frankencat
Member
Anybody use one? I am thinking about trying one and wanted to get an idea of how it sounds - especially paired with a DD bridge. Thanks 
Duncan Distortion Neck
- Thread starter frankencat
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Travis
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
Paired with a Distortion bridge, there is no better combo for metal. And if you wire it up with a 5 way switch like I did, it's extremely verstile for a number of other styles as well. The neck DD is warmer and smoother than the bridge. But it retains clarity for leads. Harmonics jump out of it, which is unusual for a neck pickup. Usually I have a harder time hitting pinch harmonics with neck pickups, not with the DD. The cleans are better than people think with a name like "Distoriton" but it won't get you a true single coil jangle run as a full humbucker. Split, it sounds to me like a hot Strat pickup. EQ wise, it still has a tone of lower mids, which I love. It is definitely not too bright on the top end, especially in the neck. All in all, it is one of my absolute favorite neck pickups, as well as my all time favorite bridge pickup. So I guess that could make me a bit biased. Hope that helps.
Paired with a Distortion bridge, there is no better combo for metal. And if you wire it up with a 5 way switch like I did, it's extremely verstile for a number of other styles as well. The neck DD is warmer and smoother than the bridge. But it retains clarity for leads. Harmonics jump out of it, which is unusual for a neck pickup. Usually I have a harder time hitting pinch harmonics with neck pickups, not with the DD. The cleans are better than people think with a name like "Distoriton" but it won't get you a true single coil jangle run as a full humbucker. Split, it sounds to me like a hot Strat pickup. EQ wise, it still has a tone of lower mids, which I love. It is definitely not too bright on the top end, especially in the neck. All in all, it is one of my absolute favorite neck pickups, as well as my all time favorite bridge pickup. So I guess that could make me a bit biased. Hope that helps.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
I had a DD set for quite awhile in a Les Paul and it's a killer combo. The DDn is suprisingly smooth for a 12k+ ceramic magnet pickup and the cleans are quite good. Under gain the DDn has exceptional output and it really has a throaty scream to it.
Think Ted Nugent solos on a triple dose of steroids.
I had a DD set for quite awhile in a Les Paul and it's a killer combo. The DDn is suprisingly smooth for a 12k+ ceramic magnet pickup and the cleans are quite good. Under gain the DDn has exceptional output and it really has a throaty scream to it.
Think Ted Nugent solos on a triple dose of steroids.
Travis
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
The Distortion has mega sustain, especially in the neck. The highs cut through the mix, but are not at all ice picky, as I find the JB to be. Some people think it has a bit too much treble, but I think it's just right. And I do NOT like bright pickups.
The Distortion has mega sustain, especially in the neck. The highs cut through the mix, but are not at all ice picky, as I find the JB to be. Some people think it has a bit too much treble, but I think it's just right. And I do NOT like bright pickups.
frankencat
Member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
Cool guys, thanks. I think I am going to grab a DD neck to try in my Dean HardTail. I am not really a big fan of ceramic pickups but the DD in the bridge totally kicks butt and I love having clarity and beef at the same time. Plus, it sounds decent split too. Who knew?
Cool guys, thanks. I think I am going to grab a DD neck to try in my Dean HardTail. I am not really a big fan of ceramic pickups but the DD in the bridge totally kicks butt and I love having clarity and beef at the same time. Plus, it sounds decent split too. Who knew?
Boleslaw Gers 666
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
I was considering a Custom/DD neck combo for the PRS CE24 that I'm going to buy next. Would that be a nice combo? I'm a metal fan, and love midrange heavy, thick metal tones. Like Zakk Wylde's tone is great (I don't want it that heavy, and I want more versatility). And Iron Maiden is amazing. SH-5/DDn sound good for me to you guys?
I was considering a Custom/DD neck combo for the PRS CE24 that I'm going to buy next. Would that be a nice combo? I'm a metal fan, and love midrange heavy, thick metal tones. Like Zakk Wylde's tone is great (I don't want it that heavy, and I want more versatility). And Iron Maiden is amazing. SH-5/DDn sound good for me to you guys?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
The Distortion combo is awesome. Everything Travis said is 100% true. The DD set is my favorite pickup combo, with the Full Shred set being a very close second.
The Distortion combo is awesome. Everything Travis said is 100% true. The DD set is my favorite pickup combo, with the Full Shred set being a very close second.
Inge Malmstein
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
If a DD with a A-5 magnet is similar to a JB, wouldn't you have a JB neck version if you swap the magnet of the DDn?
Anyone tried this?
Well, this would be THE Discovery of the missed, still not invented Duncan Neck Humbucker. :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :cool3: :cool3: :32:
If a DD with a A-5 magnet is similar to a JB, wouldn't you have a JB neck version if you swap the magnet of the DDn?
Anyone tried this?
Well, this would be THE Discovery of the missed, still not invented Duncan Neck Humbucker. :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :burnout: :cool3: :cool3: :32:
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
I think the DD neck is one of Duncans best Kept secrets!! If I had never played one and someone said, "try as 12.7K ceramic magnet pickup out in the neck, it sounds good" I would tell them they were out of their mind!!!!! It does sound great though!!!!
If I were playing one for the first time and I didnt know what it was, I would never guess it would have 12K and a ceramic magnet.
I think the DD neck is one of Duncans best Kept secrets!! If I had never played one and someone said, "try as 12.7K ceramic magnet pickup out in the neck, it sounds good" I would tell them they were out of their mind!!!!! It does sound great though!!!!
If I were playing one for the first time and I didnt know what it was, I would never guess it would have 12K and a ceramic magnet.
frankencat
Member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
Well I'm glad to see it's not just me
Well I'm glad to see it's not just me
Stevo
Tonus Maximus Pacificas
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
It's fat and smooth.. sorta like the JB in a neck position.
I did a blues/rock clip when I had mine.
DDn, Blues Rock
edit: the bridge pickup is a DD also.
It's fat and smooth.. sorta like the JB in a neck position.
I did a blues/rock clip when I had mine.
DDn, Blues Rock
edit: the bridge pickup is a DD also.
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Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
Hey just have one question before ripping one of these off the shelf,..
are they good for shredding a la petrucci? I'm not looking for any specific "shred sound" but I'd like to know if shred licks like petrucci's performed with a neck DuncDist would sound....... ok/nice/muddy/whatever
thanks.
Hey just have one question before ripping one of these off the shelf,..
are they good for shredding a la petrucci? I'm not looking for any specific "shred sound" but I'd like to know if shred licks like petrucci's performed with a neck DuncDist would sound....... ok/nice/muddy/whatever
thanks.
PCBMountedPots
New member
Re: Duncan Distortion Neck
I recently bought a Charvel SoCal with a DD bridge trembucker and a DD neck pickup. The DD neck pickup is nice. Very thick, liquid distortion. I play a Soldano Hot Rod 50 with a BOSS EQ pushing it a little. To me the neck position of a guitar (especially in higher gain situations) kinda blurs the lines between different pickups. The neck position drowns out the harsh high end hash and fizz that I heard from the DD bridge trembucker. That bridge pickup had to be the most disappointing full size humbucker I have ever played. Lots of output, lots of treble but no real character. Very sterile. I just replaced it this afternoon with a Duncan JB trembucker in the bridge and could not be happier. It's a whole different guitar. I realize that one size does not fit all where pickups are concerned but I absolutely hated the DD trembucker. I really like or love every other Duncan humbucker I have tried. Hard to believe the same company manufactured it.
Anybody use one? I am thinking about trying one and wanted to get an idea of how it sounds - especially paired with a DD bridge. Thanks
I recently bought a Charvel SoCal with a DD bridge trembucker and a DD neck pickup. The DD neck pickup is nice. Very thick, liquid distortion. I play a Soldano Hot Rod 50 with a BOSS EQ pushing it a little. To me the neck position of a guitar (especially in higher gain situations) kinda blurs the lines between different pickups. The neck position drowns out the harsh high end hash and fizz that I heard from the DD bridge trembucker. That bridge pickup had to be the most disappointing full size humbucker I have ever played. Lots of output, lots of treble but no real character. Very sterile. I just replaced it this afternoon with a Duncan JB trembucker in the bridge and could not be happier. It's a whole different guitar. I realize that one size does not fit all where pickups are concerned but I absolutely hated the DD trembucker. I really like or love every other Duncan humbucker I have tried. Hard to believe the same company manufactured it.
