...let me know. Thats MONSTER tone. I’ve always loved it.

I believe the tone on Pornograffiti is and Alder N4, BL L500xl, an ADA preamp, and superb production.

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[Gtrjunior]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

I believe the tone on Pornograffiti is and Alder N4, BL L500xl, an ADA preamp, and superb production.

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Yup, that’s what I’ve heard he used. It would be nice to cop that tone without all the rack gear.

Superb production...you made me chuckle on that one!
It’s the truth though!

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Wouldn't a Pegasus get close. In the demos it always sound like a jb with greater clarity and more balance across the EQ.

 

[ledvedder]

Re: Duncan Distortion mag swap?

Wouldn't a Pegasus get close. In the demos it always sound like a jb with greater clarity and more balance across the EQ.

The Pegasus looks like it has a scooped midrange.

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