if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

appar111

New member
If I decide to plunk down $150-160 on a Duncan Custom Shop pickup, I'm down to one of these two. It's going into a "rock" esquire-- single bridge humbucker tele body, alder, with a strat hardtail bridge, single 250K pot, maple neck & fretboard.

Here's a little background. I'm a tele lover, but dig a great rock sound. Classic hard rock tones to me are DLR-era Van Halen, Guns & Roses, old Dokken & Ratt, Kiss, Bon Scott era AC/DC. That sort of "kerrang" to a good power chord. Pissed off, bitey, but still big sounding and not real compressed. I play through an older (91-92) tweed Bassman Reissue (first year, I believe) w/ the channels jumpered, and a decent dirt box. That's it. My other guitars are a Super Distortion equipped strat (fat sounding) and a tele with a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge.

Given my gear choices and musical & fave band choices, which would be a more appropriate fit-- the '78 or the S-Deco?

I've seen the S-Deco here being described as the "Brobucker killer". I've read a couple reviews on the '78 as being very, very "pissed off" sounding. I think I've ruled out the Brobucker as the other two seem to be brighter and more aggressive sounding (the '78 definitely). I've checked into the new EVH frankenstein humbucker, but at 14.4K and A2 and a little more compressed than it's predecessor the '78, it seems pretty similar to a CC, so I've ruled it out too.

I've not played either (well, any, if we're including the Brobucker), and I've already done alot of reading here. Without saying what i'm already leaning towards, I thought I'd ask for a little more direction & opinions here.

Also, does the Custom Shop do relicing and is it included in the $160 price tag?

Your advice is most appreciated!
 
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Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Those two pickups you narrowed it down to are really different then each other, the 78 is 10k, and the s-deco is 12, Van halen in his earlier stuff used a low-medium output P.A.F pickup, and lynch from dokken used a duncan distortion.....totally oppisate.


I heard good things about the 78, if you are going to go custom just get a hotter 78, wound hotter with a a5 mag.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I've got 2 78s one in an R8 and another in a CU24. It's a fantastic pup that likes to rock out. It has a warm chewy sound that cuts through the mix REALLY well.

I've never had an S-Deco but I'd definitely like to try one.

Luke
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Those two pickups you narrowed it down to are really different then each other, the 78 is 10k, and the s-deco is 12, Van halen in his earlier stuff used a low-medium output P.A.F pickup, and lynch from dokken used a duncan distortion.....totally oppisate.


I heard good things about the 78, if you are going to go custom just get a hotter 78, wound hotter with a a5 mag.

If you order a 78 and expect 10K, when you get it and measure it, you are going to be disappointed. Try, 8.75K + or -.

The S Deco is available in 2 different ranges. 10-11K and 11-12K IIRC.


Myself, the 78 was cool but, not worth the $160. I hear great things about the S-Deco.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I know it's not one of the two, but I wonder what an A2pro would do for you in that slot. Based on your original post, I'd give that a shot before shelling out.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

If you order a 78 and expect 10K, when you get it and measure it, you are going to be disappointed. Try, 8.75K + or -.

The S Deco is available in 2 different ranges. 10-11K and 11-12K IIRC.


Myself, the 78 was cool but, not worth the $160. I hear great things about the S-Deco.


I had a 10K '78 and it measured bang on (Well actually 10.04K).:11: I tried it very briefly in a LP std... I didn't like it at all, it lacked the clarity and definition of the Bro and it sounded very compressed to me? I much prefered the Bro so stuck it back in.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I had a 10K '78 and it measured bang on (Well actually 10.04K).:11: I tried it very briefly in a LP std... I didn't like it at all, it lacked the clarity and definition of the Bro and it sounded very compressed to me? I much prefered the Bro so stuck it back in.

Wow, most 78's I have heard of are not 10K. Most are 8.75-9K or so.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Never owned/used a 78 but the S-Deco is a killer bridge pup! If you take the bass of a C5, add the mids of a PG (without the fizziness) and the singing top end of JB (without the ice pick) you will have the S-Deco.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I know it's not one of the two, but I wonder what an A2pro would do for you in that slot. Based on your original post, I'd give that a shot before shelling out.


Or maybe a 59B with an A2 in it? A little rawer sounding than an A2P, while still warming things up a bit w/ the A2 magnet, I would imagine...
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Never owned/used a 78 but the S-Deco is a killer bridge pup! If you take the bass of a C5, add the mids of a PG (without the fizziness) and the singing top end of JB (without the ice pick) you will have the S-Deco.

That sounds just about perfect. I've always been intrigued by the S-Deco, and while I've read a lot of things that really make me want to try one, that's about the best simplistic description one could ask for.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I say go with the 78.

When you decide you don't like it, it will have a much higher resale/trade value.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Poor phrasing....the result of trying to post with a 2 year old crawling all over me. I meant "if" not "when" you decide to sell it.

I assume if you're buying custom shop it's because you want the feeling that a pup was made just for you. I have some tele pups that I had wound, I understand.

If you're really split down the middle and you just want to try the sound, kjrocks has/had a 78 on sale in the Trading Post.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Isn't the S-Deco an underwound awg43?

How can it be the ancestor of the brobucker then?
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

Isn't the S-Deco an underwound awg43?

How can it be the ancestor of the brobucker then?

i believe that the sdeco is 43 awg. the bro and sdeco dont have anything to do with each other other than they arent paf type or distortion type buckers and are made by the custom shop
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I have been intrigued by the S-Deco every time it comes up. I wish I knew where to score some clips of one. Anyone???
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

i believe that the sdeco is 43 awg. the bro and sdeco dont have anything to do with each other other than they arent paf type or distortion type buckers and are made by the custom shop

That's what I thought. Thanks.
 
Re: if I'm going Custom Shop - the '78 or S-Deco?

I say go with the 78.

When you decide you don't like it, it will have a much higher resale/trade value.

So are you assuming I won't like it?

Poor phrasing....the result of trying to post with a 2 year old crawling all over me. I meant "if" not "when" you decide to sell it.

^_^ @_@ *_* #_#

Had me laughing out loud at 2:30 in the morning! :bigthumb:

All this S-Deco talk makes me wanna buy one......
 
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