Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

[arem]

I have an ash bodied, maple neck/fingerboard, Floyd equipped superstrat that I love but have never dug the pickup on it, which is some ESP model I can't remember. I was offered a Duncan Distortion in a trade and want you guys opinion on it. My band plays fast thrashy punk in standard tuning and I only play rhythm guitar. I want tight, fast low end response, definitely not spongy or loose feeling, and not too bright on the high end. My ideal guitar tone would be something like Brian Baker's tone on Dag Nasty's "Can I Say" LP like this

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMgNhZMnwqE

So all that in mind, is the Duncan Distortion a good pickup for me, or is there another you would recommend instead? Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

Welcome to the forum.

The Duncan Distortion is certain to be an improvement over the ESP unit. Worse case scenario, you don't gel with the Distortion. You can easily trade it for another pre-owned Duncan humbucker.

 

[CTN]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

can't go wrong with the Distortion. Judging from your description of what you want, it should be right up your alley.

 

[toneseeker74]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

The Distortion was my biggest happy surprise pickup from Duncan. Great power, and can sound pretty darn good clean when the volume is rolled back. It has tight low end response. Highs may be a bit bright, but you can roll back your tone knob or do a couple cap or pot swaps. I say go for it!

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

The DD is right for most people but they don't know it yet.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

the DD should work pretty well for you, i would think

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

I have it in the bridge of my guitars (granted these are mahogany bodied ones) and it sounds pretty good. I really dig the low end response from them. Like you my gig is pretty much rhythm the whole time. It seems to do well for a little bit of high end lead, but I have a 59 in the neck position and it fattens up a lot for when I want to do harmony leads.

I say do it. Like FunkFingers said, if you can't gel with it, then the least you can say is that your got the ESP one out of the guitar. On here, I'm sure that there's someone willing to trade something for it.

 

[LonePhantom]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

If the Distortion doesn't do it for you then the Custom surely would.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

As much as I love the Distortion, the Ash/Floyd/Maple thing scare me on the high end.

The tight fast bottom thing? Oh hell yes. But the treble might be rough. Of course there is a tone knob, and then there are also some buttons on the amp or something...

 

[arem]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

Cool, thanks for the responses everyone, I appreciate it. I'm going to give the Distortion try, as you said at least I'll get the current pickup out of there. I'll try to post a follow up once I have the Duncan installed.

 

[elelpe]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

Yeah, go for it. There are some ways to tame the high end if that bothers you. Give us report.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

If the Distortion is too bright for you try a Super D next, that pickup was made for punk rock IMO...

 

[jimman]

Re: Is the Duncan Distortion the one for me?

Based on your description I think the Distortion would be good for you. But I should also point out that I saw an interview with Brian Baker and he said he puts Super Distortions in all of his guitars. So if you are going for a sound similar to his that might also be something to consider.