Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

[Danielchaso]

I have the sh6b distortion in bridge and jazz in neck, but i like the simplicity of the no neck pickup with just one volume pot, i want to know if the distortion on bridge position with no neck pickup is enough for rhythm and lead playing, anyone tried?

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Absolutely it is enough,,,,,,,,for me anyways.
I have several bridge-only guitars and it sure doesn't stop me from playing leads.

You can always set one of the amp channels specifically for leads, or you can step on a boost or eq out front (or in the loop for that matter).
Generally you'll just want to increase single-note girth by adding mids and maybe extra gain/compression.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Why do you want to get rid of versatility? Disconnect your tone control if you want to get rid of it, and don't switch to the neck pickup. If you find it too limiting later, you will still have the neck pickup.

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Why do you want to get rid of versatility? Disconnect your tone control if you want to get rid of it, and don't switch to the neck pickup. If you find it too limiting later, you will still have the neck pickup.

He might be wanting to rewire it anyways to get that darned volume knob out of the way,,,,,,and just wants to do a dirt-simple wiring for the re-do......???

If not, then really there isn't a good reason to disconnect the neck.

 

[Danielchaso]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Why do you want to get rid of versatility? Disconnect your tone control if you want to get rid of it, and don't switch to the neck pickup. If you find it too limiting later, you will still have the neck pickup.

I think one bridge pickup is enough for me, also, i have read that removing neck pickup gives me more sustain, and better sound if romeving pots and wires.

 

[Danielchaso]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Absolutely it is enough,,,,,,,,for me anyways.
I have several bridge-only guitars and it sure doesn't stop me from playing leads.

You can always set one of the amp channels specifically for leads, or you can step on a boost or eq out front (or in the loop for that matter).
Generally you'll just want to increase single-note girth by adding mids and maybe extra gain/compression.

what pickups have you in your guitars?

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

what pickups have you in your guitars?

My bridge-only guitars have; (the first three will stay this way)
Dimebucker-ibanez prestige (still has stock middle and neck unhooked and lowered down as far as possible)
X2N-ibanez prestige (ditto)
C-Warpig-carvin dc125fr (only has the one route anyways)
81-ibanez rgt (although I have an 85 in the neck slot, just need to get a new switch and re-do wiring to volume only, I hate the ibby volume-positions)

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

I understand asking for confirmation, but you've got everything you need to make the decision right? The extra sustain is not much compared to the sustain you get from a distortion into gain anyway.

I've got a couple of single HB guitars, it's just pure rock and roll.

 

[Danielchaso]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

My bridge-only guitars have; (the first three will stay this way)
Dimebucker-ibanez prestige (still has stock middle and neck unhooked and lowered down as far as possible)
X2N-ibanez prestige (ditto)
C-Warpig-carvin dc125fr (only has the one route anyways)
81-ibanez rgt (although I have an 85 in the neck slot, just need to get a new switch and re-do wiring to volume only, I hate the ibby volume-positions)

How GOOD is the X2N?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Depending on what you tonally want out of those things. Honestly, probably 98% of my playing is on the bridge only. And I have a Distortion in a bridge position - for a long long time.

Other than Sweet Child of Mine....works fine for everything else.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Well, it wouldn't be enough for me, but I spend 90% of my time on the neck pickup playing music that doesn't have any distortion. I am sure there are more people than not that it is perfect for, though.

 

[dave74]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

How GOOD is the X2N?

It has a whole lot of everything at the same time. Somewhat of a flattened EQ response.
For me it's worked better in guitars that have sort-of "trimmed" highs and lows, like the prestiges (maple/basswood/rosewood).
I haven't cared for it as much in guitars that have a strong thuddy low-end, or guitars that are more scooped like some maple/alder-ash/ebony combos can be.
Full mahogany can work very good for the x2n,,,,,,,and the dimebucker too for that matter. IME full mahogany is neither too bright nor too thuddy in the lows.

My theory has always been that the emg81 was designed as an "improvement" on the x2n,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and I've heard many say that the x2n is like an 81 without all the negatives lol.
I like about all high-output pickups when they're in the right axe.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

I love my distortion in my LP bridge but my neck pickup (Titan) really adds to the guitar. Now softer stuff is doable and the mid position is awesome for leads too. Do as you want though

 

[Thundermtn]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

Wayne Static from Static-X ran that exact setup in a lot of his guitars.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan Distortion, No neck Pickup

How GOOD is the X2N?

The X2N ia vey interesting pickup.

First - if you wire a three way switch for series/parallel/split is a super flexible. Just a straight a head full on X2N? I'd go with the Distortion if I had a choice between only full bucker tone.