Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

[papersoul]

I had a few chances to listen to my friend play his PRS CU22 with Dragon II p'ups and was floord at his tone through my rig. I am wondering if there happens to be a similar Duncan I could buy?

Thanks!

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

I had a few chances to listen to my friend play his PRS CU22 with Dragon II p'ups and was floord at his tone through my rig. I am wondering if there happens to be a similar Duncan I could buy?

Thanks!

does prs sell pups sepertly? maybe you can buy just the set from him?

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Geez dude, haven't been here a few times before?? No they don't. PRS sells exactly what your looking for if thats what you want.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Yes you can buy Dragon II pups from PRS. I am quite fond of them as well. There is no Duncan that is an exact or close enough in my opinion ( not better just different). I usually buy these from Jack Gretz at magdon music. If you buy off the PRS website you'll pay 120 bucks each. Bout 96 each through dealers. I just scored a used set for 100 bucks for the pair. Great pickups.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Yeah, its a good thing they sell their pups as aftermarket reps, go nuts and buy a set from a dealer if you like them.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

In case you're interested I e-mailed PRS about the specs of the Dragon II pups some time ago.

They say the DC Resistance is about 12k for the bridge, 8k for the neck.

The magnets are alnico but they wouldn't say 2, 5 or whatever and they wouldn't comment on the resonant peak.

I know what you mean - my bandmate gets excellent tones from his stock CU22. Question is, is that just the pups?

You could buy just the Dragon IIs, but how much of that tone is in the rest of the guitar?

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

In case you're interested I e-mailed PRS about the specs of the Dragon II pups some time ago.

They say the DC Resistance is about 12k for the bridge, 8k for the neck.

The magnets are alnico but they wouldn't say 2, 5 or whatever and they wouldn't comment on the resonant peak.

I know what you mean - my bandmate gets excellent tones from his stock CU22. Question is, is that just the pups?

You could buy just the Dragon IIs, but how much of that tone is in the rest of the guitar?

Mine's best guitar I have ever owned. going to try the Extra DII's I have in a few things and see, but their wood is pretty terrific.

 

[Marty Horne]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Having owned 4 PRS guitars each with different pickups, the Dragon 2's are definitely my favorites. However, I think everything on PRS guitars seems to work together to add up to an exceptional axe.

 

[Sage]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Actually, I have a pair of Dragon II pickups (one neck and one bridge) that I am looking to sell. They're in very good condition, if anybody's interested.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Thanks guys, I hope nobody felt I was taking a slant against duncan with this topic. I seriously asked because it would be nice if I could buy a reasonably close pickup from Duncan, since I have a ton of respect for Duncan p'ups.

Anyway, thanks again, My friend does have the p'ups in his CU22 but he also had some installed into a Schecter and sounded almost as good!

You PRS guys, what other PRS p'ups have you played? I look for more modern tones these days and have been thinking of the McCarty model and installing D II pickups. I say the McCarty because it seems to have a naturally beefier tone.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Thanks guys, I hope nobody felt I was taking a slant against duncan with this topic. I seriously asked because it would be nice if I could buy a reasonably close pickup from Duncan, since I have a ton of respect for Duncan p'ups.

Anyway, thanks again, My friend does have the p'ups in his CU22 but he also had some installed into a Schecter and sounded almost as good!

You PRS guys, what other PRS p'ups have you played? I look for more modern tones these days and have been thinking of the McCarty model and installing D II pickups. I say the McCarty because it seems to have a naturally beefier tone.

Yup the McCarty's beefy alright. Supposed to be Paul's attempt to make a guitar sound like Duane Allman's LP. David Grissom had a ton of input on design.

I Use the DII's in my Custom 22 and I have Artist pups in my Standard 24. The Standard is an all Mahogany guitar with trem. I have the Artist pickups in the standard now. Much like a Duncan 59 really. Little bit more gain. The guitar came with the HFS/Vintage Bass combo and I really didn't like them. All the 24 fretters come with these. REALLY muddy. Just did not like them at all. Went with the artist pups on suggestion and I like them, but they are not better than a Custom/59 combo.

McCarty's pups can be a bit grainy. I would put DII's in as well. I believe if you order from Magdon Music, they will swap whatever you want, but I could be incorrect. Great place to buy your PRS. www.magdonmusic.com

 

[papersoul]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Big Mike Blues,

Are you familiar with any other PRS pickups? Do you know how the Duncan Custom compares to the DII?

Thanks bro, you are most helpful.

 

[JALIN]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

I had a 96 Cu22 with Dragon I, 01 SC with #7, and an AT with the McCarty AT pups. I swear the best PRS pups ever made are the Dragon I which in no longer available on any of their guitars but available through them PRS or dealers. The #7 pups are really good to, but those Dragon I was perfect all around. Great clean sounds, rock, metal, and Satriani/Vai leads to!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

I had a 96 Cu22 with Dragon I, 01 SC with #7, and an AT with the McCarty AT pups. I swear the best PRS pups ever made are the Dragon I which in no longer available on any of their guitars but available through them PRS or dealers. The #7 pups are really good to, but those Dragon I was perfect all around. Great clean sounds, rock, metal, and Satriani/Vai leads to!

How do they differ from the Dragon IIs?

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Big Mike Blues,

Are you familiar with any other PRS pickups? Do you know how the Duncan Custom compares to the DII?

Thanks bro, you are most helpful.

Interesting. Never compared next to each other. or in the same guitar, but I'll give it a shot.

I believe the Custom will have a bigger low end push, but the high and mids are a bit sweeter on the the DII. Still has good lows, but I almost want to compare the DII bridge to a JB. Kind of a sweet JB with a touch more low, and a bit more "roundness" to the top. Hope that makes sense?

The neck, is a bit like a A2 Pro. Probably why I like it so much. Fairly close with more Chime to it. Both neck and bridge split wonderfully, and I think the DII sounds better clean than the JB and Custom.

Compared to a Dragon I different beast. That's a much heavier sounding pickup than the DII. More full, split the diff between a custom and a custom custom and you're in the ball park.

FYI Carlos Santana uses a DII with vintage hoolup wire in the bridge of his orange and blue Studio/road guitars now.

I have used PRS DII's. HFS/VB and Artist pups, and have played McCarty's and DI's as well. My Fav PRS pup is the DII by far. My Fav Duncan set up has always been the Custom/Alnico II or 59/alnico II But have owned loads of differnet duncans. Never been a Dimarzio fan.

To get an Idea of what I like for tone, David Grissom on any of the Storyville CD's is about the perfect tone for me.

Hope this is helpful, I'm happy to have a conversation if you like. Email me.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

DII more versitile than the DI by the way. Look at the DI as more Rock Fusion, and the DII as a tweaked High output PAFish pup.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Wow, I like your explanation of the DII's tone compared to the Custom. Sound slike a toss up! It is my nature to tweak so I think I still need to fid a Custom to try in my LP and then a D II but I'd need the set because they would be out of phase. I like what you say about it being like a JB with more lows. I use a Rio BBQ at the moment and it has HUGE low end and round lows.
It would be nice to find a pickup that has as much character and thickness of the BBQ but a touch more clarity and tightness to my ears. At the moment I am pretty happy with it. Which has more output? Custom or D II? JB?

I have a friend who uses the CU22 with D IIs for heavy modern styles and has no issues with low end at all and get great tone.

You can check out this link for tunes they had recorded with thise guitar along with the singer's LP. www.jadedfaith.com

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Wow, I like your explanation of the DII's tone compared to the Custom. Sound slike a toss up! It is my nature to tweak so I think I still need to fid a Custom to try in my LP and then a D II but I'd need the set because they would be out of phase. I like what you say about it being like a JB with more lows. I use a Rio BBQ at the moment and it has HUGE low end and round lows.
It would be nice to find a pickup that has as much character and thickness of the BBQ but a touch more clarity and tightness to my ears. At the moment I am pretty happy with it. Which has more output? Custom or D II? JB?

I have a friend who uses the CU22 with D IIs for heavy modern styles and has no issues with low end at all and get great tone.

You can check out this link for tunes they had recorded with thise guitar along with the singer's LP. www.jadedfaith.com

I'll check out thee link from home. Output seems on par with the JB and Custom, I put those together as really close in output.

You can actually flip the Magnet in an uncovered pickup ( switch polarity ) or a covered one by removing, and reinstalling the cover. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The Neck DII is pretty sexy sounding though.

Rio BBQ is supposed to be Killer, though I haven't tried one. Ariel Pozzo a guitarist from Argentina I think? Uses them in his driskill and has such amazing tone. Check him out at www.aspenrecords.com

 

[papersoul]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Interesting. Never compared next to each other. or in the same guitar, but I'll give it a shot.

I believe the Custom will have a bigger low end push, but the high and mids are a bit sweeter on the the DII. Still has good lows, but I almost want to compare the DII bridge to a JB. Kind of a sweet JB with a touch more low, and a bit more "roundness" to the top. Hope that makes sense?

The neck, is a bit like a A2 Pro. Probably why I like it so much. Fairly close with more Chime to it. Both neck and bridge split wonderfully, and I think the DII sounds better clean than the JB and Custom.

Compared to a Dragon I different beast. That's a much heavier sounding pickup than the DII. More full, split the diff between a custom and a custom custom and you're in the ball park.

FYI Carlos Santana uses a DII with vintage hoolup wire in the bridge of his orange and blue Studio/road guitars now.

I have used PRS DII's. HFS/VB and Artist pups, and have played McCarty's and DI's as well. My Fav PRS pup is the DII by far. My Fav Duncan set up has always been the Custom/Alnico II or 59/alnico II But have owned loads of differnet duncans. Never been a Dimarzio fan.

To get an Idea of what I like for tone, David Grissom on any of the Storyville CD's is about the perfect tone for me.

Hope this is helpful, I'm happy to have a conversation if you like. Email me.

Actually your description of the D II in comparison to the JB sounds a lot like the Duncan C-5.

 

[Big Mike Blues]

Re: Is there a Duncan similar to the Dragon II?

Actually your description of the D II in comparison to the JB sounds a lot like the Duncan C-5.

Really? I have never tried a C5.

The DII's I just picked up, the guy removed for a 59/C5 he liked more. All mahogany PRS.