darwins_ghost
New member
Can someone tell me the main differnces in the Duncan Designed pups and their name brand counterparts?
thanks
thanks
Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
- Thread starter darwins_ghost
- Start date
tonedeaf1
New member
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
Example: the Duncan Designed HB-103 bridge pickup is based on the Duncan Distortion Bridge, The Duncan Distortion has a D.C. Resistance of 16.6k and the HB-103 Bridge has a D.C. Resistance of 17.08k, pretty close but not exactly the same, also the HB-103 is wound in South Korea and the DD is wound in California. IIRC.
Example: the Duncan Designed HB-103 bridge pickup is based on the Duncan Distortion Bridge, The Duncan Distortion has a D.C. Resistance of 16.6k and the HB-103 Bridge has a D.C. Resistance of 17.08k, pretty close but not exactly the same, also the HB-103 is wound in South Korea and the DD is wound in California. IIRC.
Reload in 5
Just Ultimate Slacker
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
none of this is true. Duncan designed are built in Korea while duncans are would by harmonic space aliens from E minor (its one of Jupiters lesser known moons)
none of this is true. Duncan designed are built in Korea while duncans are would by harmonic space aliens from E minor (its one of Jupiters lesser known moons)
Fender_Punk
BerriesAndCreamologist
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
I think Duncan Designed are decent pickups. Yeah they're put in budget guitars, but they're in some really good guitars and themselves are quite good for their price range. If you get a Squier it isn't going to be the same quality of a Fender Custom Shop guitar, but it can still be damn good and play well. Another difference is I've never seen a Duncan Designed available as an aftermarket pup. Oh and I'm pretty sure Seymour keeps some secrets in the US factory that the Koreans don't get to know about. Would you send yur prize winning chilli recipe overseas?
I think Duncan Designed are decent pickups. Yeah they're put in budget guitars, but they're in some really good guitars and themselves are quite good for their price range. If you get a Squier it isn't going to be the same quality of a Fender Custom Shop guitar, but it can still be damn good and play well. Another difference is I've never seen a Duncan Designed available as an aftermarket pup. Oh and I'm pretty sure Seymour keeps some secrets in the US factory that the Koreans don't get to know about. Would you send yur prize winning chilli recipe overseas?
Last edited:
The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
+1 on that one. They are for sure available (most models) as aftermarket pups but then called Duncan Performers instead of Duncan Designed.
Just as the Duncan/Ibanez pickups are Duncan Designed ones with a different name tag on it as well (Ibanez claims these are specialy designed by Seymour and Ibanez for the SZ models... WHAT A FREAKING PIECE OF GARBAGE MARKETING!!).
Personally I am not a fan at all of these pickups, sure they may be a little better than the most crappy stock pups you will find on the lower priced guitars, but they don't come near to the real deal imho, and therefor not worth buying aftermarket at all.
Jackson guitars allready replaced them with the real deal, and they are MUCHO better...
+1 on that one. They are for sure available (most models) as aftermarket pups but then called Duncan Performers instead of Duncan Designed.
Just as the Duncan/Ibanez pickups are Duncan Designed ones with a different name tag on it as well (Ibanez claims these are specialy designed by Seymour and Ibanez for the SZ models... WHAT A FREAKING PIECE OF GARBAGE MARKETING!!).
Personally I am not a fan at all of these pickups, sure they may be a little better than the most crappy stock pups you will find on the lower priced guitars, but they don't come near to the real deal imho, and therefor not worth buying aftermarket at all.
Jackson guitars allready replaced them with the real deal, and they are MUCHO better...
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
The HB-103 and HB-101 from my Ibanez SZ are two of the best sounding Duncan-anything pickups I've ever heard. The HB-101 especially smokes the '59s I've tried, and that center switch position is just fantastic. It's the two inner coils in parallel.
The HB-103 and HB-101 from my Ibanez SZ are two of the best sounding Duncan-anything pickups I've ever heard. The HB-101 especially smokes the '59s I've tried, and that center switch position is just fantastic. It's the two inner coils in parallel.
H
heymcz
Guest
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
I've tried the Duncan Designed HB-103 set that comes new in a Schecter C1. The quality varies, but yes, they sound better than some stock pickups, and putting real Duncans in is like pulling a blanket off your amp. In short, meh.
The SZ pickups are a different story. I almost didn't take them out, because they sounded pretty decent. The bridge is a hotter DD but with some Hex Screws and "increased bottom end" (which an SZ sorely needs). It's not the most versatile thing, but they were designed specifically to work in the SZs. The neck is a hotter Jazz with some Hex Screws. They were a little thin, though. I swapped out for many things, so far only the Custom/'59neck has been a better match tonally for the wood. I think the HB series of Duncan Designed is more of a one-size fits all stock pickup. The SZs had a bit of mojo, but they do also vary depending on which particular axe you happen to get....
I've tried the Duncan Designed HB-103 set that comes new in a Schecter C1. The quality varies, but yes, they sound better than some stock pickups, and putting real Duncans in is like pulling a blanket off your amp. In short, meh.
The SZ pickups are a different story. I almost didn't take them out, because they sounded pretty decent. The bridge is a hotter DD but with some Hex Screws and "increased bottom end" (which an SZ sorely needs). It's not the most versatile thing, but they were designed specifically to work in the SZs. The neck is a hotter Jazz with some Hex Screws. They were a little thin, though. I swapped out for many things, so far only the Custom/'59neck has been a better match tonally for the wood. I think the HB series of Duncan Designed is more of a one-size fits all stock pickup. The SZs had a bit of mojo, but they do also vary depending on which particular axe you happen to get....
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
Just want to add my .02 cents here. I have a 2004 Jackson DK2 which came with Duncan Designed pups, HB102 in the bridge (similar to JB) and SC-101 singles (cross between SSL-2 and SSL-6) in the middle and neck. I already replaced the HB-102 with a PATB-3 which I really like. The HB-102 was not a bad pickup, I just wanted a bit different sound that's all. I've been planning for a few months to replace the SC-101 singles with STK-S4 classic stacks. In the meantime, a friend of mine just got a new DK2 which is the "upgraded" new model which is basically the same but with real Duncans, a JB in the bridge and the STK-1 stacks in the neck and middle. He came by a few days ago and we played through my Vox AD60VT combo. I have to say I was disappointed by the sound of the stacks in his new DK2. Compared to my cheapo Korean made DD's, they just didn't sound as good in my opinion. They were very thin sounding, not very single-coil-ish at all. I'm now debating whether to keep the DD's or go for a pair of SSL-2 singles.
I will say that his DK2 has not really had a full setup done and it has the Jackson factory strings still on it, but it's less than a week in his hands from the factory so the strings should be acceptable at least. Maybe it will sound better with quality strings, but to me it just lacked depth and musicality compared to my DD's. His JB did sound good though, just like I expected, so I don't really believe a string change will have that big of an effect on the stacks.
Just want to add my .02 cents here. I have a 2004 Jackson DK2 which came with Duncan Designed pups, HB102 in the bridge (similar to JB) and SC-101 singles (cross between SSL-2 and SSL-6) in the middle and neck. I already replaced the HB-102 with a PATB-3 which I really like. The HB-102 was not a bad pickup, I just wanted a bit different sound that's all. I've been planning for a few months to replace the SC-101 singles with STK-S4 classic stacks. In the meantime, a friend of mine just got a new DK2 which is the "upgraded" new model which is basically the same but with real Duncans, a JB in the bridge and the STK-1 stacks in the neck and middle. He came by a few days ago and we played through my Vox AD60VT combo. I have to say I was disappointed by the sound of the stacks in his new DK2. Compared to my cheapo Korean made DD's, they just didn't sound as good in my opinion. They were very thin sounding, not very single-coil-ish at all. I'm now debating whether to keep the DD's or go for a pair of SSL-2 singles.
I will say that his DK2 has not really had a full setup done and it has the Jackson factory strings still on it, but it's less than a week in his hands from the factory so the strings should be acceptable at least. Maybe it will sound better with quality strings, but to me it just lacked depth and musicality compared to my DD's. His JB did sound good though, just like I expected, so I don't really believe a string change will have that big of an effect on the stacks.
LtKojak
New member
Re: Duncan vs. Duncan Designed
That's what I call "blast from the past"!
Replying to an almost ten year old thread?
That's what I call "blast from the past"!
Similar threads
