Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

[Skoora]

Looking for medium to slightly hot output for a 335 I got. Has Shaw's in it right now that sound good but are too low output for me. The pu's in the title seem promising but haven't heard much feedback or clips. I know I could go with 57's and be happy but I've used 57's a lot in the past and wouldn't mind trying something different. I play 70's hard rock and some heavier COC, Sabbathy stuff too into a '69 circuit Metro. I'm trying not to go crazy on price so anything over what these Duncan's go for is becoming too much. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to verify the pots in the guitar yet (it's an 85 CS 335). They may be 300K but I'm going to change out those too with CTS 500K probably. Also has anyone successfully set up a "snap together" system for pickup connections. This would be awesome in a hollowbody, not having to access the pots for a pickup swap.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Skoora:

The Brobucker is a 10k PAF. Think a '59b with a bit more winding to it. 42AWG, mismatched coils, etc. I have a 11k one, and i just sent a friend of mine a 10k one for his fat strat build. The beauty of the Brobucker is that it can pretty much do anything from jazz to sabbath / metallica stuff... it likes a 500k tone pot (humbucker, moderate output, but a Heavy Duty PAF), and it likes a 300k volume pot if with strat singles, or a 500k if with HBs. It is a $160 pickup from the CS, and you VERY rarely see them for sale on the SDUGF (or much of any other forum, for that matter) because once they find a home they tend to stay there for a VERY long time.

The Pots in the '85 ES-335 are either one of two things: early henry j pots, or late norlin pots. (I believe norlin got rid of Gibson somewhere around 84 to 86, correct me if i'm wrong). These pots were often 300k, but there have been cases of pulled pots that were 100k. For a Humbucker, a 100k pot will choke any and all high-end clarity it may have possessed. Hell, the only time even strats had 100k pots was for a very brief period in 1954 when they first came out. After that, strats were 250k pots (while caps changed wildly through the decades, as did the caps in gibsons). This is a rare case where the components used in a guitar were absolute rubbish IMHO. However, this makes it a great candidate for an electronics upgrade, which in a ES-335 can be a bit hairy, but esp in the 1985s where the pots are horribly mismatched to the HBs, can really open up the airiness of the guitar, and make the shaw pickups sing for what they are.

What I would do is contact someone like RSGW (www.rsguitarworks.net) and have them send you a prewired setup with the jensen caps and their pots and wiring. All you then have to do is follow carefully their directions for putting in the new stuff (switch, new jack, grounding wire, is all prewired for you, you drop in and solder the pups) and it should sound MUCH more open to where you may not have to get the BB. The Bro is a GREAT pickup, it's my fave strat bridge pup because of its personality, but a pickup's signal is only as good as the components that control the signal from its origin to the amplifier, and if you're choking out the signal with your filters (pots and caps), then no pickup, be it a duncan designed, or an original PAF, is going to attain its maximum potential

Just my .02

Jason

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Which S-Deco? 2 or 5? I have the 10k SDeco2 and a Brobucker. I would go with the Brobucker myself. Its hot enough without being over the top.

 

[Skoora]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Which S-Deco? 2 or 5? I have the 10k SDeco2 and a Brobucker. I would go with the Brobucker myself. Its hot enough without being over the top.

So you think an S-Deco is much more for hard rock/ classic metal all the time where the Bro-Bucker can do that but also gets a good medium gain classic rock tone?

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

I have an A5 S Deco and it can do anything depending on your amp. The s deco is excellent at playing hard rock/classic metal and it can still be tamed to play classic rock.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

I am a huge fan of the S Deco. Mine sits right at 11k. Personally, I likd it much more than the Bro. The S Deco has more snap and chime, as well as being a bit more open and possesing a bit more clarity. This is, of course, just what I heard when I tried them back to back in my Hamer Special.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

I like a lot of Duncan humbucker combos, but I think my favorite is the Brobucker/Pearly Gates.
When buying a covered Brobucker, I'd suggest ordering it factory potted, so squeal isn't an issue.
The normal Brobucker design is unpotted.

If you haven't tried a Custom 5, it's one level hotter than the Brobucker and a lot cheaper. C5/PG would be a great combo also.

 

[Skoora]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

What I would do is contact someone like RSGW (www.rsguitarworks.net) and have them send you a prewired setup with the jensen caps and their pots and wiring. All you then have to do is follow carefully their directions for putting in the new stuff (switch, new jack, grounding wire, is all prewired for you, you drop in and solder the pups) and it should sound MUCH more open to where you may not have to get the BB. The Bro is a GREAT pickup, it's my fave strat bridge pup because of its personality, but a pickup's signal is only as good as the components that control the signal from its origin to the amplifier, and if you're choking out the signal with your filters (pots and caps), then no pickup, be it a duncan designed, or an original PAF, is going to attain its maximum potential

Just my .02

Jason

Do you think there's any difference between the kit with the Jensen caps and the one with the Bumble B repro's?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

I actually really like a CC in a 335 type guitar. It's nice and warm with a smooth top end, but plenty of output. You can turn it into a C5 or a Custom with a mag switch in a snap too....if you find you want a little different flavor.

The CC can cover a lot of sonic ground.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Do you think there's any difference between the kit with the Jensen caps and the one with the Bumble B repro's?

I have the Luxes (a phonebook for the SSL-1s and a Bumblebee for the brobucker). The Phonebook cap is .1uf and for a 1950s feel from a strat (when strats occasionally doubled as electric basses due to the ability to roll everything off but the very very low tones with the .1uf cap). They are made from 2 vitamin Q caps put together. The PIO bumblebees are cosmetically the same as the old spragues, but are russian PIO at their core. This isn't a bad thing, as some people like the look but don't want to risk an NOS cap dying out... others won't buy them b/c they're russian... to each his or her own; personally, they work, I like them, and most importantly they fit in the strat.

The jensen caps are AMAZING, but they are HUGE. they are also about $18 to $25 / cap, depending on uf value and whether you want aluminium or copper. In a strat, they are a VERY tight fit. However, within a Les Paul, you can EASILY get them to fit because humbuckers use smaller value caps, thus the caps themselves are smaller. If push came to shove, I would go with these because the quality is on an entirely different level. Stick with aluminum from RSGW though because copper is a bit too hi-fi for a guitar application (GREAT for home theatres though). Strat, Luxes

Les Paul, the Jensens.

Jason

PS: the jensens with the RSGW pots will allow you to get the "HUGE lowend" will getting a LOT more clarity from your pickups... I own an RSGW kit, it opened up my guitar a LOT... and that's shared on several other forums as well.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

So you think an S-Deco is much more for hard rock/ classic metal all the time where the Bro-Bucker can do that but also gets a good medium gain classic rock tone?

Where did I say that? The SDeco is just a variation on the same theme that the Brobucker is based on.

 

[RockStarNick]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Where did I say that? The SDeco is just a variation on the same theme that the Brobucker is based on.

I have yet to see specs on the S-Deco, as far as Magnet type (aged or not), and wire guage. With the output listed, my GUESS is that the S-Deco's are 43AWG.

The Brobucker, any way you slice it, RULES!!!!!! Powerful, fat, clear. No frequencies are annoying at all. It's just perfection in the bridge of a les paul.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

From a bystander's view: I don't have either PU, but I've seen many, many positive comments here about the Brobucker. The S-Deco doesn't get mentioned nearly as often. I suspect the S-Deco would be too bright and thin for my tastes, so I'd definitely go with a Brobucker myself.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

from what i've read... everyone who's tried an s-deco swears by them.
i'll definitely be ordering one eventually, but want to experiment a but more first so i know exactly what i want.
totally grandstanding and shooting from the hip: i think i'd find the brobucker muddy.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

Sabbath on a PAF?

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

From a bystander's view: I don't have either PU, but I've seen many, many positive comments here about the Brobucker. The S-Deco doesn't get mentioned nearly as often. I suspect the S-Deco would be too bright and thin for my tastes, so I'd definitely go with a Brobucker myself.

You always use 250K pots for the bridge, right? I don't think you'll have that problem with the S Deco.

i think i'd find the brobucker muddy.

+1 I'd still try one though.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

From a bystander's view: I don't have either PU, but I've seen many, many positive comments here about the Brobucker. The S-Deco doesn't get mentioned nearly as often. I suspect the S-Deco would be too bright and thin for my tastes, so I'd definitely go with a Brobucker myself.

How can you even begin to reach a conclusion or form an opinion like that based on next to nothing in terms of information or first hand experience? I don't think unfounded advice, no matter how well intentioned, is useful to anyone. The SDeco is available in A2 and A5 magnets with winds from 10-12. Which version have you decided is too bright?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

How can you even begin to reach a conclusion or form an opinion like that based on next to nothing in terms of information or first hand experience? I don't think unfounded advice, no matter how well intentioned, is useful to anyone. The SDeco is available in A2 and A5 magnets with winds from 10-12. Which version have you decided is too bright?

Didn't know I needed permission to post in this thread. I made it clear that I don't own either, but of the two I would choose the Brobucker. Excuse me. Having read glowing reviews of the C8 and JB2, I tried both of them and found the reports to be accurate, and they are now two of my favorite PU's. Although as pointed out, I have no right to do so, I imagine I'd feel the same about a Brobucker. I do have some prior experience with Duncan PU's.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

guitars, amps, strings and hands all factor into this; one man's bright and shrill is another man's articulation and clarity.

the same JB in the same LP through the same amp sounded thick, a little loose, and generally over the top in my hands; but was clear, articulate and a touch bright in my friend's. he even tuned it right down without it mudding up, where i couldn't go below D standard (different amps here though).

not attacking you blue, and i ask this with respect... are you sure you don't sound bright and thin?

 

[Kam]

Re: Who's tried Bro-bucker or S-Deco?

not attacking you blue, and i ask this with respect... are you sure you don't sound bright and thin?

So basically, are you a Fender?