Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

I think the SH-5 may be too "boomy". I just think the Super Distortion cant be beat for its versatility. Cleans up pretty good and the output is high without all the excessive upper midrange many find unpleasant. BTW, I love my JB, but many people dont. The Super D shifts the midrange emphasis lower and doesnt sound as "harsh".
The 5 has tons of bass in a mahogany guitar. Nothing wrong with that if you like it, I think the Super D fits your description to a T
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

I think the SH-5 may be too "boomy". I just think the Super Distortion cant be beat for its versatility. Cleans up pretty good and the output is high without all the excessive upper midrange many find unpleasant. BTW, I love my JB, but many people dont. The Super D shifts the midrange emphasis lower and doesnt sound as "harsh".
The 5 has tons of bass in a mahogany guitar. Nothing wrong with that if you like it, I think the Super D fits your description to a T

Thanks and I believe you are making good points with the Super D.

I do have a question you may know the answer to.

1) Looks like Dimarzio Super D only comes sans nickel cover. Can I put a nickel cover on them? I imagine I could but I read they are not really made to have a cover on them. Not sure how true that is. I would like to keep the R8 look with the nickel covers on or as a 2nd choice it would be zebra for both neck and bridge but leaning more towards nickel covers.



Thanks for your and everyones help!
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Thanks and I believe you are making good points with the Super D.

I do have a question you may know the answer to.

1) Looks like Dimarzio Super D only comes sans nickel cover. Can I put a nickel cover on them? I imagine I could but I read they are not really made to have a cover on them. Not sure how true that is. I would like to keep the R8 look with the nickel covers on or as a 2nd choice it would be zebra for both neck and bridge but leaning more towards nickel covers.



Thanks for your and everyones help!


The closest to that ''nickel cover'' you want... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimarzio-DP...hash=item231e0e5050:m:mlXA064ezl58-ox6w7YBAig

PS. The Dimarzio Super Distortion is an AMAZING pickup. Still don't have it in one of my guitars, but definitely would love to have it in the future. It's a classic pickup that can do distortion and cleans with ease!
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

The A5-loaded 59/Custom has too many mids, yet he wants an A4-loaded SNS set?!?

It doesn't add up.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

The A5-loaded 59/Custom has too many mids, yet he wants an A4-loaded SNS set?!?

It doesn't add up.

Why does that not add up? The Saturday Night Special Bridge with the Alnico IV mag according to SD specs has WAY LESS mids than the 59/Custom Hybrid.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

The closest to that ''nickel cover'' you want... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dimarzio-DP...hash=item231e0e5050:m:mlXA064ezl58-ox6w7YBAig

PS. The Dimarzio Super Distortion is an AMAZING pickup. Still don't have it in one of my guitars, but definitely would love to have it in the future. It's a classic pickup that can do distortion and cleans with ease!

Thanks @OsvyRock for your help! Do you think the Super Distortion then would be the better fit for me than the Custom SH-5? The more I am researching it the more I am leaning towards the Super Distortion for the bridge and the Jazz in the Neck.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Thanks @OsvyRock for your help! Do you think the Super Distortion then would be the better fit for me than the Custom SH-5? The more I am researching it the more I am leaning towards the Super Distortion for the bridge and the Jazz in the Neck.

It all depends on what you need and think is ''better''. The SH-5/59 combination is a WINNER on my DBZ Bolero FM (a LP Style guitar). The tone is amazing for whatever you can think of, and I'm not the only thinking this. Many of the bands and artists I played with, even music producers were amazed at the real live tone I get from it; some even suggested it as the guitar to use on their shows. I got Slash Alnico II Pro's, 498t/490r, and JB/STK-S7/STK-S6 on my other guitars; but the one with the SH-5 is definitely a WINNER!

Please listen to this
of the Super Distortion and the PAF36th Anniversary from Dimarzio, and listen if it provides you with the tone you're looking for. Both (the Seymour Duncan Custom SH-5 & the Dimarzio Super Distortion) are AMAZING pickups and I would love to install a Dimarzio Super Distortion on one of my guitars someday. In your case, I suggest a Super Distortion/PAF Pro combination if you go with Dimarzio. Everything will be fine. :)

PS. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about the SH-5. ''Better'' is really relative, both are must-have pickups, and you won't go wrong in any way.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Thanks! @OsvyRock You have been very helpful. The good thing is I got it narrowed down to like you said two sets I can't go wrong with. I think I'm going to try the SH-5 w/the Jazz first and if doesn't work out then maybe go for the Dimarzio SD w/PaF Pro.

I'm currently searching some used ones out. I just missed a SH-5 on Reverb for like $50 with the nickel cover the other day. I shouldn't have hesitated because that thing went quick. Thanks again!
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Thanks! @OsvyRock You have been very helpful. The good thing is I got it narrowed down to like you said two sets I can't go wrong with. I think I'm going to try the SH-5 w/the Jazz first and if doesn't work out then maybe go for the Dimarzio SD w/PaF Pro.

I'm currently searching some used ones out. I just missed a SH-5 on Reverb for like $50 with the nickel cover the other day. I shouldn't have hesitated because that thing went quick. Thanks again!

Get in touch with Nostalgic Distortion. He posted a White SH-5 pickup for $55 and is offering to install a nickel cover.
Go check it out in The Trading Post. Here's the link: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?322212-F-S-SH-5-in-White
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Yea, you wont have any problem getting alot of your cash back if you dont like the 5. You will wind up with Super D tho, bet ya a beer someday LOL. Luck to you and the quest for the tone will be forever, enjoy it.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Get in touch with Nostalgic Distortion. He posted a White SH-5 pickup for $55 and is offering to install a nickel cover.
Go check it out in The Trading Post. Here's the link: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?322212-F-S-SH-5-in-White

Dude you are AWESOME!!!! I pm'd nostalgic distortion about the pickup. I definitely want to buy it ASAP. I must not have seen when looking the other day that he had a nickel cover with it. Now I just need to find a nickel covered Jazz neck and I will be good to go! Appreciate you taking the time in helping to find this for me!
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Yea, you wont have any problem getting alot of your cash back if you dont like the 5. You will wind up with Super D tho, bet ya a beer someday LOL. Luck to you and the quest for the tone will be forever, enjoy it.

Oh I'm still buying a Super Distortion and a PAF Pro as well! That's why I am buying them used so if I absolutely don't get along with one I can sell at little to no loss. I'm going to try them both and sell the one I like the least. I was just planning on doing the Duncan's first since Duncans were my initial plan from the get go. I'll try them out for a few weeks and then buy and install the Super Distortion.

You really brought the SD to my attention and got me into looking at it more closely. Since then I have read countless overwhelming positive reviews and listened to some killer clips on You Tube (guy named Matt Thorpe on YT has some amazing clips of the SD.)

Based off its history and glowing reviews ..To not give the SD at least an audition in my Les Paul would be criminal.

The Duncan's and the Dimarzios are so popular I think if I can get them at the right price I wouldn't have any problem unloading them if I didn't like them.....that's the plan at least.

Thanks for convincing me to take a closer look at the SD. I had obviously heard of it before but dint realize the versatility of the pickup. I am very interested in the emphasis in the lower mids of the SD and the highs sound great not piercing at all.

Both sets have things I am looking forward to hearing and some things I am concerned about as well.

You never know though really how any pickup will sound until it's actually in your guitar.

Again appreciate your advice as well it definitely helped. Cheers! *****Update just bought a used Dimarzio SD on TGP! Now just need to find a Duncan Jazz neck and Ill be all set to try these out!*******
 
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Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Oh I'm still buying a Super Distortion and a PAF Pro as well! That's why I am buying them used so if I absolutely don't get along with one I can sell at little to no loss. I'm going to try them both and sell the one I like the least. I was just planning on doing the Duncan's first since Duncans were my initial plan from the get go. I'll try them out for a few weeks and then buy and install the Super Distortion.

You really brought the SD to my attention and got me into looking at it more closely. Since then I have read countless overwhelming positive reviews and listened to some killer clips on You Tube (guy named Matt Thorpe on YT has some amazing clips of the SD.)

Based off its history and glowing reviews ..To not give the SD at least an audition in my Les Paul would be criminal.

The Duncan's and the Dimarzios are so popular I think if I can get them at the right price I wouldn't have any problem unloading them if I didn't like them.....that's the plan at least.

Thanks for convincing me to take a closer look at the SD. I had obviously heard of it before but dint realize the versatility of the pickup. I am very interested in the emphasis in the lower mids of the SD and the highs sound great not piercing at all.

Both sets have things I am looking forward to hearing and some things I am concerned about as well.

You never know though really how any pickup will sound until it's actually in your guitar.

Again appreciate your advice as well it definitely helped. Cheers! *****Update just bought a used Dimarzio SD on TGP! Now just need to find a Duncan Jazz neck and Ill be all set to try these out!*******


Well? How did this work out? What did you like/not like?
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Well? How did this work out? What did you like/not like?
Well? How did this work out? What did you like/not like?


Just got the Dimarzio Super Distortion delivered to me last week and I installed it on Friday. I only had a few hours of playing time with it so far. I really like it. I still am looking to find a used SH-5 w/nickel cover to compare it with but the SD is a fantastic pickup.

What I liked:
- Great high end presence. High end is present but not piercing.
- Nice balanced low end and lower mids
-Fat sounding but not muddy pickup
-Very versatile with volume knob...cleans up nice
- double hex for fine tuning (didn't realize this when i bought it so nice surprise)
- I read/heard the weakness of the SD is the clean. I actually thought the cleans were very good.

One thing I cant wrap my head around is I expected (since this is a 14k DCR PU compared to my Custom Bucker at 8.5k) the SD to NOT have a good clean and that it would push my amp into early breakup and I would lose the available clean headroom I have. The SD actually sounds CLEANER than the Custom Bucker which makes zero sense to me but I'll take it.

Dislikes:
VERY minor but with drop D and jamming some Tool AIC riffs it didn't seem to remain as tight as I would have expected for a pu w/a large ceramic magnet. May have been how I had my amp tweaked though.

I really need to spend a lot more time with it and i will be able to this week. Overall first impressions are really good. i can see why this is such a popular pickup.
 
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Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Glad your almost there. You use a OD pedal? NO GAIN on the pedal, just volume and EQ and I bet the flubbiness tightens right up.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Just got the Dimarzio Super Distortion delivered to me last week and I installed it on Friday. I only had a few hours of playing time with it so far. I really like it. I still am looking to find a used SH-5 w/nickel cover to compare it with but the SD is a fantastic pickup.

What I liked:
- Great high end presence. High end is present but not piercing.
- Nice balanced low end and lower mids
-Fat sounding but not muddy pickup
-Very versatile with volume knob...cleans up nice
- double hex for fine tuning (didn't realize this when i bought it so nice surprise)
- I read/heard the weakness of the SD is the clean. I actually thought the cleans were very good.

One thing I cant wrap my head around is I expected (since this is a 14k DCR PU compared to my Custom Bucker at 8.5k) the SD to NOT have a good clean and that it would push my amp into early breakup and I would lose the available clean headroom I have. The SD actually sounds CLEANER than the Custom Bucker which makes zero sense to me but I'll take it.

Dislikes:
VERY minor but with drop D and jamming some Tool AIC riffs it didn't seem to remain as tight as I would have expected for a pu w/a large ceramic magnet. May have been how I had my amp tweaked though.

I really need to spend a lot more time with it and i will be able to this week. Overall first impressions are really good. i can see why this is such a popular pickup.


Nice. I'm glad you're digging them. My question is, how much difference is there between the Super D and your Custom Buckers? Was it a big difference? Or just slightly different? I'm looking to change out some pickups on my LP and I wanna make sure the difference will be worth the effort. Let me know...

Chris
 
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Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Glad your almost there. You use a OD pedal? NO GAIN on the pedal, just volume and EQ and I bet the flubbiness tightens right up.

I didn't try it yet with a drive pedal was hoping to not have to rely on a pedal but just use my amp. Its an Elmwood Modena M60 which has a ton of gain and boost on tap. Im going to be able to mess with it more tomorrow so Ill see if maybe i just didnt dial it in correctly.
 
Re: Please help Newbie pick first Seymour Duncan set

Nice. I'm glad you're digging them. My question is, how much difference is there between the Super D and your Custom Buckers? Was it a big difference? Or just slightly differen? I'm looking to change out some pickups on my LP and I wanna make sure the difference will be worth the effort. Let me know...

Chris

There is definitely a difference for sure between the Dimarzio SD and Custom Buckers. With the SD way more emphasis IMO on the lower mids and the highs on the SD are not ear piercing. definitely feel like the SD has more sustain. The gain sounds a little more compressed on the SD vs the CB's to my ears. I'll have a better analysis after I spend some time this week with them. I only had a couple hours with the SD last Friday.

Even though I really am liking what I am hearing with the SD I still want to try the Duncan Custom SH-5. I cant seem to find one used right now with the nickel cover.
 
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