Duncans for Semi-Hollowbodies

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Frater106

New member
What Duncan pickups are you guys using in your semi-hollowbodied guitars? I play more rock than jazz (think Dave Grohl) and an look by for a set for my ES-339. Thanks!
 
I don't use a set, I have a Tonerider Octane Alnico 8 in the bridge.
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I thought it would be too loud, but it's perfect. It's connected to a volume bypass, so I don't have to keep it cranked the whole time.

I'm not even sure, if I was going to, what neck pickup I'd add to this. But I just don't need one.
 
Frater106 said:
I’m thinking maybe a Sentient neck & a ‘59/Custom bridge.
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A semi-hollow might brighten them up. The samples they use on the specs page are an idea of how they could possibly sound in certain conditions. It's a shame they don't mention the guitar/amp setup because that just makes it so much harder to know what you're getting.
 
Also thinking of maybe going ‘59 neck & Custom 5 bridge. I want a set that will rock hard & not be too compressed. Also hoping to complement the natural voice of the ES-339.
 
I think there are many options that sound good.. I have played several 335 clones with upgraded pups over the years and all were great with different combinations...Seths, 59s and alnico 2s (not slash version). There was also DiMaz pupped one which was good but I don't remember which model.

As a budget option Tonerider Rocksongs and Irongear Blues Engines are difficult to beat. Both sound great . There are probably many more options. I suspect a Custom Custom would work in the bridge teamed with an Alnico 2 or 59 in the neck.
 
Have a Saturday Night Special set in my Carvin AE 185. REALLY like the SNS set in a semi Hollow. Very versatile set that really shines clean or with a mild crunch but can also rock very hard. With both pickups on clean in a semi hollow can have an almost acoustic like quality. However they are very clear and articulate with high gain witch good balance and are very tight. Have a unique feel with the A 4 mags and are one of my favorite Duncan pickup sets.
Also like the sentient a LOT in the neck of a semi hollow and had a Sentient Hybrid set in the AE at one time. Wasn't crazy about the Hybrid in a semi hollow as found it a little brash and thin. A perpetual Burn IMO would be a very very good choice with a Sentient neck for a semi hollow. The Sentient is one of my absolute favorite Duncan neck pickups and IMO it's being miss marketed.
Very articulate and clear with great balance and splits better than any other Duncan neck pickup I have used with a single coil.
Duncan insists on marketing the Sentient as a metal pickup in black only and the satin bobbins and black polls. I am thinking about ordering a floor custom zebra Sentient with conventional nickle polls to replace the Jazz neck in my Purple Carvin DC 127 with a Perpetual Burn in the bridge. The combo of the PB and Sentient is IMO one of the best i have tried from Duncan.
Here is a good demo of the SNS set and with Duncan would reintroduce the SNS Trembucker bridge like I have in my AE 185. Had 2 sets of the SNS's with Trembucker bridges and stupidly sold the other set in a guitar.
Can't find a demo of the SNS set in a semi hollow so here is the set in my AE 185 live. Absolutely love these pickups in a semi hollow!
 
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Gstring said:
The Sentient is one of my absolute favorite Duncan neck pickups and IMO it's being miss marketed.
Very articulate and clear with great balance and splits better than any other Duncan neck pickup I have used with a single coil.
Duncan insists on marketing the Sentient as a metal pickup in black only and the satin bobbins and black polls. I am thinking about ordering a floor custom zebra Sentient with conventional nickle polls to replace the Jazz neck in my Purple Carvin DC 127 with a Perpetual Burn in the bridge.
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I have a zebra sentient whose pole pieces I've already swapped for nickel that I might be replacing soon if you're interested. You're right - its bright and articulate – but I'm mostly a medium gain, rock and dirty blues kinda guy who needs more low end / girth / filth than a sentient is designed for.

PM me if you're interested. Its still installed in my LP faded, but I got a set of burstbuckers and I'm thinking about taking it out in the next week or two.__PRESENT
 
I use either Seth Lovers or Antiquities. But I don't use a ton of gain (think Tube Screamer-level), and I need a lot of dynamics out of a pickup. If you are using more crunch, but still want a PAF-type sound, you can't go wrong with a pair of 59s.
 
All good recs here, though I might hesitate to put unpotted Antiquities if playing with gain.
I'd lean towards Hybrid or Custom5 for the bridge with a 59N or Sentient at the neck.
I bet the SNS set would be awesome too for a 339. A4 is a very underappreciated magnet IMO.
 
Ascension said:
Have a Saturday Night Special set in my Carvin AE 185. REALLY like the SNS set in a semi Hollow. Very versatile set that really shines clean or with a mild crunch but can also rock very hard. With both pickups on clean in a semi hollow can have an almost acoustic like quality. However they are very clear and articulate with high gain witch good balance and are very tight. Have a unique feel with the A 4 mags and are one of my favorite Duncan pickup sets.
Also like the sentient a LOT in the neck of a semi hollow and had a Sentient Hybrid set in the AE at one time. Wasn't crazy about the Hybrid in a semi hollow as found it a little brash and thin. A perpetual Burn IMO would be a very very good choice with a Sentient neck for a semi hollow. The Sentient is one of my absolute favorite Duncan neck pickups and IMO it's being miss marketed.
Very articulate and clear with great balance and splits better than any other Duncan neck pickup I have used with a single coil.
Duncan insists on marketing the Sentient as a metal pickup in black only and the satin bobbins and black polls. I am thinking about ordering a floor custom zebra Sentient with conventional nickle polls to replace the Jazz neck in my Purple Carvin DC 127 with a Perpetual Burn in the bridge. The combo of the PB and Sentient is IMO one of the best i have tried from Duncan.
Here is a good demo of the SNS set and with Duncan would reintroduce the SNS Trembucker bridge like I have in my AE 185. Had 2 sets of the SNS's with Trembucker bridges and stupidly sold the other set in a guitar.
Can't find a demo of the SNS set in a semi hollow so here is the set in my AE 185 live. Absolutely love these pickups in a semi hollow!
Click to expand...
+1

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
zizyphus said:
I have a zebra sentient whose pole pieces I've already swapped for nickel that I might be replacing soon if you're interested. You're right - its bright and articulate – but I'm mostly a medium gain, rock and dirty blues kinda guy who needs more low end / girth / filth than a sentient is designed for.

PM me if you're interested. Its still installed in my LP faded, but I got a set of burstbuckers and I'm thinking about taking it out in the next week or two.__PRESENT
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Hit me with a message as i am absolutely interested in that pickup. Have a zebra Jazz in my purple quilt Carvin DC 127 and it's just not getting me what i want. A Sentient would match very well with the Perpetual Burn i have in the bridge.
 
I have used Seths and '59s in semi-hollows for years with good success. After playing a set of Antiquities in a Les Paul, I'm sure that they would sound great in a semi-hollow too.
 
Mincer said:
I can totally see that working very well.
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A5’s and even UOA5’s were super duper bright in that guitar. It’s all maple ply and spruce top bone nut D’angelico SS Rosenwinkle - REALLY bright guitar A2’s + 250k pots + .047 caps really mellowed it out to a very nice tonal balance
 
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