Switching to Duncans

[SCOTT502]

Hey Everyone,

I'm thinking of swapping the Dimarzio's out of my Ibanez to Duncans. The guitar configuration is typical Ibanez...basswood body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard. This guitar does have a fixed bridge and not the usual trem though, so it may not be as bright but I don't know for sure.

Right now I have a Steve's Special in the bridge and a PAF Pro in the neck. I like both pickups for the most part although the Steve's Special isn't as smooth or clear as I would like (I'm comparing it to my JB loaded Jackson) it also is not quite as defined as far as pick attack in the lower registers.

The PAF Pro is a nice all-around pick up but I want to try something different,
I like a neck pickup that leans more toward high-end articulation and airyness rather than thick and full on the low end.

I play mostly distorted through a Vox Valvtronix, Mainly single line riffs and melodies, although I want a decent clean out of both pickups as well.

Both pickups have to have nickel plated covers.

I have considered:

Bridge: Distortion
Custom

Neck: Jazz
Sreamin Demon

Please help me with the charactoristics of these pickups in this guitar. Also Please recommend another pick up if I have overlooked anything.

Much thanks for the help!

Scott

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Switching to Duncans

Airiness, and bright for the neck pup. Definitely a Jazz.

A Custom will retain your cleans a bit better than the distortion, ALTHOUGH the distortion does have useable cleans. Here is my generic bucker breakdown minus the antiquities.

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

<continued>

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Switching to Duncans

The JB and Distortion are the same Coil configuration but the JB has an Alnico 5 magnet and the Distortion has an oversized ceramic magnet.

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

Distortion---This pup is also heard on numerous 80's recording, George Lynch was once a big user of this pup. It has good mids, and tons of harmonics, it's got the edge associated with ceramic based pups that makes the notes sting and bite you. Lots of power here. Good articulation and grind for rythym playing. The heavy duty magnet can kill sustain prematurely, so like the JB you have to monkey around with the height of the pup, and polepieces to really dial it in right.

Also if you can find a larger magnet you can make your Custom into a Custom+ which will have the same tonal properties, but more juice; or a smaller magnet will do the cut the output of the distortion.

Hope this helps!

Luke

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Switching to Duncans

I'd go with a Jazz in the neck and a Custom in the bridge.

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Switching to Duncans

Wow! Thanks so much Luke for all the info, that definately gives my someplace to start.

Thanks also Benjy! Do you guys think the distortion is too over the top? which one of the three ( Dist. Cust. JB ) has the most detailed harmonics? The reason I'm asking is that there is a Nickel covered Distortion in the case at the local shop...maybe I'll just get it and use the return policy.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Switching to Duncans

Jazz in the neck and distortion in the bridge is what I'd choose.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Switching to Duncans

The distortion has quite a bit more compression, it just depends on what you are looking for. The exchange policy is soooo great, I suggest you try the Dist. if you have one local and want yours covered.

Luke

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Switching to Duncans

Thanks so much guys...I'll get the Dist and let you know.