Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

[misterwhizzy]

I don't have a lot of needs at the moment, since I can get the tones I want out of what gear I have (or at least pretty close to it), but are there holes in the Duncan line that need fixing? Maybe you just have a great idea that we'll all buy into and maybe get made for a few bucks less than a full-on Custom Shop order?

 

[orpheo]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

there are plenty holes in the lineup that need fixing if I were to be asked

* matching hybrid pickup for the 59/custom (i.e. 59/jazz)
* bring back the SH7/TB7
* bring back the SH9 set (OMG that set is so amazing).
* bring in a different mag option for the phat cat
* make the Custom8 a standard option

But a new UGF pickup? Last time we did that was in '12, '13 if I recall correctly and that process went so badly I believe it has been decided to not give it another go anymore. Ever. Also, the marketing team now is totally different, management has changed a bit too, so I doubt a new SDUFG pickup will pick up traction within the company at all. Helas. The Fugly was a fairly decent pickup (which became a firebreathing monster when coupled with the right magnets: alnico IV and ceramic 9 in bridge, Alnico III in neck).

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Democracy is a good thing in many scenarios, but I don't think it necessarily makes an excellent pickup. This (from what I have heard) has not gone well in the past, even if it did work at least once.

I think the prize to keep an eye on is: The only reason to even do this is to amortize costs and make an otherwise CS pickup somewhat more attainable, considering the CS already does anything on asking. Anything else is just the vanity of someone getting to say 'MY pickup was good enough to be 'official!' and that's sort of ridiculous.* Next we ask ourselves, why is there even a need to be experimental? Could we get more people in a group buy of a known 'good' like (I'm just pulling stuff out here) a '78 or or Lynchbucker rather than mystery meat that might be crap?

I wasn't there for the Fuglybucker (I think the last one?) but I think the lesson there also is: Make the pickup's existence something that can be explained by one sentence fragment: 'It sounds like____,' or 'it appeals to ____ fans,' rather than the simplest explanation being 'some guys bickered and this was squeezed out- YOU figure out what the hell to do with it.' That would get more buy-in, and make SD more amenable to offering it.

*(To me I think it's better to do something something *not* easily replicated through magnet switching or coil swapping; I'm taking about even for a CS buy I would do as an individual, let alone a forum pickup. So less user-friendly form factors, stacks, single-buckers, actives etc. seem natural. But I bet a lot of people will clamor for super-specific hybrids that are easily made & they made themselves and have four of anyway. And I guess considering the logic really is 'group buy' here, I guess if that's what people want that's what they want. )

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I don't see the need. I actually love the Fuglybucker, but it's uniqueness could easily have been a CS special order for those who wanted it. Not a big demand, even with the forum members, for anything that's not already available. Especially not worth the hassle that we went through to finally decide on what we wanted as the forum-designed pup. And then in the end, if I remember correctly, after it was made and after the price was determined, several members crapped out and didn't even buy it.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

According to the hand wringing going on right now, i'd say it would be a 4 conductor short leg 59.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I've said It before, I'll say It again: it'll never going to be another SDUGF p'up.

The SDRL site Is the Place created to send your ideas to never hear about'em again, since August 2015.

/Peter

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I've said It before, I'll say It again: it'll never going to be another SDUGF p'up.

The SDRL site Is the Place created to send your ideas to never hear about'em again, since August 2015.

/Peter

Actually not true, since before you posted this. Don't talk about things you know nothing about.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Actually not true, since before you posted this. Don't talk about things you know nothing about.

I don't mean to aggravate you, but what has ever come to fruition of the SDRL? What has EVER gone into production? As far as I recall: nothing.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

there are plenty holes in the lineup that need fixing if I were to be asked

* matching hybrid pickup for the 59/custom (i.e. 59/jazz)
* bring back the SH7/TB7
* bring back the SH9 set (OMG that set is so amazing).
* bring in a different mag option for the phat cat
* make the Custom8 a standard option

But a new UGF pickup? Last time we did that was in '12, '13 if I recall correctly and that process went so badly I believe it has been decided to not give it another go anymore. Ever. Also, the marketing team now is totally different, management has changed a bit too, so I doubt a new SDUFG pickup will pick up traction within the company at all. Helas. The Fugly was a fairly decent pickup (which became a firebreathing monster when coupled with the right magnets: alnico IV and ceramic 9 in bridge, Alnico III in neck).

Wasn't SH-7 just renamed Distortion neck (SH-6n)?

This interesting article you made 2015 at least seems to confirm that:https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/seymour-duncans-prodigal-sons-the-sh7-and-the-sh9

 

[orpheo]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Wasn't SH-7 just renamed Distortion neck (SH-6n)?

This interesting article you made 2015 at least seems to confirm that:https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/seymour-duncans-prodigal-sons-the-sh7-and-the-sh9

You are absolutely right. I just hate the term SH6N. Dunno why, but I like the numbers seven and nine.



OH NOW I GET IT!

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Seven_of_Nine

 

[Discharged]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Actually not true, since before you posted this. Don't talk about things you know nothing about.

Educate me, then.

What exactly came out? I'll actually be pretty excited to publically stand corrected. However, It doesn't seem to be the case.

Well...?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Reports from that site get emailed to every single person who designs pickups and effects. That is the best chance you have (other than going to NAMM and not coming off as one of those 'you know what you should do' guys) to getting your voice heard about products.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Reports from that site get emailed to every single person who designs pickups and effects. That is the best chance you have (other than going to NAMM and not coming off as one of those 'you know what you should do' guys) to getting your voice heard about products.

That's the problem: it's being sent allright but noone is doing anything with it. That site has been live for 4 years now and zero ideas have been implemented. No wonder few folks are ridiculizing the SDRL.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Most companies don't even allow that level of engagement. If people want a certain pickup built, they can go to the Custom Shop. They can also shop around for Shop Floor Custom pickup prices. As far as pickups go, you can call and have anything designed, but you are gonna have to pay for it.
My thought is that since the SDRL site was implemented, there has been employee turnover, and they have a ton of products waiting to come out. But if you want something built, it can still be built.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Makes sense to me.
Just because you want it built, doesn't mean it's going to be a production thing.
Have the CS do it, or move on. Forum crusiers are likely a small portion of the customer base.
Especially since so many of us buy used and modify.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I get what you're saying, Mincer, but I think your statements also serve to reinforce the concerns from the others. After all, out here in the real world, we only know about what gets put out, not what is "waiting to come out".

There's really no communication about upcoming ideas or those under consideration any longer. When company reps were more prominent on the forum, we had a window into these things and most of us felt like ideas could make it to the people that cared. That's how forum pickups were made possible.

Of course there's the "Custom Shop", but that shouldn't necessarily be the default answer to everything. I like the website for submitting new ideas in concept, but there's no sense of interaction...no reassurance that anything is happening on the back end with those ideas. The R&D group should have their own "Builder's Blog" or something

To SD's credit, they HAVE come out with a LOT of great stuff over the past couple of years. I'm not dissatisfied at all, aside from the really weak marketing and complete lack of follow-up for most products, especially here on the forum, where the promotion is essentially free to the company and a little interaction could go a long way...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I want the same thing as I have always wanted. A Telecaster version of the SSL-5/6.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

If I take back everything in my original post, will you make me a Jazzmaster stack plus?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

I think Mustang and Jaguar humbs would be insane. They'd be my next cs order but I don't need more guitars.

 

[TVFV]

Re: Is it time for a new UGF pickup?

Cool Rails for tele? Putting the 78' and Brobucker in standard production?

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