What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

[Benjy_26]

Hell everyone.

I've been swapping pickups in my instruments around for a while now, and have tried a bunch of different humbuckers, ranging from PAF copies, to filtertron and P90's in a humbucker case, to active, high output models.

The whole time, I've never tried a SH6 in any guitar, probably because the name threw me off.

I don't always play with distortion, so I stayed away. Recently, I've been shopping for humbuckers and came across a few used SH-6's.

My question is: How versatile is the SH6? Is it a one trick pony? Can it venture into other areas besides heavy rock and metal?

 

[Aceman]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I played all kinds of things with it for years - it was bridge bucker in my only guitar.

Use the knobs on the amp, and the guitar, and as with any pickup, it will make a number of sounds. Now - it does have a lot of mids and treble vs bass, and is distinctly ceramic. But it is more versatile than people would say. But not a master of disguises like a 59 could be.

I played Billy Idol, U2, the Cars, the Clash and stuff like that with it.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I played all kinds of things with it for years - it was bridge bucker in my only guitar.

Use the knobs on the amp, and the guitar, and as with any pickup, it will make a number of sounds. Now - it does have a lot of mids and treble vs bass, and is distinctly ceramic. But it is more versatile than people would say. But not a master of disguises like a 59 could be.

I played Billy Idol, U2, the Cars, the Clash and stuff like that with it.

Nice. Did you ever split it? What did you have it paired with?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I had one in my LP but for non-metal I felt it lacked something. As aceman said, it certainly CAN do many things, but in Mariokart terms it is not a mario - it is a bowser (it leans heavily in the "distorted tones" direction as the name implies). For what it's worth, the custom sounded more open (less brittle?) even in the ceramic form.

I rock a uoa5 custom in that guitar and couldn't be happier.

For me, the distortion : hetfield. I know he used EMGs but man does it pull off Metallica to a T. I didn't think it was optimal for stuff like GnR or other "overdriven rock". It could do it, but other pickups could do it better. If you need some versatility, I recommend the custom line. If you want METAL and play a tad of other genres, the distortion would be good. I didn't split it so I don't know about that.

 

[Demanic]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I seem to recall hearing somewhere, that Carlos Santana used a Distortion in one of his guitars.
I love the Distortion, it won't do airy vintage PAF tones, but as Ace said, use the knobs on your amp and guitar and it's more versatile than it's name suggests.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Aceman]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I did not split it, but I think Uber-output ickups sound best split. I imagine it would be a nice split, if somewhat stiff/Sterile.

I think the custom is an overall more “useful” mega pickup. But I love the distortion. And it is not a bad clean pickup at all.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

For me, my old distortion does the fuzzy buzzy Led Zep black dog sound better than any other. It is awesome. It can work clean when needed and gets thick when pushed. Mine isn't tight on the bottom, so there's that. It does Cream, Zeppelin, etc perfect. It has its place. With other amps I'm sure it can do more.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I’ve been contemplating putting one in my 7 String actually to replace the Pegasus.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

Yeah, agree with whats been said. It isnt as versatile as say a custom/59 hybrid, but it can cover some ground. And when you want the brootz, ya got da brootz.. The Super D has been used for alot of stuff too.

 

[Returned]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I play them on an off. Split tone was bitey in the same good ways a Tele bites. It is more versatile either split or full than the name suggests.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

It isn't something I like, but I don't use any distortion most of the time. I am not that convinced of the clean sound of this pickup, but that isn't what it does best.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

Double thick A8 gives it better cleans. And to my ear, better drive tones too. Takes off a little of the hair & harshness, and loosens up the ceramic stiffness a bit. Still plenty punchy tho. Similar improvement on the DD neck. I'm just not a ceramic guy; the only ones I've really bonded with have been the Custom and the Railhammer Chisel. I just don't use the types of distortion where ceramics are at their best.

It did take me awhile to find double thick A8s. AddictionFX is my regular source and he no longer carries 'em. Thanks to advice on this forum I got some from Cermag across the pond.

Have thought about doing the same swap on an old SH-7, I just hesitate to mod what's now sort of a vintage classic. But it's mighty bright for my taste.

 

[Diego]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I did not split it, but I think Uber-output ickups sound best split. I imagine it would be a nice split, if somewhat stiff/Sterile.

I think the custom is an overall more “useful” mega pickup. But I love the distortion. And it is not a bad clean pickup at all.

I like higher output pickups split, but not ceramics usually IMO. They just have too much grind and spike.

The JB is great split, the Dimarzio Breed is great as well. The Invader, Dimarzio Evo and Super Distortion? Eww.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I put a regular A8 in my Dist. and it sounds great. I'm also not a ceramic lover so this conversion to A8 was perfect. Turn down the guitar vol and it cleans up very nicely.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

Where are you guys getting alnico 8 mags from?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

AddictionFX. Cheap and good. I think uoa5 and a8 both sound wonderful, and have a feeling few would choose ceramic after comparing the 3 magnets back to back. I know them's fightin words but try it and you'll see. A8 CAN get clangy like percussive on the high end, so you have to lower the pup more than ceramic even

 

[Chistopher]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

Where are you guys getting alnico 8 mags from?

Here at axesrus you can find double thick in all sizes, short bar, roughcast, alnico spacers, narrow magnets, and even a broad assortment of pickup wire.

 

[Top-L]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

I played all kinds of things with it for years - it was bridge bucker in my only guitar.

Use the knobs on the amp, and the guitar, and as with any pickup, it will make a number of sounds. Now - it does have a lot of mids and treble vs bass, and is distinctly ceramic. But it is more versatile than people would say. But not a master of disguises like a 59 could be.

I played Billy Idol, U2, the Cars, the Clash and stuff like that with it.

How does it compare to a Dimarzio Super Distortion? You said the Duncan has mids and treble, to my ears the Super Distortion also has alot of bass. The way you describe the Duncan is how I would describe an Evolution.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

Here at axesrus you can find double thick in all sizes, short bar, roughcast, alnico spacers, narrow magnets, and even a broad assortment of pickup wire.

I checked axesrus when I was looking for 7mm alnico bars and couldn't find any. They have what they call "extra thick" at 5mm, but I couldn't find anything bigger.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: What's the deal with the Duncan Distortion?

How does it compare to a Dimarzio Super Distortion? You said the Duncan has mids and treble, to my ears the Super Distortion also has alot of bass. The way you describe the Duncan is how I would describe an Evolution.

I had both in the same guitar.The super D has more bass and low mids, while the Duncan D has more treble and high mids.