Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

S

SavageRiffer

New member
Can someone breakdown all the Duncans that can be changed to other models with a magnet swap? So far, and correct me if I'm wrong, I'm aware of the following:

JB + ceramic = Distortion
Jazz + a2 = A2 Pro
Custom + a5 = Custom 5
Custom + a2 = Custom Custom

Please append or correct this list, thanks.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

I'm back to thinking the JB and Distortion are separate winds. The JB is crinky and classic while the Distortion is fizzy and modern. Never seen a post where a mod said they're the same.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

I think that is assumed but not confirmed. I can't say I have tried it to know for sure, but I am sure someone has.

I can tell you that replacing the standard A5 magnet in the production JB with an RCA5 will give you the antiquity sound.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

SavageRiffer said:
Can someone breakdown all the Duncans that can be changed to other models with a magnet swap? So far, and correct me if I'm wrong, I'm aware of the following:

JB + ceramic = Distortion
Jazz + a2 = A2 Pro
Custom + a5 = Custom 5
Custom + a2 = Custom Custom

Please append or correct this list, thanks.
Click to expand...

If anything, it should be double thickness ceramic, for the JB with ceramic. Just like the Distortion uses. And while few argue the similarity, there's a lot of argument over whether it's really identical or not.

for completeness:
Custom 5/Custom Custom + std ceramic = Custom
A2 Pro + A5 = Jazz

In same range as the JB/Distortion [with about as much dispute over whether the wind is identical or just happens to be same gauge (but possibly not insulation) at same resistance range] is the Custom 5 with all hex screw polepieces = Full Shred.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

heads-up to anyone wanting a new no-logo black custom-custom (sh-11) for a good price;
\ MF has a mint returned one, which I assume means uninstalled,,,,,,,for $77, so after the 17% it would be about $64/

I'd have already snagged it if it was a trembucker, and then replaced the a2 with an a8 for a try, then maybe a single ceramic or even double-thick if the a8 didn't impress.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

That's a great price, for an even greater pickup. It is one of my favorites.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Ayrton said:
I think that is assumed but not confirmed. I can't say I have tried it to know for sure, but I am sure someone has.
Click to expand...

That's why I posted... because I tried it.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Guys in the know (employees) have always been cagey about the JB/Distortion relationship........whereas the jazz/A2pro was confirmed. Not sure why the difference in attitude if they were the same.......doesn't make sense.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

AlexR said:
Guys in the know (employees) have always been cagey about the JB/Distortion relationship........whereas the jazz/A2pro was confirmed. Not sure why the difference in attitude if they were the same.......doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...

Funny, I've heard former employees say the opposite, that the JB and Distortion were the same wind, but the Jazz and A2P weren't.

You can add Dokkenbucker being a single thick ceramic version of the Distortion to the list. And a triple ceramic Distortion with big Allen screws gives an Invader. And the Fender Frankie pickup is a Custom with a degaussed RCA2. And the IM1 is a copy of that pickup.

I just heard this yesterday in fact, a Super V is just an A5 away from being the original prototype of the JB.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

This was in person at summer NAMM back in 2009. Another guy wanted to know if he'd like the Distortion or JB better, and one of the guys manning the stand said that they were very similar because they had the same wind but the main difference in character came from the ceramic vs A5 magnets. I don't remember who told be about the Jazz and A2P being different though. I think it was from an SD rep on a different thread.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

If they have the same wind then the magnet wouldn't be the main difference, it would be the only difference.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

gregory said:
If they have the same wind then the magnet wouldn't be the main difference, it would be the only difference.
Click to expand...

If it were the only difference, it would have to be the main difference.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Chistopher said:
This was in person at summer NAMM back in 2009. Another guy wanted to know if he'd like the Distortion or JB better, and one of the guys manning the stand said that they were very similar because they had the same wind but the main difference in character came from the ceramic vs A5 magnets. I don't remember who told be about the Jazz and A2P being different though. I think it was from an SD rep on a different thread.
Click to expand...
In 2009 they were both Evan Skopp and Frank Falbo at the stand, and neither would've said something similar, as as reps they're simply NOT allowed to divulge info on proprietary tech info protected by IP laws and NDA agreements, and they knew it.

I'm pretty sure your recollection of both events is foggy at best. Or, you simply didn't understand correctly what was being said.

/Peter
 
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Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Discharged said:
In 2009 they were both Evan Skopp and Frank Falbo at the stand, and neither would've said something similar, as as reps they're simply NOT allowed to divulge info on proprietary tech info protected by IP laws and NDA agreements, and they knew it.

I'm pretty sure your recollection of both events is foggy at best. Or, you simply didn't understand correctly what was being said.

/Peter
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess you're right. I might have to bust out my multimeter next time I get a hand on those pickups just to see how similar the DCR and inductance is between the pickups in question.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Isn't the Black Winter related to the JB/Distortion/Invader family as well?
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

All pickups are "related" in that there are only so many combinations of wire and magnets. Instead of trying to definitively find out what is what, stick to what magnet works with what coils.

Is the Distortion a JB with just a mag swap, maybe not. Does it give you a close proximity of the sound, maybe. Same with an A2 in the JB and the RTM.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

Ayrton said:
Is the Distortion a JB with just a mag swap, maybe not. Does it give you a close proximity of the sound, maybe. Same with an A2 in the JB and the RTM.
Click to expand...

The RTM is wound ~1k hotter than a JB. The extent of the difference that the 1k makes is up to personal opinion though.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

AlexR said:
Guys in the know (employees) have always been cagey about the JB/Distortion relationship........whereas the jazz/A2pro was confirmed. Not sure why the difference in attitude if they were the same.......doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this is also something that SD would divulge, but I've heard that the only difference between several of the neck model humbuckers from the bridge model is simply a longer wire which creates more resistance. Anyone know this to be true?

Rex_Rocker said:
Isn't the Black Winter related to the JB/Distortion/Invader family as well?
Click to expand...

I was wondering about some of the newer stuff like the Nazgul and Black Winter. Also, I have a Pegagus (great pickup by the way) which seems eerily similar to another Duncan I've used before. I won't name it yet because I'd like to see if anyone else has noticed the same thing.
 
Re: Full List of Duncan = Duncan w/Magnet Swap

SavageRiffer said:
I'm not sure if this is also something that SD would divulge, but I've heard that the only difference between several of the neck model humbuckers from the bridge model is simply a longer wire which creates more resistance. Anyone know this to be true?
Click to expand...

That's generally true of most PAF-style sets. It probably isn't true of sets with a high output bridge pickup as the neck is typically a different wire gauge. For example the bridge Full Shred is AWG43 while the neck is AWG42.
 
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