Having a real hard time picking a bridge humbucker

[ErikH]

What's the setup on the guitar like? Is the action super low where if you pick hard it gets fret buzz? Are the strings ringing freely and full? Real easy to tell strumming it unplugged. Is the hardtail a string-thru or top-loader? I ask these because setup is a huge factor in how a guitar will sound. Too low action and the strings will choke making it seem thin. What value volume/tone controls are in it?

Your description of the Screamin' Demon is the complete opposite of my experience and I have 3 of them. Have used it in multiple guitars with great results. It is a lower output pickup but it has great dynamics and harmonics.

If nothing seems to work no matter what you try, even a good setup, it may simply be a case of a bad piece of wood. The next contributes a lot to the tone so if you have another neck you can swap, try that for kicks.

 

[Masta' C]

Here's what I've gathered:

1) The OP is asking mainly for Duncan recommendations.
2) It seems like he needs something:

• moderate output, not too hot
• less spikey on the top end, but not muffled
• reasonably tight on the bottom, but not overly compressed

In the Duncan camp, the Perpetual Burn and Parallel Axis pretty much tick all those boxes. A step further out would be the Custom, Custom-Custom, and Custom/59 hybrid.

Outside of SD, the OP would probably be well suited to something like the Breed, Air Zone, or Transition from DiMarzio.

---

OP, can you tell us more about your rig and what type of music you're playing?

Also, I second the sentiments about making sure your guitar is set up properly, including spending some time adjusting your pickups. Have you been doing that?

When you say the Demon sounds "incredibly weak", I agree it's not as powerful as some of the others you tried, but I wonder if you perhaps didn't get the pickup close enough to the strings or if there was something up with the solder job, a pot, or the wiring, etc? The Demon was the last pickup you tried in the guitar, right?

 

[ErikH]

Since I can't edit my post without getting the 503 error, I'm correcting my last sentence here.

The neck contributes a lot to the tone so if you have another neck you can swap, try that for kicks.

 

[Demanic]

Here's what I've gathered:

1) The OP is asking mainly for Duncan recommendations.
2) It seems like he needs something:

• moderate output, not too hot
• less spikey on the top end, but not muffled
• reasonably tight on the bottom, but not overly compressed

In the Duncan camp, the Perpetual Burn and Parallel Axis pretty much tick all those boxes. A step further out would be the Custom, Custom-Custom, and Custom/59 hybrid.

Outside of SD, the OP would probably be well suited to something like the Breed, Air Zone, or Transition from DiMarzio.

---

OP, can you tell us more about your rig and what type of music you're playing?

Also, I second the sentiments about making sure your guitar is set up properly, including spending some time adjusting your pickups. Have you been doing that?

When you say the Demon sounds "incredibly weak", I agree it's not as powerful as some of the others you tried, but I wonder if you perhaps didn't get the pickup close enough to the strings or if there was something up with the solder job, a pot, or the wiring, etc? The Demon was the last pickup you tried in the guitar, right?

I would include the SNS bridge.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[SimpleT]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I was about to pull the trigger on the perpetual burn and called SD to do the exchange but they said the window for the exchange had closed.

I posted the Screamin Demon on Facebook just now on Facebook and guy within minutes was asking to trade, he has a Parallel Axis, Invader, and a Lace Deathbucker. I was gonna go with the Parallel Axis off the recommendations in this thread but he said the Lace was lower output and closer to what I wanted, and I have always wanted an excuse to try one of the alumitones...

 

[piblock]

N/m, I didn't see your last reply

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I probably would've gone with the Parallel Axis myself. But I bet the Alumitone will be good.
I've been curious about those too. Be aware they're quite bright - Lace recommends 250K pots for them.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I was about to pull the trigger on the perpetual burn and called SD to do the exchange but they said the window for the exchange had closed.

I posted the Screamin Demon on Facebook just now on Facebook and guy within minutes was asking to trade, he has a Parallel Axis, Invader, and a Lace Deathbucker. I was gonna go with the Parallel Axis off the recommendations in this thread but he said the Lace was lower output and closer to what I wanted, and I have always wanted an excuse to try one of the alumitones...

Maybe he has a 21-day return policy. Seriously, though, I hope you’re happy with your choice and that someday you do try the Parallel Axis. It is an awesome pickup.

 

[SimpleT]

Haven't got a lot of time to play with it but I definitely like it so far, very very bright but plenty of low end, not too harsh, almost single coil like. Output is a little on the hot side but pairs well with the sentient. Very unique sounding, good dynamic response. The marketing of it as a metal pickup (deathbucker) is really weird, because if I was playing strictly metal and wanted a gutsy punchy metal pickup this is not it. Hard to stylistically pin down because it doesn't really sound like anything else, like I said not traditional sounding at all, which is a plus for me. I feel like it might work much better with some pedals than others, I normally don't like tube screamers type overdrives that much but I think they are great combo with the deathbucker. Thanks for input everyone, wish I could have A/B'd with the parallel axis.

 

[Masta' C]

You described the Deathbucker perfectly. Glad you are liking it so far! The Parallel Axis isn't "better", just different. If you're looking for something a little less traditional, then it sounds like you made the right choice!