HB102's in a Squier Starfire

[Semi-hollowbody]

I recently purchased a Squier Starfire semi-hollowbody.
I discovered that the pickups are Duncan Designed HB102's.
Can any one give me any more information (besides the brief product note)regarding the output or tonal characteristics of these pups. Opinions are also welcome...Everybody's got one!
Thanks for your help guys!

 

[tonedeaf1]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

Duncan Designed HB-102's are based on the American-made Duncan JB/Jazz set, JB at the bridge, Jazz at the neck. They're manufactured in South Korea. There is some debate about how close these are to the originals. Some say very close, others say not.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

I think they would be a good match for your guitar. You cant make a silk purse outta a sows ear. They are decent sounding pups. Ive got a set I will sell you very cheap.

 

[I_M_Ken]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

Duncan designs are almost of the same specs as the original seymour duncans but with lesser QC as i've heard from some guys here. however sometimes if u're lucky u might actually get one thats sounds very very close to seymour duncan pups.
let your ears be the judge, as long as you like how it sounds, then thats enough to keep them in.

 

[Semi-hollowbody]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

Thanks for the feedback.
These pickupsseem to be a bit 'hot' for my musical tastes. They distort a little too easily. Anybody with the same experience?

 

[yegbert]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

I picked up one of the HB102Ns at a used gear store. I had it in the neck of a 2000 Squier Fat Tele. It was better than the stock Squier HB, but I tried a Gibson Burstbucker #1 after that and liked it better in that Tele.

My HB102N measures close to the same as SD's spec for the Jazz neck that it was modeled after. But I haven't had a Duncan Jazz neck to really compare it to performance-wise.

I played a couple of new HH Squiers yesterday with Duncan Designed pups and liked them. I also measured them on my pocket multimeter. On both, the neck was between 7k and 8k and the bridge was something over 16k. One guitar was a Tele Thinline HH and the other was an Esprit. I know of another fellow who recently bought one of those Thinlines and his measured about the same.

So I'm guessing those have the HB102 set as well.

Has anyone here checked out the Duncan Designed pups that are in the new Squier Chambered Teles - I'm wondering if those are the same specs?

 

[Artie]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

Some say very close, others say not.

This goes right along with something that Evan said once. He said that while the import models had the same engineering specs, they didn't have quite the same level of quality control that the Santa Barbara models have. (End of Evan paraphrasing.)

So if they don't exactly calibrate the tension of a winder one day, it could slightly stretch the wire, which would affect several aspects of its sound.

Some folks might get a "Monday" pup, and others might get a "Friday" pup.

 

[yegbert]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

Has anyone here checked out the Duncan Designed pups that are in the new Squier Chambered Teles - I'm wondering if those are the same specs?

I measured the pups on a Squier Chambered Tele today, and they were about the same specs as the Thinline and Esprit pups: 16k+ on the bridge, and under 7k+ on the neck.

 

[yegbert]

Re: HB102's in a Squier Starfire

I think they would be a good match for your guitar. You cant make a silk purse outta a sows ear. They are decent sounding pups. Ive got a set I will sell you very cheap.

jerryjg,

I tried sending you a PM but i get a message saying something that sounds like your mailbox is full. I'm interested in your HB102s, I'd like to find out more about them.

thanks,
yegbert