Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

[Leo Chang]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

To my ears it sounded like the Holmes and the Voodoo were the most lively, with the '59 and the EVH sounding a bit dry and (relatively) lifeless.

It also appeared to me that the Holmes seemed to have a touch more treble than the '59, so maybe that's why. The Holmes and the Voodoo also sounds a bit more three dimensional than the other two, but given the price difference, I would agree that the Duncans held their ground just fine ( I feel somewhat let down by the EVH though... as it didn't sound that much better than the '59 :blackeye: )

 

[Chubtone]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Concerning the EVH.... lets just say, I recorded this clip Weds night and my ebay auction for the EVH closed 20 minutes after I finished recording. I already knew that the EVH was going and I wanted to get it recorded before I sold it. It is my least favorite of the four for my application. I bought it though because I heard some clips of it where it sounded awesome. It just didn't work out for me. That guitar now sits empty. Do I grab a Duncan '59 out of my display case at work, or do I spend 2x or 4x the amount?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

I agree that the Holmes was the best sounding of the 4 based on the clips and styles that you played...thru your guitars and your head. Is it 4x's better than the 59'?.....not in my opinion. Is it twice as good....hard to say but I liked it. Are they all A5 mags? Are some A2's.....A3's. That could account for some of the difference. I'd try a 59' with an A4 mag for something slightly different before I plunked down almost 3 bills on a humbucker.

Nice playing. That's what I grew up on....I just haven't found the talent to pull those type of metal riffs off....YET!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Through my harman/kardon laptop speakers, the holmes is my favorite followed by the voodoo, then the EVH, then the 59. Killer tone and chops by the way

Nice to hear a clip of the Holmes, always wanted to hear what the "best" humbucker sounded like (I heard about those pups a while ago)

 

[Tweed]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Not to rain on the parade, but the only way to really explore the differences between these pups would have been to use one guitar for all pups. Using similar guitars, made of the same type of wood only gets you part way there. For example...I have a '58 RI LP that came with Burstbuckers. I didn't care for the sound at all, so out they came. The same pups in my '57 RI LP take on a very different character and sound pretty nice. 2 guitars, same build, same weight (about 8 lbs. each), same wiring, with very different tone using the same set of pups. I liked the Holmes. Wish I had a set. He doesn't live too far from me...maybe if I pester him enough he'll make me a pair. Then again, maybe not

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

A good player is what makes the difference...along with the amp....those Mojaves really do sound great
Thanks for the clips.
I'm not going to use any terms for the pickups, since they will sound different in the hands of different players and guitars.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

In that application I liked:

#1) Holmes

#2) 59

#3) EVH

#4) Voodoo

 

[Rocker35]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Great job!! I think they all sounded great, with each one having there own (slight) nuance compared to the others. The Holmes and Voodoo pu's have a little more 'hair' and body than the 59 and the EVH is the darkest sounding. However, if you were to ask me if the Holmes is worth 4x the price of a 59 then it would have to be a resounding NO!!!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

I really enjoyed this shootout and enjoyed the playing too! Someone said the Holmes and Voodoos were the most lively and that's what I heard too. I also hear that in my own guitar with the Holmes: they are very lively!

I think the Holmes is worth the extra dough...tho it's hard to imagine that it costs more to produce than an Antiquity.

What I wonder about is if Seymour could make one just as good for less. Or if he already does. If so, which Duncan would that be?

Lew

 

[captain cavman]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

trusting my ears I would say :

1 - Voodoo
2 - Holmes
3 - EVH
4 - '59

Now considering the price , the '59 would rate 1st , I don't think the tone difference worth the huge over price !

There I'd go

1 - '59
2 - Voodoo
3 - EVH
4 - Holmes

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Hmm for me it would be Holmes and the EVH.
Mostly because they have that extra something I like.
But then again I am probally going to tweak my 59 some more soon.
If I can get a hold of an A2 magnet bar...

 

[Majestic]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

The Duncan 59 just sound lifeless compared to the other two I mentioned. Those pickups seem to "come alive" with your particular style of playing.

 

[mrid]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Damn...I was hoping the Holmes wouldn't sound as good as it did...now where did I put that $280?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Yeah, I'd say my favorite here is Holmes. I'd sold a set a few years ago that I regret. I'm really happy with the Custom 5's in nickel, but would love another set of Holmes. Too bad they cost as much as a midline guitar, if you can find them. Is he outta business? How could you go outta business with that markup?!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

I guess you pay for the quality. It'd be worth it if I had any intention of keeping my Les Paul, but I'm thinking twice.

Still, I can't help but wonder if the Lollar Imperial pups will give me a very similar tone for about half the price ($300)... which is still expensive as all hell.

 

[aroman]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

I liked the Holmes' overall tone best.
IMO the '59 sounded darn good. A little brighter/thinner than the rest but it provided GREAT articulation, definition and harmonics.

It will be interesting to include the Seth Lover b and Custom Custom in the Shootout.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

One question: Did you use the same EQ with all four pickups?

If you did, I think that'll show up the differences between each pickup but NOT allow each pickup to sound its best.

What happens alot with these tests is we'll dial a good tone in with the first pickup and then play the other pickups with the EQ that was tweaked for the first pickup.

Personally, I think the right way to do it would be to spend some time dialing in a great tone for each of the four pickups, because that's how they would be used in real life.

For example, if it was me playing the EVH, I'd just reach over and turn up the treble a little! Or if it was me playing the 59B, I'd reach over and crank up the mids and maybe the bass a tad.

Lew

 

[Artie]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

What I wonder about is if Seymour could make one just as good for less. Or if he already does. If so, which Duncan would that be?

Lew

This brings us back to the unanswered question that I've had about the Benedetto A6.
(Manufactured by Seymour Duncan).
I'ld have loved to hear the A6 in this shootout. I wonder if it might be "the one".

 

[BrentSP]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Wow.......great job! Awesome comparison! Suprisingly I actually liked the Duncan 59 the best. I figured the Holmes would win me over. The Holmes seemed a tad looser and not all together like the Duncan 59. The rest of the pickups were good also..... in fact they all sounded very close to each other. But in the end the 59 was my pic for all the songs you did. I'm using Sound Blaster 5.1 card, Denon pre/pwr amp and Paradigm Reference studio monitors and sub.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Sound Clip: Holmes vs. Duncan 59 vs. Voodoo 59 vs. Duncan EVH

Just on a sidenote, just stuck in my 59b in my Kramer today, swapped the Screamin' JB with the 59 from the Wolfgang....
The Kramer sounded big and open with the 59 in the bridge, the Wolfgang sounds good with the JB/Demon hybrid....I am still amused that the 59 is useful in three different guitars.
But now I think it will stay in the Kramer...they really like each other alot.
Seems it has finally found a home