Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

M

mindbender

New member
I recently bought a JS1000 off ebay with a Duncan Distortion in the bridge. The DD sounds kind of dark in that guitar, no definition. Which is weird, because I always thought the DD was kinda close to the Custom, but I tried a Custom in there and it was way too shrill. So, I got to thinking...the DD wasn't all that bad but it needs a lot more highs. Any thoughts? I read in another post someone put hex screws in a DD. Would that do it?
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

It should have plenty of highs, are you sure it's a DD? (Not questioning your intelligence, just checking).

I don't think changing the poles will make a huge difference. Are the pots 500Ks? If so, try a 1Meg volume pot. If they are 250Ks, change them to 500Ks.
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

A 1 Mohm poti (or no poti) and a low-capacitance cable bring something.

A preamp in the guitar brings more.

You can try a LCR network to remove some impedance from the pickup. Bill Lawrence's "Q-Filter" is an example and only 20 bucks plus shipping.

Overall I think that stuffing an A2 magnet into the Custom might do what you want. If you have the Custom anyway why not try?

Or rip a couple windings off the coils :D
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

It was sold to me as a DD. I could check the magnet, though. Maybe someone put an A5 in there and made it a JB.
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

The DD should have plenty of highs and balance throughout. Better pots would be my guess if it is a Distortion and not something else. Make sure it's not a Duncan Designed HB-103 which is the overseas version of the DD. They're o.k. but lack the definition of the domestics.

Mic
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

Nope, it's aTB-6 Distortion. Just took the magnet out, it's humongous. Twice as thick as the ceramic in my Custom. Is that normal?
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

Yes, DD's have an oversized ceramic.

Besides what others have said about using a large value pot, make sure it's wired correctly, and that the tone control isn't grounding out sucking away the highs. Maybe try disconnecting the tone to see what happens.

Don't know about the hex screws you mention. I have no problems with my DD's.
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

I find Duncan's sound so blah in basswood bodies. I had a JB in a basswood body and it didn't seem to stick out as much. Basswood Ibanez's tend to sound better with Dimarzio's. If you want something like the Distortion, I'd suggest a Dimarzio Super Distortion or the Evolution.
 
Re: Is there a way to get more highs out of a DD?

Well, I just noticed something when I took the magnets out of my Custom and DD. The magnet in the Custom had North facing the other way than in the DD. So I turned the one in the Custom around and installed it and now it sounds more like it should (although still not quite what I'm looking for). Seems that maybe the magnet got turned around with all the magnet swapping in that pickup. Still doesn't explain why I'm not getting any highs out of the DD, though. Does anyone know which way North should be facing in Duncan pickups? In fact, I think I'll start a thread on that subject.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top