Upgrade from DuncanDesigned to original

J

Jasemeister

New member
Hi all,

I have a pretty nice limited-edition Ibanez SA360EXQT (you can check it out at: http://www.moose-shack.com/sa360.jpg) with a HB-101 (modeled after the '59) in the bridge and two SC-101 (cross between SSL-2 & SSL-6) neck and middle. It has a mahogany body, set-neck & rosewood fingerboard.

I usually play it through a Twin Reverb copy 200W valve head through a couple of custom-made stacks, with an Ibanez tubescreamer or Zoom505 (works wonders if you know how to set it properly!). Typical styles I play are blues, rock & metal.

The tone wizard recommendations have me a bit confused:

For the humbucker:
a) For rock/hard rock/metal: SH-4 JB, SH-5 Custom or SH-14 Custom5.
b) For Blues/Jazz/Country: SH-1B '59 or SH-4 JB,
c) For Fusion: SH-4 JB or SH-5 Custom

The HB-101 is excellent and I imagine an original SH-1 will sound even better but from the tone wizard I see that the SH-4 JB is recommended for all styles. I'd appreciate any advice you guys can offer. I'm gonna choose the two singles based on the humbucker.

Thanks!
 
Re: Upgrade from DuncanDesigned to original

I'd put a JB and two classic stack plus pickups in there and you'd be blown away.
 
Re: Upgrade from DuncanDesigned to original

Benjy_26 said:
What don't you like about your current set up?
Click to expand...

Until 6 months ago I played the Ibanez only through transistor amps and was extremely happy with it. Now I'm in band that owns a rehearsal & recording studio and I'm playing through an old Twin Reverb valve amp copy. Last month I installed an SSL-6 in the neck of my Mexican Strat and was literaly blown away when I hooked it up to the valve amp. Comparing it with the Ibanez, I'm under the impression that replacing the DuncanDesigned with originals will enhance the already very good tonal qualities of my guitar.

But there are some problems:
a) The only original Duncan pickup I've ever used is the SSL-6, so I've got no means of comparison. So I've got no idea whatsoever if a replacement would enhance my sound.

b) The SC-101 is a cross between the SSL-2 and SSL-6, two totally different pickups. One is double the d.c. resistance of the other and its resonant peak is half of the other...so any replacement would sound different and would depend on the bridge pickup I choose so the dc resistance & tone will match.

c) The Tone Wizard recommends the SH-4 JB for blues/rock/metal, which is what I mostly play, but I'm pretty satisfied with the HB-101 for all this. So, this has got me thinking whether the '59 is a suitable replacement for the HB-101 (maybe it has less output, I don;t have a clue).

Anyone with any experience please throw a bone here, help is needed!
 
Re: Upgrade from DuncanDesigned to original

HB 101 generally refers to a set. They are wound to be similar to a '59 neck and JB bridge. If the hb 101 you have in the bridge it'll be similar to a JB but still doesn't come close to the real thing.
 
Re: Upgrade from DuncanDesigned to original

Xeromus said:
HB 101 generally refers to a set. They are wound to be similar to a '59 neck and JB bridge. If the hb 101 you have in the bridge it'll be similar to a JB but still doesn't come close to the real thing.
Click to expand...

i think you mean 102 for the JB?
the 101 set is a bridge 59 and neck 59 while the 102 set is the JB/jazz set
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/duncandesigndescr.shtml#HB101
 
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