Just a quick thanks to the posters here, I never asked questions, only read post after post (I believe you call it lurking).
I have been reading and searching and researching about a new set of pickups for my guitar.
I am a newer player, late in life. I have been playing about 1 1/2 years. My first and only electric guitar (which is cool to me) came with a set of "Duncan Designed" pickups (last night found to be HB102s).
I replaced them with an SH-2 Jazz humbucker in the neck and a JB SH-4 humbucker in the bridge position. The install was easy, took about 2 hours, including setup and playing
First: Let me say that I was not unhappy with the Duncan Designed pickups, just that I found them to be muddy. (My setup is a straight wire into a Marshall AVT20). I wanted a brighter/sharper tone, but also wanted to keep some of the warm bluesy tones, just with less mud. I found it difficult to get a good setting on my amp, especially overdriven.
Second: I was rather impressed with the quality of the Duncan Designed pickups that I replaced. The wiring seemed good quality, comparable to the new SD pickups.
Third: I am so glad that I made this change. I first replaced the neck pu and then reassembled the guitar. I spent some time going back and forth between the new Jazz neck pu and the old DD pu in the bridge. I know this is not an accurate or fair comparison, but wow what a difference. With the new SH-2 Jazz pu I had to dial the volume back to setting 6 or so to "balance" it with the output of the DD pickup. I liked the warm tones I was getting from it, but I was thrilled that the sounds where distinct and not muddy.
Fourth: I couldn't wait to get the JB SH-4 in the bridge position, so back to the workshop I went. Short time later, I was strumming, picking and crunching the new new pu.
All I can say is that I have a different guitar now, and I like the sound, alot!
Thanks again, for all the advice on this forum.
Zac
I have been reading and searching and researching about a new set of pickups for my guitar.
I am a newer player, late in life. I have been playing about 1 1/2 years. My first and only electric guitar (which is cool to me) came with a set of "Duncan Designed" pickups (last night found to be HB102s).
I replaced them with an SH-2 Jazz humbucker in the neck and a JB SH-4 humbucker in the bridge position. The install was easy, took about 2 hours, including setup and playing
First: Let me say that I was not unhappy with the Duncan Designed pickups, just that I found them to be muddy. (My setup is a straight wire into a Marshall AVT20). I wanted a brighter/sharper tone, but also wanted to keep some of the warm bluesy tones, just with less mud. I found it difficult to get a good setting on my amp, especially overdriven.
Second: I was rather impressed with the quality of the Duncan Designed pickups that I replaced. The wiring seemed good quality, comparable to the new SD pickups.
Third: I am so glad that I made this change. I first replaced the neck pu and then reassembled the guitar. I spent some time going back and forth between the new Jazz neck pu and the old DD pu in the bridge. I know this is not an accurate or fair comparison, but wow what a difference. With the new SH-2 Jazz pu I had to dial the volume back to setting 6 or so to "balance" it with the output of the DD pickup. I liked the warm tones I was getting from it, but I was thrilled that the sounds where distinct and not muddy.
Fourth: I couldn't wait to get the JB SH-4 in the bridge position, so back to the workshop I went. Short time later, I was strumming, picking and crunching the new new pu.
All I can say is that I have a different guitar now, and I like the sound, alot!
Thanks again, for all the advice on this forum.
Zac
I use Fender DH 1 im my Am.Fender Fat Strat de luxe, but the sound of this pickup is very sharp.Which one HB do you recommend me to smoother and lower sound? Could I add JB or Custom Custom to Fender SC Noiseless pickups? Thank You.
