Why did you get into SD pickups?

Why did you get into SD pickups?

  • Emulating the sound of _____ (Duncan user)

    Votes: 20 14.9%

  • Looking for a general pickup upgrade

    Votes: 76 56.7%

  • I couldn't bring myself to buy Dimarzio (double creme?)

    Votes: 5 3.7%

  • Other (please explain)

    Votes: 33 24.6%
  • Total voters
    134
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

Forbes said:
I wanted my Rg to sound badass. :)
Click to expand...

Exact same reasoning for me.

My RG570 sounded turd, so I ordered a JB, and the friggin shop sent me a custom. So I came on here to ask if the custom was any better/worse before I thought about sending it back, and I ended up keeping the custom and staying on here.

I've now got 3 other duncans on top of that, and it's all your (everyone here's) fault.

I'm not sure what half of the artists I listen to use as pups if I'm honest, but I like the sound of my axes.
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I replaced an EMG 81 active pickup with a Screamin' Demon Trembucker and I became very interested in how much better my other insruments could sound.
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

i went from EMGs to duncans, my music tastes change constantly and my duncans can always adjust to the genre hehe
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I'm embarrased to say, but years ago I got a Duncan brochure that had a great chart of their pickup line, along with Seymour and Jeff Beck in front of a '32 Duece Coupe (I think). I was impressed that SD would be buds with my idol AND be into hotrods, I kept that brochure for the longest time.
Fast-forward to present day, and when looking for a pickup upgrade, SD was the first name the came to mind. When I wrote to them looking for a recommendation and got such a prompt and well-informed response, well, SD earned my loyalty, right there.

Neil
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

Because they are readily available, affordable, and generally sound damn good.

I have played 59's, JB's, Pearly Gates, Seths, P90's, alinco II pros, Quarter pouders, and Seymour-ized mini's. The only ones I didn't like were a ceramic P90 and the JB.

Most of the Duncans I have played have been in the PAF ballpark tone wise. And while I have liked some better than others, all were very musical sounding to my ears.

So all in all I have had good results with Duncans.

MCG
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

Bought a Washburn from a pawn shop in 1992... Can't remember the model, but it had been customized by a shop in Cali.... The broker, nor I , were aware of this at the time, so I got the axe plus hardshell for $150... It had a Kahler tremolo, which was my first exposure to that style, and you can guess how much trouble I had changing strings.... Somehow or another, or just from sheer curisosity, ALL the strings were off, so I dug into the cavity to see what I could find.... Well, there was a business card with the pups written on the back... You could also see where the body had been routed to fit the Kahler.... I can't remember the single coils onboard, but I remember clearly the pup, it was a JB..... I had the guitar for years, and could cover many styles.. Although, I HATED that tremolo! I still dont like that style!

Anyway, since then, I have just stuck with what I know... And explore with other models so I can know that much more....:)
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

i was young and impressionable i was looking for direction in my sound i played bass guitar at the time and i wanted a ernie ball stingray but being 16 would never be able to affort it so i looked at wat bands i listened to and liked and saw wat they used mostly sd. I tried to copy mark hoppus of
blink 182's bass so i bought a sd 1/4 lb precision i was going to go with a jazz to compliment the precision but didnt have enough money and went with wat i could for then
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I voted "other".

Basically, I've always found stock pickups to lack life and tone in most guitars. There are exceptions, of course. Keep in mind that I can't bring myself to pay more than $600 - $800 for a guitar. My criteria is high-quality materials, solid wood, good resonance and sustain, and a good feel. Given this, there are many guitars that fit these criteria in the price range I'm willing to pay.

So I played DiMarzios for a while. I wanted a classic rock / 80s metal sound, and DiMarzio completely nails this sound.

So these days I'm playing more adult contemporary stuff like Shaye and Sarah MacLaughlin. So I needed a sweeter tone and pickups with lower output and the Duncan Alnico Pro IIs in my Lite Ash Strat totaly nail this sound. I wasn't even really looking for a new guitar and just happened to try this strat out in my local music store. I was blown away by the character and tone of this guitar (comes stock with Duncan A2Ps). I thought, "Okay lets kick on the drive channal and listen to these single coil babies fall apart now". Boy was I wrong. These things can hold thier own when I want to do classic rock stuff, but for metal, a humbucker is a must.

So I took notice of Syemour Duncan pickups. Now I'm looking to try some SD buckers in my Yamaha SBG 500 to sweeten it up some. The A2P humbucker version is an obvious contender...
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

i got into them before i even heard one. i just went to the website one day.....lol
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

They're good salesfolks. The website was very informative and I even got to buy the CDs. I was stunned when I first changed the pups in my...Ibeenhad I think I had back then. Tone was so much better, but there was just no saving that "tremelo".:erl:
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I was in the old Valley Arts guitar shop on Ventura Blvd. getting a lead master control installed on my early '80s Mesa Boogie and was wandering around the store. I saw some pickups in the counter and started talking to the salesman and ended up taking home a brochure. I read it from top to bottom over the next week.

When I went back in to pick up my amp, I also picked up a pickup -- an SSL-2 Vintage Flat RW/RP for my '85 MIJ Strat. Honestly, it didn't change the tone all that much, it just eliminated the hum in positions #2 and #4, which was what I was looking for.

It wasn't until a few years later that I tried a Vintage Rails in the same guitar that I had that "oh my god I never realized how much changing pickups could change my life" experience.
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I actually "stumbled" across my first SD PU back in '88...(double cream SH-6). Was mounted in a guitar I acquired, and really had no clue what it was... I did notice it sounded a world apart from PAF's I was used to at the time. After a few more guitar purchases, I really noticed an incredible tone difference between all of them and started doing some research...

What I discovered was the one guitar ('83 Ibanez DestroyerII) that I so loved, was actually one of the "rarest" Ibanez's of the time (Mahogany body, flamed maple top) while the rest of my collection was basswood!.....but I soon realized that, while the wood was important, the PU was what delivered the tone! I pulled the PU out and saw the Seymour Duncan Pickups stamped into the backing metal on the bottom. Also saw a small sticker with the letters "DD - J". I called SD and was informed that it was a "Duncan Distortion" or a SH-6.

Consequently, I went and purchased SH-6's for every guitar I owned and it's the only PU I use to this day.....

...(well that just sounded like a big sales pitch, now didn't it?)

anyway....

Jeff Seal
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

Other.... My PRS came with a Duncan JB mounted in the bridge position. :)
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

Was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about, especially as I was bidding on my Legacy at the time that had SSL-1's fitted.
 
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?

I had a strat with a stock bridge PU (which equals: does not rock).
Someone said "you need a JB jr"
I said "What the hell is that?", but tried one anyway.
I have never used a stock strat bridge PU since.
 
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