Identifying Duncan Designed pickups on an old Samick

[DayDecco]

Hello everyone!

Even though this is my first post, I've been reading this forum for a long time, so I'd like to start by thanking the community for all I learned here.

I've just purchased a 2001 Samick Rangercaster 3. It's a sort of Strat-Tele hybrid. You can check it out here:
https://www.zzounds.com/item--SAKRC3W

Information on the guitar is sparse, but I've gathered the the three single coils are supposed to be Duncan Designed. I'm trying to establish what they are for sure, but there's no "Duncan Designed" logo anywhere to be seen, nor is there anything written on the back.

Is there any way to know if they are indeed Duncan Designed and, if so, what kind of single coils they are?

Thanks!

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: Identifying Duncan Designed pickups on an old Samick

More than likely SC-101 set. I haven't had a duncan designed pickup in front of me in a very long time but they should be stamped on the bases which model they are. What is interesting about Samick is they are/were a ghost builder for various companies such as Ibanez. They are a plant you give them specifications and they put say Ibanez logo on them. Philip Mcknight and Willseasyguitar did videos on this subject

If they are the SC-101 set this is what the marketing team said about them
The SC-101 single coils represent a tonal cross between Seymour Duncan’s SSL-2 Vintage Flat and SSL-6 Custom Flat models. Unlike many inexpensive single coils that have a large ceramic magnet glued underneath non-magnetic steel slugs, the SC-101s use real Alnico V rod pole pieces with a flat magnet stagger for exceptional string balance. The three single coil models are each specially calibrated to either bridge, middle or neck positions, with the middle pickup reverse wound, reverse polarity. The tone is chimey and bright with exceptional “quack” in the notch positions.

for more duncan designed pickups this is the blog i saw on it just now
https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/product-news/duncan-designed-pickups

 

[DayDecco]

Re: Identifying Duncan Designed pickups on an old Samick

Thanks shadowfire90, they might be SC-101s indeed - the description seems to fit them.

Still, it's a bit funny... There are no stamps anywhere, and the baseplate shape is a little different, with the wire coming out at the side.

Here's some pics (I should've led with that - sorry):

 

[Discharged]

Re: Identifying Duncan Designed pickups on an old Samick

I don't think they're Duncan Designed p'ups.

Sorry!

/Peter

 

[DayDecco]

Re: Identifying Duncan Designed pickups on an old Samick

Thanks, Peter.

It looks that way, right? It was a bit of wishful thinking.

I stilll haven't put the guitar together to see how it sounds - the nut was cracked and I'll have to replace it - so I'm yet to see how bad (or good) the PUs are. I was just trying to establish what I had, because I'm trying to learn a bit more about pickups and it would be useful to know what I'm starting with (magnets, voicing etc.) in order to better understand the variables at hand.