Seymour Duncan SF-2b pickup

[Echoplex]

Hello,
New member here - I have a Duncan SF-2b pickup - a discontinued "Firebird" pickup from several years ago, can anyone tell me how it compares to the current SM2b or SM3b mini humbuckers from Duncan? Was the "SF" line different than the SM line or is that just what it morphed into? Is the SF-2b equivalent to an SM-2 or SM-3? Any information about the history of the SF line and how it compares with the current SM line would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

welcome to the forum!

i know very little about them but i believe they have two ceramic magnets while the sm2 only has one so they are different

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Welcome, Echoplex. Yep, though they look similar the two designs are somewhat different.

Firebird type pickups use two blade magnets - one inside each coil, edge-on to the strings. This gives them bright sound with fast, snappy attack, but also exerts fairly strong pull on the strings because the magnets are so close.

Here's a cutaway view of the Firebird design from a Stew-Mac kit; the bobbins are shown without winding wire:
https://img1.stewmac.com/product/ima...pickup-kit.jpg

Mini humbuckers typically have a steel blade (not a magnet) in one coil and six small screws in the other, with a single bar magnet underneath charging them both - just as in a full size humbucker. The blade in these functions like the six slugs of a regular humbucker and the magnetic pull is not quite so strong, allowing placement closer to the strings without loss of sustain. The narrow aperture still gives them a noticeably brighter, better-defined tone than full size humbuckers.

Here's a similar cutaway of a mini hum, again without the wire - notice the bar magnet underneath by the baseplate:
https://img2.stewmac.com/product/ima...pickup-kit.jpg

(EDIT: This is the most common configuration for a non-Firebird mini hum, though there are others like a type with twelve rod magnets.)

 

[jeremy]

that is correct for vintage mini humbuckers and firebird pups. the duncan sm1 is firebird style. the duncan sm2 and sm3 are different though. they use two steel blade pole pieces with a single magnet on the bottom like a mini humbucker. the antiquity models are vintage correct for each type and are both fantastic

 

[Echoplex]

Thanks for all of the information!
Does anyone know specifically about the SF series from Duncan? Were they discontinued for a reason or just kind of replaced by the SM1's remaining specifically "firebird" pickups with the SM2 and SM3 filling out the "mini humbucker" range. I'm just curious, I have the SF2b installed in a Daisy Rock RetroH 12 in the bridge position and I'm not crazy about it - I thought it might have more bite, etc. but I'm leaning toward an SM-3b in that position. There is an SM-3n in the neck position that sounds lovely.

 

[jeremy]

not sure why the sf series went away other than firebird pups probably dont sell all that well in general. again, the sm2 and 3 arent really mini humbucker style, they are a little different since they dont have adjustable poles. i really like the sm3 but havent heard a sf2 to know what it sounds like to compare

 

[Mincer]

With a lack of big-name players using Firebirds these days, I can't imagine they sold well. That being said, there are still Firebirds in the current Gibson lineup.

 

[RevDoom73]

I used to have a Firebird with an SF-2b in it, I thought it was a nice sounding pickup but it lacked a bit of edge I needed. I've played with the SM-2 and 3 as well and while I never had a chance to go any kind of side-by-side comparison of the two, I felt like the SF-2 had slightly less of a hotter output and bite than the SM 2/3, though it could just be my memory playing tricks or the fact that they were installed in totally different guitars? If my memory of it is correct however, then I suspect that changing the pickup in your Daisy Rock to the SM-3 might get you a better result that you're looking for. As for why they discontinued them, I agree with others estimation that at the time they probably just didn't sell that well. Lately though it seems like Firebirds and mini 'buckers in general have started to see something of a resurgence.

 

[Echoplex]

Thanks for all of the information, everyone. I think I'm going to swap in that SM-3. The guitar is a Daisy Rock Retro H 12 string (these are actually made by Schecter) and I had it modded by a respected luthier here in town - it plays and sounds great, but the bridge pickup hasn't been wowing me - i'd like a little more oomph and high end sparkle. I had bought the current Duncan pickups as a used set on the Ebayz a couple of years ago - they even came with the plastic boxes, and I had never heard of the SF-2b before so I thought I would take a shot at them since they were pretty cheap (just like the guitar) and I thought they would be well suited to the project - but a few years on, I think the guitar is worth making another upgrade. Cheers!