Question from new forum member

Re: Question from new forum member

happy raisin said:
the JB8 has recieved a bit of praise here, and i would assume that a DD102 bridge with an Alnico 8 would sound pretty similar. Is this true?
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Yes, that'll be the case. If after the magnet swap becames "too much of everything", you can always tame it putting an A2 magnet in it, another very popular swap too.

EDIT: I've seen the guitar; before I swap anything, the first mod will be replacing the guts with a 500K pot for the neck p'up, a 250k pot for the bridge p'up, 500K pot for tone. Use vintage braided cable, CTS or Bourns pots, .022 600V Sprague Orange Drop Caps. Doing this would "take out the cotton out your ears" so to speak, and hear what that DD HB102 set can do for your music.

Afterwards you can decide to change the p'ups... or not!

HTH,
 
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Re: Question from new forum member

happy raisin said:
I could easily save up for the real JB or even the whole set.
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A couple things about the JB that newbies need to know: 1) It's a controversial PU, being very picky about the wood it's in. It often has problems in mahogany where it can develop an ice pick spike and a loose low end. It does better in harder woods. Many players like the JB, many don't. It is not universally loved. 2) The JB is often paired with a Jazz and marketed as the 'Hot Rodded Set.' While the JB is unquestionably a hot overwound PU, the Jazz is frequently considered to be bland and lackluster, and not what most of us would put in a hot rodded set. A good PAF is usually a better choice in the neck, like a '59N or PGN, that'll have more character and bite.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

i'd love to know what more people thought of the distortion neck model as a bridge pickup; i'd bet appendages that you guys would love it with an A8 mag
 
Re: Question from new forum member

LtKojak said:
You'll get a better result changing the harness with good quality wire/pots/caps than changing the p'ups using the same crappy parts. If that set sounds good enough already, start with changing the guts.
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I disagree. I think upgrading is by far the bigget thing you can do to improve the sound of a mid-price import guitar. I change the pots and cap for the bridge PU, but only because I replace the stock 500K's with 250K's. You won't get a lot of improvement in clarity and depth by simply changing pots. PU's are the heart of a guitar. Match good PU's and magnets to the wood, and you'll get some nice tones.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

LtKojak said:
Yes, that'll be the case. If after the magnet swap becames "too much of everything", you can always tame it putting an A2 magnet in it, another very popular swap too.

EDIT: I've seen the guitar; before I swap anything, the first mod will be replacing the guts with a 500K pot for the neck p'up, a 250k pot for the bridge p'up, 500K pot for tone. Use vintage braided cable, CTS or Bourns pots, .022 600V Sprague Orange Drop Caps. Doing this would "take out the cotton out your ears" so to speak, and hear what that DD HB102 set can do for your music.

Afterwards you can decide to change the p'ups... or not!

HTH,
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I agree, take it one step at a time instead of spending all your money. Pots, capacitor, magnets and then upgrade pickups if you're still not happy. I had the Duncan Designed HB-102s in my Schecter C1+ and I have done all the above. First I replaced the pots and that gave me a very moderate improvement in tone. Then I put in a Distortion/Jazz set and it was like night and day. Huge increase in tone and clarity, I didn't realized how muffled the DDs were until I upgraded. I should say, however that I went from nickel covered DDs to uncovered Duncans. Then I opted for a 59A4 in the neck and a Custom 5 in the bridge, now I couldn't be happier. I will try the A8 in the custom out of sheer curiosity at some point. I've had my eye on that tempest but it was a little pricey, I'm cheap as hell when it comes to guitars. You shouldn't have any problem getting what you want out of that guitar.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

2 PG's and all cts 500k pots (stock wires and even pots if you could measure them to make sure they are close to 500kohm, you can change them later when they die)
250k pots with HB's = mudbath tone
proper set-up is and a nice acoustic tone of the guitar is important too.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Oh ok yeah this all makes sense. I will definitely replace the pots and all that other stuff and then see how it goes from there.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Welcome to the forum, happy raisin. As you can see, there are a lot of opinions around here. My advice is to listen and get as much information as you can, and then make the decision and take the plunge. After that, you can help newbies with the same question you had. That's how it works.

And BTW, just like the Hotel California, you can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave. ;)

We're glad to have ya.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

In case you're having trouble deciding, check this out.

For pickups bought from an authorized Seymour Duncan dealer in the USA, during the first three weeks after your purchase, if you’re not 100% satisfied with the sound of your pickup, you can exchange it through our 21 Day "Real World" Exchange Policy.
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If you don't like the pickup, just exchange it.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Franknfilms said:
I had the Duncan Designed HB-102s in my Schecter C1+ and I have done all the above. First I replaced the pots and that gave me a very moderate improvement in tone... Then I put in a Distortion/Jazz set and it was like night and day. Huge increase in tone and clarity, I didn't realized how muffled the DDs were until I upgraded.
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Another testimony: going to Seymour Duncans made a huge difference. There's a reason why they cost more, and they're worth it. That's why almost all the guys on this forum have 'the real thing.' If you're serious about tone, that's what you use.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

blueman335 said:
I disagree. I think upgrading is by far the bigget thing you can do to improve the sound of a mid-price import guitar. I change the pots and cap for the bridge PU, but only because I replace the stock 500K's with 250K's. You won't get a lot of improvement in clarity and depth by simply changing pots. PU's are the heart of a guitar. Match good PU's and magnets to the wood, and you'll get some nice tones.
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True. A pickup change will be more heard than a pot/cap change. So once you've changed pups, change the rest as the other stuff is extremely cheap.

Matching pups to wood is more of a gimmick in my opinion. Sure there's the 'but the wood will vibrate more and that will influence the sound' and I can see that logic working in a complete hollow-body. But other than that I don't think it matters too much.

Thing is, not a lot of people have the time, energy, or motivation, to swap pups out of one guitar, record each sound, and then do comparisons...much less double blind style.

From time to time someone will make a 'which pup in which guitar?' thread and the answers are truly all over the board and it gets better when people explain why (because pup A sounds soft in wood B, and recording 1 sounded as if pup A was in wood B....but in the end it was Pup C...).
 
Re: Question from new forum member

I've tried just about every pickup out there. The Duncan Designed ones are fine. Replacing the HB102s with JB/Jazz is not going to make that big of a difference.

If you feel the need to replace the pickups, go for a PGn and TB-5 Duncan Custom. THOSE would make a huge difference and sound much better in THAT guitar.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Markk said:
Matching pups to wood is more of a gimmick in my opinion. Sure there's the 'but the wood will vibrate more and that will influence the sound' and I can see that logic working in a complete hollow-body. But other than that I don't think it matters too much.
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Disagree 100%

I've had pickups that were absolute mudbaths or icepicks react well when stuck in guitars of different body woods. Some pickups are fairly universal, like the Super Distortion, Custom, X2N, 59, EMGs, etc., but others can react poorly. I had a Dimarzio Double Whammy that was horrible in alder and basswood but reacted well with Agathis. I also had one guitar that everything I put in it was so bright that I was wondering what the hell was up until I stuck a Tone Zone in it and that evened it out.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

dominus said:
Disagree 100%

I've had pickups that were absolute mudbaths or icepicks react well when stuck in guitars of different body woods. Some pickups are fairly universal, like the Super Distortion, Custom, X2N, 59, EMGs, etc., but others can react poorly. I had a Dimarzio Double Whammy that was horrible in alder and basswood but reacted well with Agathis. I also had one guitar that everything I put in it was so bright that I was wondering what the hell was up until I stuck a Tone Zone in it and that evened it out.
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+1. And by 'wood' we mean body, neck, & fretboard. Design is also a factor. A large mass, like an LP, is going to have a definite impact on tone and sustain. Wood is a large part of tone, and can be unpredictable.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Yes, "real" Duncans will make a difference.

The JB/Jazz set is good, the Jazz has a cool sound but really needs to go in the right guitar.
JB/59n, is also a good set and liked more because you get a hot bridge with a sweet neck sound that works in many guitars
I'll stick a Jazz in fat, dark sounding guitars and a 59n in everything else.
The JB may be a little dark and honky in a 24 3/4" scale mahogany guitar.
The Duncan Custom and 59n is always a great pair in just about any guitar
For a little more horsepower, the DD/Jazz is a great combo for many things as is the DD/59n or DD neck
If I strummed your guitar twice, I could probably tell which way to go.
 
Re: Question from new forum member

Oh ok. Yeah I've thought about all of those other pickups too. Would a Custom 5 also be a good idea?
 
Re: Question from new forum member

blueman335 said:
+1. And by 'wood' we mean body, neck, & fretboard. Design is also a factor. A large mass, like an LP, is going to have a definite impact on tone and sustain. Wood is a large part of tone, and can be unpredictable.
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Considering all of my guitars were Strat sized, with maple bolt on necks and rosewood fretboards.... it was easy enough to figure out what I needed in the body. ;)
 
Re: Question from new forum member

happy raisin said:
Oh ok. Yeah I've thought about all of those other pickups too. Would a Custom 5 also be a good idea?
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I will just make a real generic statement that the 59, Custom, JB, and DD are the big flavors that cover the most ground for Duncan Humbuckers, many of the other pups are variants of those four big tonal areas.

The Custom 5 is a cool pup that falls into the Custom range, but has the mid scoop of the 59 with the output of the Custom. Some find it a little bland due to less mid range, others think it is a very good compromise between vintage PAF flavor and higher output rock/metal pups....the Custom 5 does go from vintage tones to metal with the right amp (as does the Custom)
 
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