Fred vs Screamin Demon
- Thread starter Lightning
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
I own both...Both are very close in dc resistance at 10k and both have the A5 magnet...Both pickups articulate notes really well...The Fred has unmatched coils and offers more harmonic content when playing with alot of gain...The SD is a bit more aggressive in the way it comes across..I think the SD is brighter in it's highs also from memory? Both are great pickups..They are very close in characteristics,but the Fred is less expensive to purchase...The Fred is still the only Dimarzio I've ever used...Both pickups offer up a nice tight percussive crunch...Good low to high balance and the mids don't dominate the tone like a CC tends to..
John
Lightning said:
I own both...Both are very close in dc resistance at 10k and both have the A5 magnet...Both pickups articulate notes really well...The Fred has unmatched coils and offers more harmonic content when playing with alot of gain...The SD is a bit more aggressive in the way it comes across..I think the SD is brighter in it's highs also from memory? Both are great pickups..They are very close in characteristics,but the Fred is less expensive to purchase...The Fred is still the only Dimarzio I've ever used...Both pickups offer up a nice tight percussive crunch...Good low to high balance and the mids don't dominate the tone like a CC tends to..
John
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Not sure on the wiring,but trust me when I say that both pickups remind me of each other...The Fred has 2 rows of allen screws and the Duncan SD has 1...Both pickups have alot of presence and a tight crunchy tone that keeps note clarity..I have a Fred in my Gibson SG(Was in one of my strats since it's inception)...The SD is in an alder strat...This SD I have wired with a mini switch for series/split/parallel tones..I also have a brand new black Fred in my drawer for "just in case"..I actually prefer the Fred over the SD and maybe it's just because I knew Satch used it and I've been using a Fred since like 93 or so? You won't be unhappy with either pickup though..The Fred also makes a great neck pickup..
Lightning said:
Not sure on the wiring,but trust me when I say that both pickups remind me of each other...The Fred has 2 rows of allen screws and the Duncan SD has 1...Both pickups have alot of presence and a tight crunchy tone that keeps note clarity..I have a Fred in my Gibson SG(Was in one of my strats since it's inception)...The SD is in an alder strat...This SD I have wired with a mini switch for series/split/parallel tones..I also have a brand new black Fred in my drawer for "just in case"..I actually prefer the Fred over the SD and maybe it's just because I knew Satch used it and I've been using a Fred since like 93 or so? You won't be unhappy with either pickup though..The Fred also makes a great neck pickup..
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
G3 = Satriani, Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen
Davey, I don't know hot to create a link to another thread but I'll try https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=10106
Wow, ok see post 7
G3 = Satriani, Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen
Davey, I don't know hot to create a link to another thread but I'll try https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=10106
Wow, ok see post 7
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Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
The big boy is about some serious meat & potatoes playing…huh.
Actually I have a 10.2k Jap PU and I was ABing the video of me (10.2) and with Satch's first 2 tunes. If that's the Fred mines steeper (more grunt and mid) but mine has a ceramic and has a top end sting I find less desirable (too focaused). It's not in a guitar now cause it is F spaced (that's why I haven't changed mag in it).
I suspect it is the metric equivalent of #42 which is smaller but not as small in diameter as # 43. I love it and want a Gibson spaced equivalent.
The big boy is about some serious meat & potatoes playing…huh.
Actually I have a 10.2k Jap PU and I was ABing the video of me (10.2) and with Satch's first 2 tunes. If that's the Fred mines steeper (more grunt and mid) but mine has a ceramic and has a top end sting I find less desirable (too focaused). It's not in a guitar now cause it is F spaced (that's why I haven't changed mag in it).
I suspect it is the metric equivalent of #42 which is smaller but not as small in diameter as # 43. I love it and want a Gibson spaced equivalent.
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Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
The way Stratdelux describes the Fred I don't know if it's #43 too or #42 acting bright cause of the imbalanced coils.
I've ABed a SD, JB, and DD through the same model Charvells through a Marshall 900 (not eq optimized for the SD and not my eq either) so the SD didn't get a fair chance but I left thinking I like my 10.2 better.
I had two of them, sold one and the guy I sold it to bought a PRS HSF (I think they call it) and he went back to the 10.2.
Please don't think I'm trying to pedal my junk here...It's not for sale. Like StratD I'll just keep it in a desk...
I may have to break down and buy one of those over priced Fralins. Sounds like a back burner project to me, I need to get off of here and test out some other junk pickups I've bought and haven't tried yet.
I'm really on a Hi Z shootout right now but the G3 video rekindled my feelings toward 10.2.
The way Stratdelux describes the Fred I don't know if it's #43 too or #42 acting bright cause of the imbalanced coils.
I've ABed a SD, JB, and DD through the same model Charvells through a Marshall 900 (not eq optimized for the SD and not my eq either) so the SD didn't get a fair chance but I left thinking I like my 10.2 better.
I had two of them, sold one and the guy I sold it to bought a PRS HSF (I think they call it) and he went back to the 10.2.
Please don't think I'm trying to pedal my junk here...It's not for sale. Like StratD I'll just keep it in a desk...
I may have to break down and buy one of those over priced Fralins. Sounds like a back burner project to me, I need to get off of here and test out some other junk pickups I've bought and haven't tried yet.
I'm really on a Hi Z shootout right now but the G3 video rekindled my feelings toward 10.2.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Regarding the Fralins...I was of the exact same mindset as you about em,until I actually bought a Fralin Steel Pole 43 Hot pickup for one of my strats....Wow! What a great sounding pickup...I don't mind spending the money if the tone is happening..No doubt that the Fralin product is very highend in my mind..Normally,you get what you pay for...The Duncan product is also great and the prices are better...Try the Fralins though,they really are great.. :dance:
John
Lightning said:
Regarding the Fralins...I was of the exact same mindset as you about em,until I actually bought a Fralin Steel Pole 43 Hot pickup for one of my strats....Wow! What a great sounding pickup...I don't mind spending the money if the tone is happening..No doubt that the Fralin product is very highend in my mind..Normally,you get what you pay for...The Duncan product is also great and the prices are better...Try the Fralins though,they really are great.. :dance:
John
Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
John, I'm hearing something in my 10.2k metric that I think real #42 wire could do better. Been listening to G3 all day. If you think the difference between the SD and Fred is just the pole pieces and imbalanced coils then the mid that would come with #42 will come at the cost of harmonics. Joe's hanging in there but that Damn Fred smokes. I never thought my BB3 8.4k a2 (imbalenced coils) sounded thin like the guys here are saying about the BB2 Pro 8k. I just wanted more compression. Maybe a #42 10k imbalanced. Thanks for the input, Chuck
John, I'm hearing something in my 10.2k metric that I think real #42 wire could do better. Been listening to G3 all day. If you think the difference between the SD and Fred is just the pole pieces and imbalanced coils then the mid that would come with #42 will come at the cost of harmonics. Joe's hanging in there but that Damn Fred smokes. I never thought my BB3 8.4k a2 (imbalenced coils) sounded thin like the guys here are saying about the BB2 Pro 8k. I just wanted more compression. Maybe a #42 10k imbalanced. Thanks for the input, Chuck
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R
RACER X
Guest
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Iv got Freds in both my single hum strats, a bit more even EQ. They get the job done.
Iv got Freds in both my single hum strats, a bit more even EQ. They get the job done.
R
RACER X
Guest
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Yeh, the Fred has a more even eq as where the Deamon dosent. But both are very equal on tone and output. The Deamon is a little more aggressive, wheres the Fred is more growl and bite, but thats just MO.
Yeh, the Fred has a more even eq as where the Deamon dosent. But both are very equal on tone and output. The Deamon is a little more aggressive, wheres the Fred is more growl and bite, but thats just MO.
Truthsayer
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
I've never tried the Screamin' Demon, but for my two cents, the FRED is a truly fantastic pickup and a great bargain for the price. I have a FRED in the bridge of one of my H/S/S strats (a Pearly Gates in my other H/S/S) and it is truly a versatile pickup that sings quite beautifully on solos and blends nicely as a rhythm pickup. Its hard to go wrong with a FRED.
By comparison, the Pearly Gates is a little bit more agressive and daring if you want more edge to your sound.
Get two guitars so you can enjoy both. Thats the best advice I can give you.
I've never tried the Screamin' Demon, but for my two cents, the FRED is a truly fantastic pickup and a great bargain for the price. I have a FRED in the bridge of one of my H/S/S strats (a Pearly Gates in my other H/S/S) and it is truly a versatile pickup that sings quite beautifully on solos and blends nicely as a rhythm pickup. Its hard to go wrong with a FRED.
By comparison, the Pearly Gates is a little bit more agressive and daring if you want more edge to your sound.
Get two guitars so you can enjoy both. Thats the best advice I can give you.
Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Truth,
PG+ is the most simular in concept and DC resistance to the BB3 and my BB3 has been waxed (so what's the difference). I like the PG+ better. I don't know how much the coils are offset in a PG+ but I read an artical at Tonequest that said the BBs are offset by 1k ohms. I just wanted more girth so I don't use them anymore. I goofed there to cause I bought a BB2 (8k) for the neck. The PG set balences.
Thanks, Chuck
Truth,
PG+ is the most simular in concept and DC resistance to the BB3 and my BB3 has been waxed (so what's the difference). I like the PG+ better. I don't know how much the coils are offset in a PG+ but I read an artical at Tonequest that said the BBs are offset by 1k ohms. I just wanted more girth so I don't use them anymore. I goofed there to cause I bought a BB2 (8k) for the neck. The PG set balences.
Thanks, Chuck
Lightning
New member
Re: Fred vs Screamin Demon
Guy's…My Goof.
I put a BB2 and BB3 in that guitar a week after I bought it. Yamaha SL 500 LP copy with maple neck. Nice guitar but thanks to the maple neck not authentic enough to replace my old LP that I don't want to gig with.
The Yam HBs measure 7.1k and sounded thicker than my 7.4 Gibson T top.
If I go over 7.4k #42 (neck pickup) my Fender amps clip when playing clean chords. I don't want to go to a low gain pre tube cause I use a compressor (an 808 spec is on my want list) to over drive that amp for that creamy lead sound.
So when I sold that guitar, I snagged a cheap pickup off eBay (I just had to keep one of those Yam pickups). I saw this 10.2 on ebay and said that'll do.
I put the 10.2 in the bridge, took the guitar to practice (we recorded that night) and the next day shipped the guitar.
Over the next week or so I kept watching the video. I emailed the guy and offered to buy the pickup back.
He'd already tried the PRS pu and put the 10.2k back in the guitar and was not parting with it.
I emailed the guy I bought it from. He said he had another BC Rich like the one that PU came from and he'd upgrade it and sell me the pu...cool. When I received it, it was F spaced. Maybe the first one was too and I just didn't notice (this is when I learned about F spacing).
So here's the goof...
In the video the neck pu sounds thick and after playing the guitar for months with a BB2 in the neck I forgot that that's the Yam pu in the neck in the video.
If I'm getting a thick tone out of the Yam pu (7.1k) you know I've got the treble down and the mid up on the amp.
I can't remember what Satch uses for the neck but when I heard I thought "that breaks the not to exceed 7.6k #42 on the neck rule" and wondered if it was a #43.
Anyhow his neck pickup tone is brighter so he has more top and less mid dialed in hence my 10.2 would sound girthyer.
So my 10.2 is a SD copy (another words #43).
The energy you guys put in to this thread really has helped. I guess I (Mr. lets talk wire gauge him self) looks a little stupid on the subject so no pain no gain really applies here.
Nonetheless, I'm happy cause now I know a #43 10k is a special pickup (the SD didn't get a fair test) and I already have a neck pu that balances with it (man and I thought I kept that Yam pu for clean chords).
Thanks, Chuck
Guy's…My Goof.
I put a BB2 and BB3 in that guitar a week after I bought it. Yamaha SL 500 LP copy with maple neck. Nice guitar but thanks to the maple neck not authentic enough to replace my old LP that I don't want to gig with.
The Yam HBs measure 7.1k and sounded thicker than my 7.4 Gibson T top.
If I go over 7.4k #42 (neck pickup) my Fender amps clip when playing clean chords. I don't want to go to a low gain pre tube cause I use a compressor (an 808 spec is on my want list) to over drive that amp for that creamy lead sound.
So when I sold that guitar, I snagged a cheap pickup off eBay (I just had to keep one of those Yam pickups). I saw this 10.2 on ebay and said that'll do.
I put the 10.2 in the bridge, took the guitar to practice (we recorded that night) and the next day shipped the guitar.
Over the next week or so I kept watching the video. I emailed the guy and offered to buy the pickup back.
He'd already tried the PRS pu and put the 10.2k back in the guitar and was not parting with it.
I emailed the guy I bought it from. He said he had another BC Rich like the one that PU came from and he'd upgrade it and sell me the pu...cool. When I received it, it was F spaced. Maybe the first one was too and I just didn't notice (this is when I learned about F spacing).
So here's the goof...
In the video the neck pu sounds thick and after playing the guitar for months with a BB2 in the neck I forgot that that's the Yam pu in the neck in the video.
If I'm getting a thick tone out of the Yam pu (7.1k) you know I've got the treble down and the mid up on the amp.
I can't remember what Satch uses for the neck but when I heard I thought "that breaks the not to exceed 7.6k #42 on the neck rule" and wondered if it was a #43.
Anyhow his neck pickup tone is brighter so he has more top and less mid dialed in hence my 10.2 would sound girthyer.
So my 10.2 is a SD copy (another words #43).
The energy you guys put in to this thread really has helped. I guess I (Mr. lets talk wire gauge him self) looks a little stupid on the subject so no pain no gain really applies here.
Nonetheless, I'm happy cause now I know a #43 10k is a special pickup (the SD didn't get a fair test) and I already have a neck pu that balances with it (man and I thought I kept that Yam pu for clean chords).
Thanks, Chuck
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