The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

[ubertwerp]

Ok here is the path since I have been swapping duncans
(alder strat 500k pot-more details below the rankings )

final SD rankings-(for my taste ,my playing,my rig and my ear)
1)59B-9.2/10
2)Custom -9/10
3)Seymourizer II-8.5/10
4)Screamin Demon-8.1/10
5)JB-8/10
6)Dimebucker(yes dimebucker)-7.8/10
7)DD-7.7
8)Full Shred-7.5 /10
9)JB Neck-6/10

For reference -on Dimarzio (for my taste ,my playing,my rig and my ear)
1)Paf Pro-8.2/10
2)VPaf-8.1/10
3)Steves Special-7.8/10 (a little more mids needed)
4)Air Norton bridge-7.5/10
5)Air Norton Neck -7.5/10
6)Paf Pro Neck -7.5 /10
7)Norton-7/10
8)Air Zone-7/10
9)Tone Zone -6.5/10 (mean,mean rhythm -crappy on the rest)

Basics are sometimes the best -I guess


Here are the details that led to the listing:
_1)JB bridge -excellent combination of everything but too much upper mid
overall-8/10
_2) JB neck -surprisingly -outstanding on leads -very good in te neck actually -big surprise for me
overall -6/10
_3)duncan distortion bridge -very good but more suited to metal -also did not like the when the lower strings chugged-sounded a bit like I had all bands of eq maxed -excellent harmonics and pick attack,but possibly too many mids
too hot
-overall 7.5/10
_4)full shred -oustanding clarity -more than any other pickup I've heard
the problem -no bottom end-it sounds thin compared to a jb or a custom
overall 7.5/10
_5)Dimebucker -actually very good clarity on ALL strings -very good pickup all the way around -I would recommend this as the number 1 metal pickup -a shredders dream -the problem ?TOO extreme -full blast all the time and it can sound thin I do think the much maligned dimebucker is very good for metalheads thoughreminded me of a passive EMG
overall -7.5/10
_6)Duncan Custom -One of the best pickups made -period .
Oustanding everything -somewhat ice picky at times, but outstanding balance
of everything -very very good -one my top 3 favorite pickups of all time
takes the strengths of the duncan distortion and the jb and adds a dash of PAF -excellent pickup-hard to go wrong with this one
9/10
_7)Seymourizer II/duncan distortion neck in bridge -
outstanding lower output version of the DD-love this pickup
-the problem?lack of clarity on the low strings
never quite resolved it completely -and ultimately ended up liking the custom just a little better
8.5/10
_8)Screamin Demon-Very nice tone from blues to metal -very good harmonics
surprising sustain-sounded thin at times though-like the full shred
Nice chunk and definition on the bottom end -
the problem?Could not get used to the strange harmonics and the odd pick attack -did not feel natural to me .
overall 8.0/10
_9)59 B - how could it possibly compare -well it DID big time.
just enough mids open sounding -good sustain ,good natural harmonics
good lead tone ,good rhythm
plays well from blues to metal -very cool braided cable -but that is the only downside -no 4 wire for coil splits-bummer -also the one I got has a longer
frame -so it is hard to mount in a strat without bottoming out-another
bummer-Tone -wise I think I have finally found my sound -It just FEELS
and sounds right when I play it -kudos to Seymour for this pickup -I love it
Best Alnico I have played -there are others that surpass it in one category
(ie full shred for clarity -custom for harmonics -but the best overall package belongs to the 59 IMO)

overall 9.2/10

 

[ubertwerp]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

for the record -since there is no logo-which way do the screw coils go "officially"
-anyone?

 

[MikeS]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

Screw coils are the outside coils.

As for best bridge pickup... obviously this is completely subjective. I'm enjoying a TB-1 that was rewound to PATB-3 specs (basically a PATB-3 on a standard trembucker bobbin). Production model, the Custom has been my favorite, and it's a crime that I don't have one installed in a guitar right now.

 

[Natman]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

ubertwerp -that was very detailed, but what is your style of music? What amp? Pedals?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

Great, subjective yes, but nice to read. I'd like to hear something on the VPAF!

My fave now is the Screaming Deamon in my alder strat. Next Custom 8, following Custom and JB - but thats me. BTW i have a 59B on the way to me.

But what the heck is JBneck (ya mean JazzN, aren't ya)

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

1)59B-9.2/10
2)Custom -9/10

I'd put them right at the top too. Now you need to try a Custom Shop 78.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

I can't rate them with numbers, since they all sound good in different guitars....

Brobucker, C-5/59 hybrid, Custom 5, Custom, 78, 59, Jazz B, Seth Lover.

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

My favorite Duncan right now is the Brobucker. The Custom Custom is still my favorite from the standard production line but overall, it's the Brobucker.

And just for the record, the 59B can be ordered with 4-conductor wiring and short legs. it just has to be specified.

 

[ubertwerp]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

I'd put them right at the top too. Now you need to try a Custom Shop 78.

Thanks Lew -
I will have to try out the 78 model too eventually-I'm guessing it's a bit pricy so I may explore that option in the future -I'm sure it's brilliant-alnico II I assume?

what do you think for single coils -I prefer one in the neck and so far fender ceramic (lol) has done it better than lace sensors or especially
texas specials(bad news imo for sparkle /vintage neck position)

 

[ubertwerp]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

Great, subjective yes, but nice to read. I'd like to hear something on the VPAF!

My fave now is the Screaming Deamon in my alder strat. Next Custom 8, following Custom and JB - but thats me. BTW i have a 59B on the way to me.

But what the heck is JBneck (ya mean JazzN, aren't ya)

No actuallly-I meant JB in the neck -It's a very good solo tone
I forgot to add the jazz to the list though -very good in the neck ,but I still prefer my single coils there -I have to give high marks to the air norton and
paf pro for humbuckers -I just think for what I use the neck for -it will always be singles for me from now on

 

[ubertwerp]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

ubertwerp -that was very detailed, but what is your style of music? What amp? Pedals?

My rig is mainly Pod xt(gasp),V amp2, and Line 6 spiders
_I'm solid state
Only pedal I like is the Bad Monkey -don't use it a lot though.

Alder strats -Ibanez guitars
Would like to try a tele at some point

I also play lefthanded out of necessity (Iommi -type reasons)

My style is all forms of rock -mainly hard rock (UFO,MSG,Ozzy,Maiden etc) and classic rock(Zeppelin,Sabbath,Pink Floyd,Tesla,) but also some blues rock(Gary Moore,Hendrix,SRV) ,neoclassical rock (Yngwie ,Vinnie Moore) Shred Rock (Paul Gilbert is great,Richie Kotzen)80's Rock (Dokken,Dio,Talisman,lillian axe) prog metal(dream theater ,hammerfall,fates warning)and even pop rock(U2 etc.)and country rock(vince gill, etc.) .
I like to listen to classical (Bach ,schubert ,rachmaninoff) and new age (michael hedges ,enya) too.
Absolutely do not like rap or grunge though .

 

[ubertwerp]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

My favorite Duncan right now is the Brobucker. The Custom Custom is still my favorite from the standard production line but overall, it's the Brobucker.

And just for the record, the 59B can be ordered with 4-conductor wiring and short legs. it just has to be specified.

What does the brobucker sound like if I might ask-heard a lot about that one

Thanks all for the input-

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

What does the brobucker sound like if I might ask-heard a lot about that one

Thanks all for the input-

A fat PAF with lots of balls. Think Angus Young and old Van Halen. In a Strat, it can get the old VH vibes in spades pending your amp is dialed in for the vibe as well. It's wound to about 10k, Dunaged Alnico 5 magnet, lightly wax potted. Wonderful pickup.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

Thanks Lew -
I will have to try out the 78 model too eventually-I'm guessing it's a bit pricy so I may explore that option in the future -I'm sure it's brilliant-alnico II I assume?

what do you think for single coils -I prefer one in the neck and so far fender ceramic (lol) has done it better than lace sensors or especially
texas specials(bad news imo for sparkle /vintage neck position)

I love the texas hot custom as a bridge pickup, but prefer the surfer for sparkle from the neck and middle positions. I use a mixed set in my strat.

Thanks, Lew

 

[eggman]

Re: The Good Ole 59B -Duncans best bridge pickup?

Howdy,

Thanks for the informative post, Ubertwerp! I'm more of a single-coil guy and have just the '59 set in my ES-335. I agree that the bridge sounds great. For me the '59 in the neck (when played alone) is a bit boomy, but perhaps so were the original Gibson Hbers?
Should I get another HBer equipped guitar (ES-335, Heritage 535 perhaps) I'd also look at DiMarzio's vintage PAF offerings.

Eggman