Jackson DK2 Bridge pickup replacement choices

[Rabihz24]

Hi ya folks,
First time on the Seymour duncan forum. Been waiting forever for my account activation so i can post. But long time reader though...

I purchased a Mint 2005 Jackson DK2 with alder and maple top. It has Duncan Design pickups but im not sure what the bridge is. Some say its an equivalent to the JB, but yet that to be confirmed.

Im used to high output pickups on my 2 Ibanez. One Prestige with evolution pickups (verry agressive and trebely) and My Jem 7DBK with breeds, And its my favorite.

Im looking to replace the Duncan design on the jackson and im looking in the line of the Seymour's PATB-1 or PATB2. Note that i had a duncan distortion long time ago and i loved it.
The sound wizard on the duncan website suggested the PATB-1.
Now after i heard the tone charts clips i kinda like the most the Duncan Custom. WHat you guys think???
Im looking for a high output pickup that have lots of attack, definition, cleans up when the volume nob rolled down and almost equal EQ (bass, trebel and midrange).
here is a clip of me playing the jackson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57asyt0Qkac with the original duncan design pickups So you can hear the tone of the thing. Note that those so called JB clones are not that bad...

Regards

Rabih

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Jackson DK2 Bridge pickup replacement choices

I have a Jackson DR2, but that one's made of poplar with an ebony fretboard. I've gone back to the original pickups (Screamin' Demon/Jazz tight and balances out nicely) which might be too low output for you.
I tried a JB (bottom not tight enough for low tunings and nasal midrange), and a Full Shred (übertight, great articluate lead sounds, but not enough emphasis on the bass frequencies to my liking).
Somehow I prefer slightly scooped pickups for my Dinky, as its midrange is pretty dominant. In my Fender USA (poplar with rosewood fretboard) the JB sounds just peachy.
If you want more output, the SH14 Custom5 looks like a real contender. Haven't tried that one yet though.

 

[Rabihz24]

Re: Jackson DK2 Bridge pickup replacement choices

I have a Jackson DR2, but that one's made of poplar with an ebony fretboard. I've gone back to the original pickups (Screamin' Demon/Jazz tight and balances out nicely) which might be too low output for you.
I tried a JB (bottom not tight enough for low tunings and nasal midrange), and a Full Shred (übertight, great articluate lead sounds, but not enough emphasis on the bass frequencies to my liking).
Somehow I prefer slightly scooped pickups for my Dinky, as its midrange is pretty dominant. In my Fender USA (poplar with rosewood fretboard) the JB sounds just peachy.
If you want more output, the SH14 Custom5 looks like a real contender. Haven't tried that one yet though.

Thanks for the reply,

Well the SH14 looks interesting indeed as its almost what im looking for. I dont want lots of distortion, but lots of attack and definition and Heavy rythm need to sound clear open string and muted. Yet i havent heard it so its hard to choose at this point.

All we have is a tone charts, the forum and Youtube clips.



The dk2's surely brings up lots of trebel

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Jackson DK2 Bridge pickup replacement choices

If the DK2 is kind of bright, you will LOVE the original PATB. I have a basswood/maple super strat and I went through all kinds of pickups in it until I found the PATB. I have never tried the Distortion PATB (cant' recall which is the 1 and which is the 2), but the original will do all that you are asking.

It really thickens up the tone nicely and will still get nice and clean when you roll back the volume. It gives a nice beefy tone to a guitar that is otherwise bright and maybe a bit thin. I would pair it with a PATB neck, or if you don't mind the difference in look and APH or a PG in the neck. I've never tried the PATB fullsize neck, but the PATB stack for neck is an amazing single coil version, so I have no doubt that the fullsize neck version is anything less.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[Rabihz24]

Re: Jackson DK2 Bridge pickup replacement choices

If the DK2 is kind of bright, you will LOVE the original PATB. I have a basswood/maple super strat and I went through all kinds of pickups in it until I found the PATB. I have never tried the Distortion PATB (cant' recall which is the 1 and which is the 2), but the original will do all that you are asking.

It really thickens up the tone nicely and will still get nice and clean when you roll back the volume. It gives a nice beefy tone to a guitar that is otherwise bright and maybe a bit thin. I would pair it with a PATB neck, or if you don't mind the difference in look and APH or a PG in the neck. I've never tried the PATB fullsize neck, but the PATB stack for neck is an amazing single coil version, so I have no doubt that the fullsize neck version is anything less.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Thanks Jeff for taking the time to reply,
My though exactly about the PATB-1 (original Blues Saraceno model). I heard a lot about this pickup. The PATB-2 Is the distortion one.
I could play it safe and pickup a dimarsio Breed like theone in my JEM but i want a seymour Duncan in my arsenal.
As you can see in the youtube video i posted, the solo part is not that bad but when i hit the rythm section, the JB clone (Duncan design) becomes Muddy and looses its clarity and definition with the notes. I was runing the dk2 thro a H&K Tubeman and an Rfier f-50 amp in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57asyt0Qkac

Who doesnt like Saraceno's heavy but clean tone. A verry underrated guitar player.

Im not looking to change the Duncan design singles, they arent that bad.

Regards