What should I get
- Thread starter Aceguy
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The Drama Dude
Re: What should I get
I just thought of a great way to characterize the difference between the Super Distortion and the Duncan Custom.
the Super D is like a Monster Truck. big thundering juggernaut of destruction.
The Duncan Custom is like a warhorse. Fearsome, but elegant, powerful, and when the battle's over, all it wants to do is peacefully graze in a field somewhere.
*shrug* it made sense in my head.
I just thought of a great way to characterize the difference between the Super Distortion and the Duncan Custom.
the Super D is like a Monster Truck. big thundering juggernaut of destruction.
The Duncan Custom is like a warhorse. Fearsome, but elegant, powerful, and when the battle's over, all it wants to do is peacefully graze in a field somewhere.
*shrug* it made sense in my head.
Soulcrusher_X
New member
Soulcrusher_X
New member
Re: What should I get
Id say they both have a big, solid low end, full mids, but the Custom has more sparkle in the highs as where the Super D has a rounder, broader high end with a little fuzz. Custom has the edge on punchiness and volume-knob cleanliness, though.
Regardless, they are both killer pickups.
Id say they both have a big, solid low end, full mids, but the Custom has more sparkle in the highs as where the Super D has a rounder, broader high end with a little fuzz. Custom has the edge on punchiness and volume-knob cleanliness, though.
Regardless, they are both killer pickups.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: What should I get
The Custom is a Ceramic MEGA-PAF. Roughly the same EQ curve, but the whole thing is "up" about ten notches. It is hotter than a SuperD. It is clearer than a SuperD. It has more thunk and scream than a SuperD.
The SuperD has big bass, and is "thick" but doesn't have the chest thunk of a Custom. It also has great mids that really let it grind, push through the mix, and crunch better than a custom. Again - it has a lot more highs than it gets credit for. Seriously - listen to everything ever made in the 70's. Any lack of highs on KISS Alive? It is more open sounding than a Custom. It is the more generally flexible pup IMO.
But again - they are both FANTASTIC pickups! I like the Custom for Big 80's rock, Black Album style Metallica, etc....
I like the SuperD for KISS, obviously, almost any 70's classic, Maiden, and even some bluesy stuff. It gives me my best acoustic sim when mixed with a neck DMZ Paf.
The Valvetronix can distort more than enough to not need the mega-pup. Pick apickup with the EQ curve you like. Don't worry about the hotness, unless you need uber cleans.
The Custom has a better EQ for cleans.
The Custom is a Ceramic MEGA-PAF. Roughly the same EQ curve, but the whole thing is "up" about ten notches. It is hotter than a SuperD. It is clearer than a SuperD. It has more thunk and scream than a SuperD.
The SuperD has big bass, and is "thick" but doesn't have the chest thunk of a Custom. It also has great mids that really let it grind, push through the mix, and crunch better than a custom. Again - it has a lot more highs than it gets credit for. Seriously - listen to everything ever made in the 70's. Any lack of highs on KISS Alive? It is more open sounding than a Custom. It is the more generally flexible pup IMO.
But again - they are both FANTASTIC pickups! I like the Custom for Big 80's rock, Black Album style Metallica, etc....
I like the SuperD for KISS, obviously, almost any 70's classic, Maiden, and even some bluesy stuff. It gives me my best acoustic sim when mixed with a neck DMZ Paf.
The Valvetronix can distort more than enough to not need the mega-pup. Pick apickup with the EQ curve you like. Don't worry about the hotness, unless you need uber cleans.
The Custom has a better EQ for cleans.
Re: What should I get
Do yourself and guitar a favor by putting a BKP Mule in the neck position and a BKP Aftermath in the bridge position. That should suit all of your needs. Work the pickups with volume and tone controls and get yourself some quality caps for that purpose.
Voilà! You have all purpose demon at your disposal or angel if you want that too.
BKP The Mule - P.A.F.
BKP Aftermath - suiting your metal needs...
Middle position = SEX?
Do yourself and guitar a favor by putting a BKP Mule in the neck position and a BKP Aftermath in the bridge position. That should suit all of your needs. Work the pickups with volume and tone controls and get yourself some quality caps for that purpose.
Voilà! You have all purpose demon at your disposal or angel if you want that too.
BKP The Mule - P.A.F.
BKP Aftermath - suiting your metal needs...
Middle position = SEX?
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buckethead
New member
Re: What should I get
Currently i have gotten a agile 3k and put Jb in the bridge and a alnico 2 pro in the neck. I am all sorts of serious happy
My 92 warlock has a tone zone bridge and a air classic in the neck, this is my go to serious gain cutter
Currently i have gotten a agile 3k and put Jb in the bridge and a alnico 2 pro in the neck. I am all sorts of serious happy
My 92 warlock has a tone zone bridge and a air classic in the neck, this is my go to serious gain cutter
Hartfeltmusic2010
New member
Re: What should I get
I was gonna say the Dimarzio super d in the bridge with something like a PG or maybe a 59 with a2 in the neck. The super d will nail all those tones and I use one to play blues with and it sounds great to me for that application. One of the best pickups for lead tones and with a push pull pot you could split or go parallel for versatility. Pretty much any of the Duncan pafs will sound good in the neck and Dimarzio's 36th anniversary is awesome in the neck as well.
I was gonna say the Dimarzio super d in the bridge with something like a PG or maybe a 59 with a2 in the neck. The super d will nail all those tones and I use one to play blues with and it sounds great to me for that application. One of the best pickups for lead tones and with a push pull pot you could split or go parallel for versatility. Pretty much any of the Duncan pafs will sound good in the neck and Dimarzio's 36th anniversary is awesome in the neck as well.
Aceguy
New member
Re: What should I get
Can I get good KISS and Maiden tones with the Custom because I'm really interested in that one.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: What should I get
It will do older metal VERY well. Dont hesitate on that one. Its a very versatile pickup that with judicious use of your volume knob can cover LOTS of sonic territory
It will do older metal VERY well. Dont hesitate on that one. Its a very versatile pickup that with judicious use of your volume knob can cover LOTS of sonic territory
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: What should I get
It's tough call for me on that....
I'd say yes you can - but I'd never use it for that. I have a 73 LP with a SuperD if I want to play that.
IMO, a SuperD is a SuperD. It is pretty dang distinctive tone-wise. Wouldn't want to be without at least one guitar with that sound. But I prefer Duncan to DiMarzio. I have a SuperD and a Tone Zone. The rest is pretty much Duncan.
I'd have no problem playing Maiden and KISS with the Custom. But I'd rather have a SuperD. And I do.
It's tough call for me on that....
I'd say yes you can - but I'd never use it for that. I have a 73 LP with a SuperD if I want to play that.
IMO, a SuperD is a SuperD. It is pretty dang distinctive tone-wise. Wouldn't want to be without at least one guitar with that sound. But I prefer Duncan to DiMarzio. I have a SuperD and a Tone Zone. The rest is pretty much Duncan.
I'd have no problem playing Maiden and KISS with the Custom. But I'd rather have a SuperD. And I do.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: What should I get
+1 for Bareknuckles pickups. They are expensive but I have never heard them not sound awesome.
+1 for Bareknuckles pickups. They are expensive but I have never heard them not sound awesome.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: What should I get
Do you have Burstbucker Pros in it? If so, they will do the trick quite well IMO. They are very versatile and very easily tunable. Just adjust them to suit, like any pickup, find the best pot and cap values (Torres Engineering has 1M long shaft pots), and you are set.
Do you have Burstbucker Pros in it? If so, they will do the trick quite well IMO. They are very versatile and very easily tunable. Just adjust them to suit, like any pickup, find the best pot and cap values (Torres Engineering has 1M long shaft pots), and you are set.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: What should I get
Custom/59 is pretty much perfect for all around guitar.
I think you'd do right by a Super Distortion/Alnico II Pro as well. EVH and Slash in 1 guitar huzzah!
...BUT when I do death/black metal, ie All That Remains, Children of Bodom, even some recent Megadeth, I go either DiMarzio D Activator or Duncan Blackout.
There's simply no passive pickup (besides D Activators) that gives that unique frequency. EMG started it, DiMarzio and Duncan improved it.
Custom/59 is pretty much perfect for all around guitar.
I think you'd do right by a Super Distortion/Alnico II Pro as well. EVH and Slash in 1 guitar huzzah!
...BUT when I do death/black metal, ie All That Remains, Children of Bodom, even some recent Megadeth, I go either DiMarzio D Activator or Duncan Blackout.
There's simply no passive pickup (besides D Activators) that gives that unique frequency. EMG started it, DiMarzio and Duncan improved it.
Re: What should I get
I played a lot of that music with custom bridge and APH-1n. I just got a mag swap on the custom to A2, for the custom custom sound, giving me a bit more bottom and softer tone. I do use a cranked 70s Marshall 100 super lead. I had a super distortion, and liked it, but like the custom custom more, so I gave the super distortion to my son. Love APH-1n (Alnico Pro II) in the neck. This will get you the neck pickup sound you want.
I played a lot of that music with custom bridge and APH-1n. I just got a mag swap on the custom to A2, for the custom custom sound, giving me a bit more bottom and softer tone. I do use a cranked 70s Marshall 100 super lead. I had a super distortion, and liked it, but like the custom custom more, so I gave the super distortion to my son. Love APH-1n (Alnico Pro II) in the neck. This will get you the neck pickup sound you want.
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Aceguy
New member
Re: What should I get
Funny how Alexi Laiho usually uses passives. Dave Mustaine used the JB for a while.