Need Help To ID A Pickup

A

aspenleaf

New member
Hello,

I'm new to this forum, and was hoping some of you that are more knowledgable than me can help me out.

I purchased an SH-11 via mail order, assuming it only came in a 4 conductor wire, as specified on the website. What arrived has a single conductor/braided wire, and measure 13.7K with my ohm meter. The sticker doesn't resemble anything mentioned on the labels page. There is a SD logo stamped into the baseplate. There is a nickel cover on the pickup and I haven't been inside it. I've attached a photo. Is it possible this is an SH-11 with a single conductor and a strange sticker (or am I just reading it incorrectly)? The seller will take it back if I don't want to keep it. I wanted to 4 conductor wire to keep my switching options open.

View attachment 3552

Thanks.
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Does the sticker look like the correct sticker? I don't have any other Duncan pickups to compare it to.
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

I can't see the picture.

They normally have four conductors, but it might have been one made as a factory pickup in some guitar. Often those will not have the extra conductors. I don't know enough about what to look for to help you ID it, but some of the guys on here might be able to.
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

The pic isn't showing up for me either, but a genuine SH-11 should have a 4-conductor cable. (According to Duncan's website.)
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Here's another pic:

SH11.html
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

aspenleaf said:
Here's another pic:

SH11.html
Click to expand...

Thats not working either. You're posting a link with image tags.

Try this: http://dandamicomusic2.homestead.com/SH11.html

Edit: It certainly looks legit, but neither the "05400" number, or the "1225" number match anything in the pup codes list. I wonder if its a special designation because it has a nickel cover?
 
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Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

I guess I need instruction on posting a picture. I tried including it as an attachment in my first post. That shows up on my computer, but apparently nobdy else's. Then I tried inserting an image from my website using the icon for that purpose, but the image doesn't show up, at least on my computer. What am I doing wrong?
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

I'd check with MJ on this one but it looks like custom shop or production floor custom work. The CC doesn't have a nickel cover option or single conductor option right off the production floor. If it did, I'd have one. ;)

Just ring up MJ, tell her what you got, read off what's on the sticker and she can probably tell ya for sure.

Interesting that it measures 13.7K but hey, that's close enough to 14.4 and probably doesn't make that much of a difference anyway.
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Thanks for the input ErikH. I'm completely new to Duncan - who's MJ and how do I contact her?

I noticed that your using a CC with a Jazz neck in an LP Standard. That's the combination I'm thinking of using in mine. I listened to your soundclips and they sound great. Does the CC blend well with the Jazz? How does tha CC clean up? I play a lot of blues through a small tube combo, mostly clean to slightly dirty.

Are you using any coil switching options with your pups?
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Perhaps it was OEM on particular guitar. Hamer, I believe, uses the CC on some of it's models. Perhaps they ordered a run of single-conductor ones, as they don't use coil taps on those particular models.
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

aspenleaf said:
Thanks for the input ErikH. I'm completely new to Duncan - who's MJ and how do I contact her?

I noticed that your using a CC with a Jazz neck in an LP Standard. That's the combination I'm thinking of using in mine. I listened to your soundclips and they sound great. Does the CC blend well with the Jazz? How does tha CC clean up? I play a lot of blues through a small tube combo, mostly clean to slightly dirty.

Are you using any coil switching options with your pups?
Click to expand...
MJ is the goddess of Seymour Duncan. She's the one who winds all the Custom Shop pickups and wound most of the classic models in the beginning of the company's life. She takes pride in each and every wind she does.

You can reach her by calling the Custom Shop. If she doesn't answer, ask for her. 7 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time, Monday-Friday, call -805-964-9610 ext 1009.

Thanks for your kind words. The CC blends really well with the Jazz. I like how the tone of the Jazz fills in what the CC doesn't but you can almost hear each one's characteristics themselves. I rarely play clean but the CC does clean up well I think. If it's a little too much with the guitar volume up full, just slightly backing off the volume takes care of it. It is a great pickup for blues. The rolled off highs make it so smooth for bluesy runs. I think you'd like it. And it does so much more than blues too.
 
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Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Well, I called MJ and it is a special ordered pup from the custom shop. Seems strange that the person who had it made wanted a single conductor/braided shield instead of a 4 conductor, especially with a pickup hot enough to split. She said she could convert it to a 4 conductor for $20, which I think I will do.

I couldn't resist installing it to hear what it sounds like, and I have to say I am very impressed. The harmonics are great and it's smooth with a singing sustain. I was a bit concerned that it would be too dull because my guitar is a mahogany body with a quilted maple arched cap, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard. It's not dull at all, at least not through my little tube combo. I recently put a EH 12AX7 in the preamp that brightened it up a bit.

The only problem with sending it to MJ is I'll be without it for about a month. If anyone is using one of these with wiring that allows the coils to be split, can you describe the sound as a single coil?
 
Re: Need Help To ID A Pickup

Sweet. I haven't played one with a cover on it. Both of mine are without. MJ will take care of it for ya. She's good people.

Can't give ya any input on how it sounds split. I never split mine...lol. So consider this a cheap thread bump...lol.

BTW...welcome to the forum, or should I say family. :D
 
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