SD Custom Shop....how long

[Mrkensei]

I placed a custom shop order via my usual SD dealer and was quoted 5-7 days for the pickup to be produced (its actually a pretty stock item- a Distortion with two conductor wire and a gold cover).

Well we're on day 13 and my dealer tells me the pickup still hasnt been made by the custom shop for him to send to me.

Is this usual for CS orders? I kinda feel like I've been taken for a mug, I've got gigs coming up and the guitar thats intended for these gigs is pretty much going to be a paperweight until someone pulls their finger out and finishes this pup. i've had custom orders from Dimarzio turned round AND delivered fro the US to the uk in less time than this.

I dont think its worth emailing them directly as SD have never once replied to any of my other Customer Service enquiries, which is why my CS order went via athird party.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

CS orders running longer than quoted is typical in my experience.

You could try reaching out to MJ but I can't be sure it would do any good.


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[darthphineas]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

That sorta sounds like it could be a production floor custom more than an actual custom shop item.

Once the actual item is ordered it can be about or at least a week for a floor custom. The custom shop can be at least a month or up to two.


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[DreX]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

This is what the email to me said, I'm sure it's cookie cutter and that yours reads the same

Your pickup is now queued to be created in the Custom Shop. If we have any questions we will contact you. Otherwise, expect that it will be shipped within 4-6 weeks.

I've ordered nine CS pickups (three sets of three) so far. The first two sets came in the three weeks, but the most recent took six. You'll definitely want to make other arrangements if you have a gig coming up.

 

[Mrkensei]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

This is what the email to me said, I'm sure it's cookie cutter and that yours reads the same



I've ordered nine CS pickups (three sets of three) so far. The first two sets came in the three weeks, but the most recent took six. You'll definitely want to make other arrangements if you have a gig coming up.

Thanks, kinda p!$$ed off as I committed to the project based on the quote I was given.

IMO two conductor should be a standard factory option for every pickup in the range. i HATE 4 conductor pickups, there is, to my ear a huge tonal difference compared to 2 conductor. The 4 conductor tone choke is the only issue I have with my Nazgul/ Sentient set pickups.

 

[DarkMatter]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

i HATE 4 conductor pickups, there is, to my ear a huge tonal difference compared to 2 conductor. The 4 conductor tone choke is the only issue I have with my Nazgul/ Sentient set pickups.

So you can tell the difference having never heard a Nazgul/Sentient with a 2 conductor? Fascinating.

 

[Mrkensei]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

So you can tell the difference having never heard a Nazgul/Sentient with a 2 conductor? Fascinating.

I've done the swap myself in a number of pickups, (Dimarzio D Activators, Evos, a JB/ Jazz set, a set of Alnico 2 Pros) and I have noticed a difference, like replacing the switch and jack in a LP with one connected with vintage hookup cable the sound is kore, open, less compressed (I put it down to less capacitance in the vintage wire, but it could be something else. It could be BS but I'm sure I can hear it.

Whether its actually there or not is immaterial, I think I can hear it and it effects the way I feel about my guitars, i'm not in a great place financially so I wont risk doing it with my main gigging guitars right now so the Nazgul/Sentient set remains unmodded, plus they are Ibanex guitars so the wiring scheme doesnt led itself to these types of pickup cable.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

i've had custom orders from Dimarzio turned round AND delivered fro the US to the uk in less time than this.

Eh Dimarzio doesnt have a custom shop. Its even in their FAQ http://www.dimarzio.com/faq#55/67/7579

If you want anything more than a swap in pole piece color or flat magnet stagger they are going to tell you "no can do"

If its an actual custom shop build the wait will be much longer than 5 to 7 days... Not sure what the time on shop floor customs is.

 

[CTN]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

I've done the swap myself in a number of pickups, (Dimarzio D Activators, Evos, a JB/ Jazz set, a set of Alnico 2 Pros) and I have noticed a difference, like replacing the switch and jack in a LP with one connected with vintage hookup cable the sound is kore, open, less compressed (I put it down to less capacitance in the vintage wire, but it could be something else. It could be BS but I'm sure I can hear it.

Whether its actually there or not is immaterial, I think I can hear it and it effects the way I feel about my guitars, i'm not in a great place financially so I wont risk doing it with my main gigging guitars right now so the Nazgul/Sentient set remains unmodded, plus they are Ibanex guitars so the wiring scheme doesnt led itself to these types of pickup cable.

it is total BS.

you are hearing a placebo effect that resides entirely in your head.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Hey guys , why are you all getting down on this guy?!

If he says he heard a difference then it matters to him...FWIW, I hear s difference to and so do several guys I know.

That said the point of the thread is he was told 5-7 days, it's now been twice that and it's still not even been built much less shipped.

As I said above this I'd pretty typical of the CS and that sucks that said there is no reason to start bashing a guy that came here in search of some help.


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[DreX]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Hey guys , why are you all getting down on this guy?!

If he says he heard a difference then it matters to him...FWIW, I hear s difference to and so do several guys I know.

Just to be clear, my test seems to indicate that there is actually a difference in tone between 2 conductor and 4 conductor wire.

I bet if you ripped the shielding off of the four conductor wire, you would remove that capacitance, because that's the whole reason it occurs AFAIK.

OP, you could always just join the red and white wire all the way up at the pickup, and trim off all the excess wire, and have something almost electronically identical to two conductor wiring.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

My guess is that your dealer is the one that quoted you 5-7 days and not the Seymour Duncan company.

 

[Scott Marceau]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Hi guys,

This one would definitely be a Shop Floor Custom pickup which does take us around 5 - 7 business days to build. Once the pickup is good to go we ship via UPS Ground, unless instructed otherwise by the dealer, and they are on a M - F delivery schedule.

So, when you factor in the loss of weekend days and the possible distance the pickup has to travel it can be two weeks or so.

It's a service we're proud to offer and ultimately accomplishes what our main goal is: taking care of musicians.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

I think it is true. I was also curious so just did a test with my new CGR101. The gray line is the frequency by amplitude when the probe is connected to the output jack directly, and the red line is the same, but with a 12" piece of shielded wire that's similar to the four conductor wire (headphone cord) between the guitar and the positive test lead, with the stereo red and white wires tied off at one end, the way you would do a series wiring with 4 conductor cable. So overall that 24" of travel, round trip. The capacitance of the 12" wire appears to (if this test scenario is valid) cause it to peak earlier, higher and dumbs down the trebles past 6 kHz. I believe that would be audible.

View attachment 54192

Not everything that can be measured can be heard. If what you're saying is true guitar cables must be a real buggar for you.

 

[Mrkensei]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Not everything that can be measured can be heard. If what you're saying is true guitar cables must be a real buggar for you.

Actually they are. i've started building my own cables, all was fine until I switched from the fender cable I was using to Klotz cables, as I never knew the difference.
There was a massive difference, so now I buy bulk cable myself, the right connectors and make cables that average 65pf/m. I got a bit obsessed to be honest, sold all my pedals, and switched to rack mounted gear to minimise my runs, rewired everything I play with vintage spec cable (i measured the capacitance difference between this and modern shielded cable).

The end result is I dont sound any better (my playing still sucks). But I have been able to balance having enough effects for my needs, gating, tuner, etc.... And still have as little interference with the pure guitar tone as possible.
I do a fair bit of tech/upgrade work for local players in my area, and I've developed a reputation for being able to revolutionise the sound coming fro. People's guitars by spending very little.

I enjoy what I do and I am very discerning about every component I use. I'm not happy unless the only thing negatively affecting my sound is my playing.

Just the way I am I guess.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Actually they are. i've started building my own cables, all was fine until I switched from the fender cable I was using to Klotz cables, as I never knew the difference.
There was a massive difference, so now I buy bulk cable myself, the right connectors and make cables that average 65pf/m. I got a bit obsessed to be honest, sold all my pedals, and switched to rack mounted gear to minimise my runs, rewired everything I play with vintage spec cable (i measured the capacitance difference between this and modern shielded cable).

The end result is I dont sound any better (my playing still sucks). But I have been able to balance having enough effects for my needs, gating, tuner, etc.... And still have as little interference with the pure guitar tone as possible.
I do a fair bit of tech/upgrade work for local players in my area, and I've developed a reputation for being able to revolutionise the sound coming fro. People's guitars by spending very little.

I enjoy what I do and I am very discerning about every component I use. I'm not happy unless the only thing negatively affecting my sound is my playing.

Just the way I am I guess.

its one thing for there to be a difference between the quality of a cable its another for there to be a difference between 6 and 12 inches of the exact same cable.

 

[Mrkensei]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

True, and I tend not to cut the cables of my pickups when I fit them, I'm really capricious and short cables would affect the resale value of my pickups when i change to another model. Thats said I may have to do this for my Maverick. Its really cramped in the control rout (due to the weird control layout).

I should add btw that not everything heard can be measured...look at the PIO vs poly vs ceramic debate. I am super selective of my caps,too.

 

[Artie]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Just to be clear, my test seems to indicate that there is actually a difference in tone between 2 conductor and 4 conductor wire.

Dude . . . the highest note on an electric guitar is a little less than 1.2k. You're taking this out to 40k!
The portion of your chart relevant to guitar, is between the red lines:



Artie

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Dude . . . the highest note on an electric guitar is a little less than 1.2k. You're taking this out to 40k!
The portion of your chart relevant to guitar, is between the red lines:

Artie

Maybe he plays for large audiences of canines :9:

 

[Masta' C]

Re: SD Custom Shop....how long

Mrkensei: "4 conductor tone choke...with my Nazgul/Sentient" - that's cute. The type of carpet in the room will have more effect on the "tone" you hear than half those things. Besides, have you seen the size of the magnet wire all that "tone" is originating from? That's your real choke. Anyways, sorry to hear about the order miscommunication. Sounds like your dealer may have made a wrongful assumption? Don't give up on SD, they are one of the best companies anywhere and are known for taking care of their customers better than most.

DreX: I do find some faults with your test method. Regardless, in the frequency range guitarists use, the difference, if any, is negligible (even assuming the results of your current graph). Sure, our signals can get into the 4K range, but not musically. The highest pitched harmonics and artifacts rarely reach 3K and anything in that range is generally considered unwanted noise, which is why most producers cut guitars in the 2K to 2.5K range when mixing.