Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

The cleans are better than anything i couldve ever gotten out of a duncan humbucker. Im not sure a more versatile pickup exists, besides the fishman fluence multi voicing stuff and the p-rails. And the bass, while fast and tight when needed, isnt overly so. I found the custom to have a much faster bass response. Id say the bass response is some kind of a cross between a custom custom, a custom, and a bkp aftermath. its got that nice metallic attack when u need it, but it does that alter bridge/killswitch engage sludgy grind thing too.

Is this in reference to the Dominion or the SH-5?

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

I think you're right on the money when you're thinking SH-5 honestly. It has that ceramic bite you're used to with the 81, it punches you right in the gut but it still makes a very clear statement that it is a passive , raunchy pickup. It's slightly lower output than the 81, less compressed, and it has slug pole pieces instead of a blade so you're stepping very much into classic passive territory, and it's pretty versatile. I use mine for metal and also my blues band. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the SH-5 at all. If you want an SH-5 but on steroids, try a Duncan Distortion, but those are just a little too hot to be versatile in my opinion.

I personally have mine paired with a 59' but if you want a really sweet tone in the neck I'd try an Alnico Pro II. it can still shred but it has amazing cleans and bluesy distorted tones.

I have heard that the Distortion is rather ice-picky in the highs. Is that how you guys feel about it as well? I leaned towards the SH-5 instead of the SH-6 because i heard that the DD has ice-picky highs and i'm trying to get away from pickups that have that characteristic.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Have you had much experience with the SH-5 Duncan Custom?
I've been reading up on that one as well. I've heard the clarity on those is better than the JB.

No experience with the Custom, sorry.

The cleans are better than anything i couldve ever gotten out of a duncan humbucker. Im not sure a more versatile pickup exists, besides the fishman fluence multi voicing stuff and the p-rails. And the bass, while fast and tight when needed, isnt overly so. I found the custom to have a much faster bass response. Id say the bass response is some kind of a cross between a custom custom, a custom, and a bkp aftermath. its got that nice metallic attack when u need it, but it does that alter bridge/killswitch engage sludgy grind thing too.

The Dominion?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

If you wanna know what the Custom sounds like, listen to Van Halen II.

 

[dxlxntxxlxr]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Is this in reference to the Dominion or the SH-5?

juggernaut

 

[dxlxntxxlxr]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

I think you're right on the money when you're thinking SH-5 honestly. It has that ceramic bite you're used to with the 81, it punches you right in the gut but it still makes a very clear statement that it is a passive , raunchy pickup. It's slightly lower output than the 81, less compressed, and it has slug pole pieces instead of a blade so you're stepping very much into classic passive territory, and it's pretty versatile. I use mine for metal and also my blues band. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the SH-5 at all. If you want an SH-5 but on steroids, try a Duncan Distortion, but those are just a little too hot to be versatile in my opinion.

I personally have mine paired with a 59' but if you want a really sweet tone in the neck I'd try an Alnico Pro II. it can still shred but it has amazing cleans and bluesy distorted tones.

Idk if the distortion is a sh5 on steroids...its just kind of an obnoxious pickup with very few applications. Bit like a toned down nazgul

 

[FLYNLW]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

I have heard that the Distortion is rather ice-picky in the highs. Is that how you guys feel about it as well? I leaned towards the SH-5 instead of the SH-6 because i heard that the DD has ice-picky highs and i'm trying to get away from pickups that have that characteristic.

Just wondering if you made a decision between the SH-5 and Dominion? I’ve been researching for about a month and my decision is between these two as well. I’m replacing the HB-103’s in my Jackson DX6. I’m looking for more low end response and my stocks sound too fuzzy to me. I really like the SH-5 but I’m leaning towards the Dominion. ALL I’ve done is listen to comparisons and read reviews though. I haven’t had a chance to listen to any in person.

 

[Mez Cal]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Hey everyone,
So for most of my life as a musician i have been a die hard EMG guy. 81/85 all the way. Lately i have just been wanting to get away from EMGs and go passive. I have a Jim Root Tele i want to replace the pickups in. I play mainly rock/hard rock/funk rock/reggae along the lines of a mix of Alice in Chains/Sevendust/311/Deftones/Rage Against the Machine. I know that is probably a strange mix of bands, but thats the kind of music i like to play. I mostly play in drop C#, but the lowest i usually go is drop B.

A few of the pickups i have been contemplating are the Duncan SH-5, Dimarzio Dominion, price is a bit much but maybe BKP Black Hawk or Impulse. Basically, i'm after a good bridge pickup that is kinda versatile. One that can do a nice modern rhythm sound, but could also clean up nicely as well. I probably play 70% distorted tones and 30% clean in the music i write.

Here is the newest track i have recorded, but this was with EMG pickups: https://www.dropbox.com/s/exm92rno90v4rqi/D20 - Demo.mp3?dl=0

Any suggestions are most welcome! Thanks everyone.

Go with th Duncan Custom...awesome for high gain metal and mid gain rock alike...if you arent satisfied try the59'/Custom Hybrid or the Almighty JB

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Just wondering if you made a decision between the SH-5 and Dominion? I’ve been researching for about a month and my decision is between these two as well. I’m replacing the HB-103’s in my Jackson DX6. I’m looking for more low end response and my stocks sound too fuzzy to me. I really like the SH-5 but I’m leaning towards the Dominion. ALL I’ve done is listen to comparisons and read reviews though. I haven’t had a chance to listen to any in person.

If you're wanting big low-end, the Dominion is definitely not the answer. It's the tightest passive I've tried. It's almost EMG 81 level of tightness. I wouldn't say it's thin because it has got A LOT of mids, but the way its low-end is voiced makes it a very dry-sounding pickup. I A/B'd with a JB, and the JB had more low-end (and we all know the JB isn't a low-end monster either). JMO

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Just wondering if you made a decision between the SH-5 and Dominion? I’ve been researching for about a month and my decision is between these two as well. I’m replacing the HB-103’s in my Jackson DX6. I’m looking for more low end response and my stocks sound too fuzzy to me. I really like the SH-5 but I’m leaning towards the Dominion. ALL I’ve done is listen to comparisons and read reviews though. I haven’t had a chance to listen to any in person.

Still haven't bought a pickup yet...hahahahaha!
I keep scouring the internet to find clips of both and i just keep listening and listening without ever making a decision.
Part of me wants to go Dominion but part of me wants to go SH5 still. The more i listen to the Dominion the more i wonder if i will grow tired of the mids the pickup possesses. It sounds great don't get me wrong, but i just wonder if i'll get tired of it.

Here is a good example of the Dominon vs BKP Black Hawks: https://soundcloud.com/user-14405527/pickup-comparison-dimarzio-dominion-vs-bareknuckle-blackhawks

SH5 example i found: https://soundcloud.com/surfacex-geardemos/marshall-dsl100-seymour-duncan

https://soundcloud.com/seymourduncanpickups/customcgo

Like i said it sounds great here, but i think i may get tired of it because it may not be as versatile as i want. This makes me think the SH5 would be a better choice. The JB wasn't for me when i had that. DD seems like it would be too much for what i want. Sometimes i wonder about the C5, but then i just think IT may not be as versatile as i want. Decisions.........and i'm not very experienced with the Duncan line other that the JB really.

All this to say that i think out of everything the Custom just seems to be what i lean back on....just need to eventually pull the trigger hahaha!

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

If you're wanting big low-end, the Dominion is definitely not the answer. It's the tightest passive I've tried. It's almost EMG 81 level of tightness. I wouldn't say it's thin because it has got A LOT of mids, but the way its low-end is voiced makes it a very dry-sounding pickup. I A/B'd with a JB, and the JB had more low-end (and we all know the JB isn't a low-end monster either). JMO

I do like the tightness of the 81 for sure.

Not sure why it is so nerve racking to decide haha!

 

[RolanTHUNDER]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Hey everyone,
So for most of my life as a musician i have been a die hard EMG guy. 81/85 all the way. Lately i have just been wanting to get away from EMGs and go passive. I have a Jim Root Tele i want to replace the pickups in. I play mainly rock/hard rock/funk rock/reggae along the lines of a mix of Alice in Chains/Sevendust/311/Deftones/Rage Against the Machine. I know that is probably a strange mix of bands, but thats the kind of music i like to play. I mostly play in drop C#, but the lowest i usually go is drop B.

A few of the pickups i have been contemplating are the Duncan SH-5, Dimarzio Dominion, price is a bit much but maybe BKP Black Hawk or Impulse. Basically, i'm after a good bridge pickup that is kinda versatile. One that can do a nice modern rhythm sound, but could also clean up nicely as well. I probably play 70% distorted tones and 30% clean in the music i write.

Here is the newest track i have recorded, but this was with EMG pickups: https://www.dropbox.com/s/exm92rno90v4rqi/D20 - Demo.mp3?dl=0

Any suggestions are most welcome! Thanks everyone.

Based on your background and what you're going for I'd recommend either the D Activator X or X2N from Dimarzio. The Dominion is like a more compressed version of the Breed with its own nuances that make it unique and that will also work for your tone aspirations. From SD I'd recommend a Pegasus/Sentient combo for the Alnico 5 bridge vibe with great string definition and not too insane overdrive. If not that then an SH/TB5 bridge/Sentient/Jazz neck.

I play drop tunings too and the DAX as well as the X2N were awesome in my Drop B RG The X2N really offered more treble response that I was looking for compared to the DAX which has dialled back highs.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

After reading all of this, I still think the Custom, or even more versatile, the 59/Custom Hybrid. I think the PAF EQ profile of both of these pickups is a good choice- the Hybrid cleans up better, although both handle low tunings well.

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

I'm also a bit curious about the C5 and i'm tempted to throw it into the ring now as a possibility.

Any comparison/opinions on this vs. the Custom SH5?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

The Custom 5 has more bass, more treble and even less mids than the Custom. I use it in mid-heavy guitars, like my poplar Music Man. If you really don't like mids, or scoop them on your amp, this pickup does it for you.

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

The Custom 5 has more bass, more treble and even less mids than the Custom. I use it in mid-heavy guitars, like my poplar Music Man. If you really don't like mids, or scoop them on your amp, this pickup does it for you.

Ok cool! So would you consider the mids on the Custom SH5 scooped a bit already? Whatever pickup i settle on i will be dropping in my Squier Jim Root Tele which is Mahogany/Maple neck/Rosewood board.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Well, the Custom is voiced as a 'twice-as-loud-PAF', which is scooped already. The Custom 5 is even more scooped.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Here is a good example of the Dominon vs BKP Black Hawks: https://soundcloud.com/user-14405527/pickup-comparison-dimarzio-dominion-vs-bareknuckle-blackhawks

That sums up my experience with the Dominion too. I have not had any BKP's, but compared to the other pickups I've tried, the Dominion is VERY mid-focused with a somewhat raspy/dry emphatic attack.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Well, the Custom is voiced as a 'twice-as-loud-PAF', which is scooped already. The Custom 5 is even more scooped.

Kanye actually voiced his views about the Custom and Custom 5 in his song "Lift Yourself".

 

[Coryd]

Re: Passive Pickup Suggestions needed

Think i'm gonna just go with the SH5. I'll write back once i get it and get it installed. I'll post a sound clip too.

Hope i made the right choice