Why did you get into SD pickups?
- Thread starter aleclee
- Start date
rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
The stock pickups in my Wolfgang were way too hot, and I remembered seeing an ad in a guitar magazine for Duncan pickups. The ad had a pic of Slash, and it mentioned that he used the Alnico 2 Pro model. I wasn't necessarily trying to copy his sound, I just wanted something in the same ballpark when using the neck pickup. I didn't know about any of the other models, so I came to the site to try to find a bridge pickup that would work well with the A2P. I ended up finding this forum, and I've been around here ever since.
Ryan
The stock pickups in my Wolfgang were way too hot, and I remembered seeing an ad in a guitar magazine for Duncan pickups. The ad had a pic of Slash, and it mentioned that he used the Alnico 2 Pro model. I wasn't necessarily trying to copy his sound, I just wanted something in the same ballpark when using the neck pickup. I didn't know about any of the other models, so I came to the site to try to find a bridge pickup that would work well with the A2P. I ended up finding this forum, and I've been around here ever since.
Ryan
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I voted Other.
I was looking to replace the bridge pickup on my JCPenney Les Paul copy; a Global, I believe, and I was torn between a DiMarzio Dual Sound and a Carvin humbucker. Remember, this was back in 1982. I went to my local music store and asked for the best high-output pickup they had. The guy handed me a double-black bobbin JB. I had heard of Seymour Duncan through Guitar Player Mag ads. They basicaly were a really close-up pic of a zebra 59 or something like that taken while looking at the topside of the pickup so you could see the copper windings and the head of the Pole screw.
That's when and why and I didn't regret it a bit.
I voted Other.
I was looking to replace the bridge pickup on my JCPenney Les Paul copy; a Global, I believe, and I was torn between a DiMarzio Dual Sound and a Carvin humbucker. Remember, this was back in 1982. I went to my local music store and asked for the best high-output pickup they had. The guy handed me a double-black bobbin JB. I had heard of Seymour Duncan through Guitar Player Mag ads. They basicaly were a really close-up pic of a zebra 59 or something like that taken while looking at the topside of the pickup so you could see the copper windings and the head of the Pole screw.
That's when and why and I didn't regret it a bit.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
My Big Apple Strat came stock with a 59 and PG+, they were good pups. I'd heard good things about SD's so when I decided to change the bridge pup in my LP I joined the forum and eventually went Duncan, The soundclips spoke volumes themselves.
Luke
My Big Apple Strat came stock with a 59 and PG+, they were good pups. I'd heard good things about SD's so when I decided to change the bridge pup in my LP I joined the forum and eventually went Duncan, The soundclips spoke volumes themselves.
Luke
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
The Seymour Duncan User Group Forum did it. The tractor beam pulled me right in.
The Seymour Duncan User Group Forum did it. The tractor beam pulled me right in.
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
i had heard my buds axe and really heard GREAT TONE! :dance:
i had heard my buds axe and really heard GREAT TONE! :dance:
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I had a piece of crap guitar with the brightest single coil pickup you could imagine. I had to get something different. SD was the best choice I could find. I've never bought anything non-Duncan since.
I had a piece of crap guitar with the brightest single coil pickup you could imagine. I had to get something different. SD was the best choice I could find. I've never bought anything non-Duncan since.
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I'd had a Telecaster that I'd installed EMGs in about a decade ago and was never really happy with the sound. I brought the guitar to the studio space to record, thinking that reccording would be where the EMGs would shine. A day later I was just about in tears with how unhappy I was with the sound.
I kind of snapped....
I decided that it was sink or swim with this guitar. If I couldn't get it to sound good to me then there was no sense in me even having it, no matter what the sentimental value of it was (it was the first real guitar I had ever owned).
On a ride home from work I stopped off at this great Mom and Pop shop and bought push-pull pots, a switch, a cap and a Little 59' for bridge and a Classic Stack for the neck.
That night I gutted the electronics on the guitar and filled in the cavity where the battery for the EMGs had been. It was a very cathartic event for me to be rid of them.
After the cavity had solidified I took the guitar to another great little Mom and Pop shop down the street and told him what I wanted; coils split with the taps.
A few days later I got a call to come pick it up. I plugged it in and was first stunned, then I almost cried. There it was....tone...lots and lots and lots of great tone in my hands from an instrument that sat for almost a decade.
My #1 became my #1 again. It sounded awesome, and still does.
I later traded the EMGs for $50 and another Little 59' for Tele. I tucked it away along with a neck for a project I'll put together later.
I'd had a Telecaster that I'd installed EMGs in about a decade ago and was never really happy with the sound. I brought the guitar to the studio space to record, thinking that reccording would be where the EMGs would shine. A day later I was just about in tears with how unhappy I was with the sound.
I kind of snapped....
I decided that it was sink or swim with this guitar. If I couldn't get it to sound good to me then there was no sense in me even having it, no matter what the sentimental value of it was (it was the first real guitar I had ever owned).
On a ride home from work I stopped off at this great Mom and Pop shop and bought push-pull pots, a switch, a cap and a Little 59' for bridge and a Classic Stack for the neck.
That night I gutted the electronics on the guitar and filled in the cavity where the battery for the EMGs had been. It was a very cathartic event for me to be rid of them.
After the cavity had solidified I took the guitar to another great little Mom and Pop shop down the street and told him what I wanted; coils split with the taps.
A few days later I got a call to come pick it up. I plugged it in and was first stunned, then I almost cried. There it was....tone...lots and lots and lots of great tone in my hands from an instrument that sat for almost a decade.
My #1 became my #1 again. It sounded awesome, and still does.
I later traded the EMGs for $50 and another Little 59' for Tele. I tucked it away along with a neck for a project I'll put together later.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
Nice story....
Skarekrough said:
Nice story....
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
George Lynch.
George Lynch.
SongRider
New member
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
Back in the 80's I gave a friend of mine a late 60's earily 70's Les Paul Deluxe goldtop as a gift. When he got home to Indiana he couldnt stand the mini humbucker in the rear so he took it to a shop and said "make this thing ROCK" so a Full shred was installed.
When he came back to visit I played it and it was incredable sounding... But at that point everyone told me "dont mess up your Les Pauls... keep them original for the value of them".... So I did....
Until about a month ago.... I decided whats the point in having these nice guitars if all they do is feedback and sound shrill.... I went through about $6000.00 worth of amps and outboard gear to get them to sound good and it still didnt sasitfy me.
So I got a Mesa Maverick a few months back and everything was right about the amp EXCEPT the shrill highs and feedback I was getting. So I ordered a set of the "buget buckers" (buckshots) & a scorcher and my guitars FINALLY sounded good....
A current buddy of mine wanted an old Screemin Demon I had gotten in a trade and I installed it into his Ibanez and it ROCKED!!! So I promptly Went and got the "hot rodded set" (SH-4 SH-2) and popped them into my Paul and a REAL hotrails into my strat. The hotrails was EVERYTHING I wanted in a strat pickup. The SH-4 and SH-2 however didnt suit my style... Thery are FANTASTIC pickups but not in my Paul.
So after comming HERE I went with the SH-14 in the bridge and a APH-1N in the neck and I couldnt be happier about my sound.
Going with the Duncans has been the BEST thing I have done for my playing in 20 years.
Ive had Dimarzios, Carvins, EMG's and a buch of other pickups over the years in various guitars. Some were good and some were crap..... but when it came to my Les Paul and my Strat Duncans were the ONLY pickups I would trust..
Back in the 80's I gave a friend of mine a late 60's earily 70's Les Paul Deluxe goldtop as a gift. When he got home to Indiana he couldnt stand the mini humbucker in the rear so he took it to a shop and said "make this thing ROCK" so a Full shred was installed.
When he came back to visit I played it and it was incredable sounding... But at that point everyone told me "dont mess up your Les Pauls... keep them original for the value of them".... So I did....
Until about a month ago.... I decided whats the point in having these nice guitars if all they do is feedback and sound shrill.... I went through about $6000.00 worth of amps and outboard gear to get them to sound good and it still didnt sasitfy me.
So I got a Mesa Maverick a few months back and everything was right about the amp EXCEPT the shrill highs and feedback I was getting. So I ordered a set of the "buget buckers" (buckshots) & a scorcher and my guitars FINALLY sounded good....
A current buddy of mine wanted an old Screemin Demon I had gotten in a trade and I installed it into his Ibanez and it ROCKED!!! So I promptly Went and got the "hot rodded set" (SH-4 SH-2) and popped them into my Paul and a REAL hotrails into my strat. The hotrails was EVERYTHING I wanted in a strat pickup. The SH-4 and SH-2 however didnt suit my style... Thery are FANTASTIC pickups but not in my Paul.
So after comming HERE I went with the SH-14 in the bridge and a APH-1N in the neck and I couldnt be happier about my sound.
Going with the Duncans has been the BEST thing I have done for my playing in 20 years.
Ive had Dimarzios, Carvins, EMG's and a buch of other pickups over the years in various guitars. Some were good and some were crap..... but when it came to my Les Paul and my Strat Duncans were the ONLY pickups I would trust..
G
Glass Snuff
Guest
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I said #2, but I could have picked any of the choices....
But if I said #3, a boycott of which I believe in in principle, I'd have to admit I've never liked their tone since they were introduced, prefering to put Ibanez pups in my new '75 LP.
And if I said #1, a possibilty as my #1 and #2 guitars have a JB and PG in their bridge positions, I'd have to admit the while Jeff and the Rev are two of my favorite guitarists I'd have to admit I'm not trying to copy their sound.
Maybe I should have said "other", but what really encouraged me to try Duncans was a (now old) shootout in Guitar Player magazine. That, and the fact that on the LPF, where boutique pickups tend to rule among those looking to replicate the original PAF tone, Duncan Antiquities are still well respected and often suggested.
I said #2, but I could have picked any of the choices....
But if I said #3, a boycott of which I believe in in principle, I'd have to admit I've never liked their tone since they were introduced, prefering to put Ibanez pups in my new '75 LP.
And if I said #1, a possibilty as my #1 and #2 guitars have a JB and PG in their bridge positions, I'd have to admit the while Jeff and the Rev are two of my favorite guitarists I'd have to admit I'm not trying to copy their sound.
Maybe I should have said "other", but what really encouraged me to try Duncans was a (now old) shootout in Guitar Player magazine. That, and the fact that on the LPF, where boutique pickups tend to rule among those looking to replicate the original PAF tone, Duncan Antiquities are still well respected and often suggested.
Kommerzbassist
Thunderbirdologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I was looking for a hotter bridge pup... as I looked a bit on what was available... there were mainly two brands which seemed to make good pickups:
DiMarzio & Seymour Duncan.
The name DiMArzio sucks ...
So I went with SD...
good choice (although I didn't really know back then)
I was looking for a hotter bridge pup... as I looked a bit on what was available... there were mainly two brands which seemed to make good pickups:
DiMarzio & Seymour Duncan.
The name DiMArzio sucks ...
So I went with SD...
good choice (although I didn't really know back then)
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
after i got back into playing (after a pretty long layoff for grad school, kids, etc), i knew i had to get rid of the stock pups in my (then) #1 guitar (i only had 2) ... the stock ibanez pups just werent doing it for me as my ears had become more refined in their discernment of pleasing tone during the years when i was strictly a listener ... as i investigated the tones that i was drawn to, the SD name kept popping up ... and the tones i wanted to distance myself from were those of dimarzio players ... so i stopped by here and learned alot ... i think i still have alot to learn about discerning tones in different applications (e.g. i know nothing about single coil pups from first hand experience) ...
t4d
after i got back into playing (after a pretty long layoff for grad school, kids, etc), i knew i had to get rid of the stock pups in my (then) #1 guitar (i only had 2) ... the stock ibanez pups just werent doing it for me as my ears had become more refined in their discernment of pleasing tone during the years when i was strictly a listener ... as i investigated the tones that i was drawn to, the SD name kept popping up ... and the tones i wanted to distance myself from were those of dimarzio players ... so i stopped by here and learned alot ... i think i still have alot to learn about discerning tones in different applications (e.g. i know nothing about single coil pups from first hand experience) ...
t4d
Woodcutter
New member
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I was looking to upgrade the pickups in my strat and the guy I take lessons from recomended SD's.
I was looking to upgrade the pickups in my strat and the guy I take lessons from recomended SD's.
NathanCahill
New member
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
Combination of reasons 2 and 3. I wanted to get some good quality after market pickups , needed Double cream for what I was working on , couldn't stand Dimarzios patent BS, and generaly liked the sound and feel of duncans better.
Combination of reasons 2 and 3. I wanted to get some good quality after market pickups , needed Double cream for what I was working on , couldn't stand Dimarzios patent BS, and generaly liked the sound and feel of duncans better.
Loserchief
SwingingIdiot
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I Already had a guitar with emgs and wanted something passive
I Already had a guitar with emgs and wanted something passive
FretFire
SingedFingerologist
Re: Why did you get into SD pickups?
I changed the stock pickups in my Schecter out for a DiMarzio Fred and PAF Pro a couple years after I got it. They were nice enough pickups (I actually like the Fred in brighter guitars), but didn't work well with the tonal qualities of that axe. So, I started asking around and Duncans kept popping up. Then I decided to come here and ask, and the rest is history :laugh2:. The first try was a C5/Jazz set, nice pickups but not quite what I wanted. I just dropped a Pearly Gates set in that guitar and they'll be staying there for good.
I changed the stock pickups in my Schecter out for a DiMarzio Fred and PAF Pro a couple years after I got it. They were nice enough pickups (I actually like the Fred in brighter guitars), but didn't work well with the tonal qualities of that axe. So, I started asking around and Duncans kept popping up. Then I decided to come here and ask, and the rest is history :laugh2:. The first try was a C5/Jazz set, nice pickups but not quite what I wanted. I just dropped a Pearly Gates set in that guitar and they'll be staying there for good.
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