Tell Me About The Duncan Distortion
- Thread starter LLL
- Start date
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
I am a long time user and fan of the DD. Probably my favorite along with the PG. I have a few guitars with them.
- Bridge of my #1 Les Paul (1979)
- Bridge & neck of my Silverburst Cadillac
- Also in Jackson Jenna V and DX10
- Also - the Jackson JS32's are very similar to Distortions, IMO.
Distortion: Mids and screaming ceramic highs; Best in darker guitars or for tight ultra bass riffing in down-tuned. Or anything to tear faces off.
Custom: Bass and Screaming Ceramic highs; All around great loud hard rock / metal pickup.
Invader: Bass and mids; Best in long scale Fenders or for thick dark music.
Distortion is Judas Priest (> 1980), Accept, Dokken
Super Distortion is KISS, Iron Maiden
(overall sound-wise, I know they used different things)
It is hot, crunchy AF, and searing in the highs. It is a metal pickup made for medal with serious cut and shred to it.
Distortion is "Chunk"
Custom is "Thump"
It actually cleans up surprisingly well for what it is, but I wouldn't use it straight clean without some chorus or reverb or both.
The Distortion really lets you use (or not) the bass without getting muddy ever. Super tight bottom. You have to be caution of the highs though. Unless you like slicing through like a razor blade.
- Bridge of my #1 Les Paul (1979)
- Bridge & neck of my Silverburst Cadillac
- Also in Jackson Jenna V and DX10
- Also - the Jackson JS32's are very similar to Distortions, IMO.
Distortion: Mids and screaming ceramic highs; Best in darker guitars or for tight ultra bass riffing in down-tuned. Or anything to tear faces off.
Custom: Bass and Screaming Ceramic highs; All around great loud hard rock / metal pickup.
Invader: Bass and mids; Best in long scale Fenders or for thick dark music.
Distortion is Judas Priest (> 1980), Accept, Dokken
Super Distortion is KISS, Iron Maiden
(overall sound-wise, I know they used different things)
It is hot, crunchy AF, and searing in the highs. It is a metal pickup made for medal with serious cut and shred to it.
Distortion is "Chunk"
Custom is "Thump"
It actually cleans up surprisingly well for what it is, but I wouldn't use it straight clean without some chorus or reverb or both.
The Distortion really lets you use (or not) the bass without getting muddy ever. Super tight bottom. You have to be caution of the highs though. Unless you like slicing through like a razor blade.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Indeed -
Custom is to 59/Custom Hybrid as
Distortion is to Distortion Neck in Bridge
When I bought my Les Paul '68 Custom reissue I immediately replaced the 57 Classic with my normal JB/Jazz setup that I use in most of my guitars. I found this particular guitar very dark and lacked high end as well as output. At the time I was playing through a Laney Tony Iommi head which has massive gain. When switching from my LP Classic to the Custom (both with JB's), I would have to boost the gain and adjust my EQ.
I'm not normally a fan of ceramics because of their icepickyness but I figured I would try the DD in the Custom. It worked wonders on this guitar. The high end of the DD brightened it up while teh dark qualities of te guitar tamed the highs of the pickup. Perfect match in this case. I haven't tried these in anything else but I would suggest them to anyone with a dark guitar.
I'm not normally a fan of ceramics because of their icepickyness but I figured I would try the DD in the Custom. It worked wonders on this guitar. The high end of the DD brightened it up while teh dark qualities of te guitar tamed the highs of the pickup. Perfect match in this case. I haven't tried these in anything else but I would suggest them to anyone with a dark guitar.
chris effect
New member
It's my favorite pickup. I prefer it blackened (dual row hex screws) & matte black for aesthetics. I play hardcore and metalcore. Mostly Drop C stuff. The black winter is the closest thing IMO. They barely sound different distorted.
This youtube channel has the best comparisons I've found. https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeStamperMusic
This youtube channel has the best comparisons I've found. https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeStamperMusic
Yeah he's been on the Invaders vs everything lately. The Invaders fare well no matter what he puts them against.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Also...the Gibson 500T, is basically (or more than basically) a Duncan Distortion. I wouldn't change a 500T out.
Best sublet distinction between the two I ever heard (on here)
- A 500T is slightly better for solos
- A Distortion is slightly better for rhythm
Meh - they are both loud and awesome!
Best sublet distinction between the two I ever heard (on here)
- A 500T is slightly better for solos
- A Distortion is slightly better for rhythm
Meh - they are both loud and awesome!
I really try to like the DD or 500T, but maybe my amps aren't right (too bright?) for these. I wasn't too happy with swapping a Duncan Custom for the JB in a Jackson SL2H either. I have a set of Warpigs on the way.
I have the Mayhem set in a Charvel Model 3A I rebuilt.
The zebra 496R/500T set are in a 1996 Classic PP with push/pull tones to split the coils. I does do a vey good Scorpion's tone. With the coil split it sounds like a Tele.
I've tried the Mayhem set in a Charvel 750XL. It now has a Full Shred set that works well in there.
My favorite pickups seem to be A2's. A CC in an 1988 ESP Horizon, a JB2 in a Charvel ProMod.
I have the Mayhem set in a Charvel Model 3A I rebuilt.
The zebra 496R/500T set are in a 1996 Classic PP with push/pull tones to split the coils. I does do a vey good Scorpion's tone. With the coil split it sounds like a Tele.
I've tried the Mayhem set in a Charvel 750XL. It now has a Full Shred set that works well in there.
My favorite pickups seem to be A2's. A CC in an 1988 ESP Horizon, a JB2 in a Charvel ProMod.
