I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP

BrentSP

New member
I just recently bought a 99' Gibson LP Custom and dropped in a Distortion that I had. I play through Bogner amps and the tone is muddy with this guitar/pickup. The stock 498T was lots better actually. I tried different heights. When lowered it became dark and with it higher to the strings it was buzzy. Usually its the exact opposite when lowering and raising the pickup height. Also I find the low end big and boomy.......which I don't care for. I have tried the pickup with a Gibson SG and LP Standard and it sounded the best in the SG. To this date I love the JB and the Custom the best and the JB being my favorite. As for what ohm pots are in my guitars I haven't a clue. I assume 250k but they could be 500k ........I don't know. Help me.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

I could be wrong, but I thought Gibson used something like 300k pots?
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

You very well could be right bro because I don't know. I usually associate 250k with strats and 500k with LP's.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

For whats its worth......The pickup I'm looking for is something with a open sound but tight and not overwelming on the bottom end, decent gain, with crunchy hi mids and sweet singing highs, with superb clarity and definition. lol.....I'm describing a "dream" pickup I guess.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

Full Shred (similar to a tighter JB IMHO)


Edit (that ... or maybe a Jazz)
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

TheProphet said:
Full Shred (similar to a tighter JB IMHO)
Click to expand...
I agree!

I have a Full Shred in one guitar and a set off DD's another.

The Full Shred would be worth checking out. It's kinds "light" on the bass, very articulate because of the A5 mag, and it is crunchy. It's an aggressive medium output pickup. I'd be interested to hear a FS in a LP.

Happy hunting!
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP said:
open sound but tight and not overwelming on the bottom end, decent gain, with crunchy hi mids and sweet singing highs, with superb clarity and definition.
Click to expand...
Seth Lover! I have tried lots of pickups in my Les Paul. The Seth Lover bridge seems perfect, when you have a good amp. I am sure that your Bogner is no slouch, and probably likes low-output pickups with good definition.
It has great midrange response and it is very articulate, without that compressed sound that you will get with the DD.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

i believe your problem is with the pots, not the pickup

but what you're describing there is a JB to my ears.. cos thats pretty much how it sounds in my SG
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

Stevo said:
Seth Lover! I have tried lots of pickups in my Les Paul. The Seth Lover bridge seems perfect, when you have a good amp. I am sure that your Bogner is no slouch, and probably likes low-output pickups with good definition.
It has great midrange response and it is very articulate, without that compressed sound that you will get with the DD.
Click to expand...


I have thought about going to low output pickups. I haven't considered the SL but I will now. I was looking into the 59' and Pearly Gates.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

TheProphet said:
Full Shred (similar to a tighter JB IMHO)


Edit (that ... or maybe a Jazz)
Click to expand...


I had a Full Shred in one of my older Les Pauls that I sold and it was muddy and bassy to, but to be fair all pickups that I tried sounded terrible in that guitar. This LP Custom kinda reminds me of that old LP I used to have unfortunately.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

I've got the same gear as you, basically, and am a severe toneaholic.
Skip past the rest and go straight to the Custom 5/59 or Custom 5/Jazz

I could give you a hundred reasons why I've ended at those pickup combos,
over other Duncan models, but you'll hear what I mean when you install it.
Someday, Seymour's headstone will read "Creator of the Custom 5" :laugh2:
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

One thing I wanted to ask you guys and I forgot to: The tail piece on LPs.....not the intonating bridge but the piece that the strings are mounted to. Mine is about a quarter of an inch high. Is this whats causing the muddiness and does it need to be all the way down making direct contact with the top wood? If I go to low the strings will make contact to the back of the bridge and I assume would lose sustain but I may be wrong on that.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP said:
I just recently bought a 99' Gibson LP Custom and dropped in a Distortion that I had. I play through Bogner amps and the tone is muddy with this guitar/pickup. The stock 498T was lots better actually. I tried different heights. When lowered it became dark and with it higher to the strings it was buzzy. Usually its the exact opposite when lowering and raising the pickup height. Also I find the low end big and boomy.......which I don't care for. I have tried the pickup with a Gibson SG and LP Standard and it sounded the best in the SG. To this date I love the JB and the Custom the best and the JB being my favorite. As for what ohm pots are in my guitars I haven't a clue. I assume 250k but they could be 500k ........I don't know. Help me.
Click to expand...


Hey Bro....drop a BBQ in that badboy and you won't look back :saeek:
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP said:
For whats its worth......The pickup I'm looking for is something with a open sound but tight and not overwelming on the bottom end, decent gain, with crunchy hi mids and sweet singing highs, with superb clarity and definition. lol.....I'm describing a "dream" pickup I guess.
Click to expand...

C5! It has a lot of bass, but not boomy or overwhelming in any sense, and VERY tight. It sounds great clean or dirty, and does great crunch and singing highs. Lots of clarity.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP said:
For whats its worth......The pickup I'm looking for is something with a open sound but tight and not overwelming on the bottom end, decent gain, with crunchy hi mids and sweet singing highs, with superb clarity and definition. lol.....I'm describing a "dream" pickup I guess.
Click to expand...


That's how the Duncan Distortion sounded in my super-strat...pretty much exactly. Not sure what happened in the Les Paul though....different guitars respond differently to various pickups.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

I can't decide if I like the C-5 or BBQ more but both are a good bet.

I have heard great things about the Custom.

Also, look at the tail piece. I am hoping to get an aluminum piece soon to compare.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

BrentSP said:
I have thought about going to low output pickups. I haven't considered the SL but I will now. I was looking into the 59' and Pearly Gates.
Click to expand...
I have used those also.. both good.

I like the SL because it has the open-ness of the 59 and the a2 edge of the PG also, but not quite as bright or edgy.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

Sometimes the advice can be as confusing as the original question I guess, with so many opinions but I am going to echo one that has been mentioned a couple of times based on what you said you were looking for (especially clarity) - I would definitely listen to a Jazz in there and see what you think - I have a Schecter with a JB bridge and Jazz neck - that combo would probably sound pretty good in the LP.
 
Re: I'm not impressed with the Duncan Distortion

Sounds like you're describing either a Full Shred, Pearly Gates, or Screamin Demon. I think the Demon would work well in that guitar.

Ryan
 
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