Ya get what pay fer?
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Travis
New member
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
Not necessarily. The Duncan Distortion is my all time absolute favorite pickup and it is one of the cheapest humbuckers Duncan makes. Now that's not to say that there aren't a lot of cheap pickups out there that sound like total ****e. And that's not to say that there aren't a lot of expensive handwound boutique pickups that sound like ****e also. It's all in the eye of the beholder, or ear in this case.
Not necessarily. The Duncan Distortion is my all time absolute favorite pickup and it is one of the cheapest humbuckers Duncan makes. Now that's not to say that there aren't a lot of cheap pickups out there that sound like total ****e. And that's not to say that there aren't a lot of expensive handwound boutique pickups that sound like ****e also. It's all in the eye of the beholder, or ear in this case.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
I think when it comes to single coils that the best are those handwound by either Seymour or MJ in the Duncan Custom Shop or those wound by Lindy Fralin.
The Duncan SSL-1's are excellant...but the Antiquitys handwound by Seymour or MJ are definately worth the extra $$$.
As far as humbuckers go, The Antiquitys are definately a little nicer too...though I'm very happy with the Custom Custom, Pearly Gates and 59TB's I use in my guitars.
I think the diff is a little less obvious in humbuckers than it is in single coils.
I notice a bigger improvement in tone with Antiquity single coils over SSL-1's or APS-1's, than I do comparing Antiquity humbuckers to other stock Duncan humbuckers...though the Antiquitys do have that little extra vibe, texture and complexity to them compared to say a Seth Lover..
I think when it comes to single coils that the best are those handwound by either Seymour or MJ in the Duncan Custom Shop or those wound by Lindy Fralin.
The Duncan SSL-1's are excellant...but the Antiquitys handwound by Seymour or MJ are definately worth the extra $$$.
As far as humbuckers go, The Antiquitys are definately a little nicer too...though I'm very happy with the Custom Custom, Pearly Gates and 59TB's I use in my guitars.
I think the diff is a little less obvious in humbuckers than it is in single coils.
I notice a bigger improvement in tone with Antiquity single coils over SSL-1's or APS-1's, than I do comparing Antiquity humbuckers to other stock Duncan humbuckers...though the Antiquitys do have that little extra vibe, texture and complexity to them compared to say a Seth Lover..
St_Genesius
New member
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
With electric guitars in general, and with with pickups in particular, I'm pretty unsnobbish. So long as the build quality of an instrument or pickup is such that it will not fail or fall apart without good cause, I believe that an interesting and useful sound can be had from almost anything. I've played all manner of cheap guitars that had cool sounds. I've played all manner of expensive ones that had cool sounds too. Very different cool sounds, in most cases, but both cool.
In one, admittedly strange, case of pickups, I actually prefer the HB103 to the Duncan Distortion, despite the fact that the former is simply a cheaper version of the latter. Go figure.
With electric guitars in general, and with with pickups in particular, I'm pretty unsnobbish. So long as the build quality of an instrument or pickup is such that it will not fail or fall apart without good cause, I believe that an interesting and useful sound can be had from almost anything. I've played all manner of cheap guitars that had cool sounds. I've played all manner of expensive ones that had cool sounds too. Very different cool sounds, in most cases, but both cool.
In one, admittedly strange, case of pickups, I actually prefer the HB103 to the Duncan Distortion, despite the fact that the former is simply a cheaper version of the latter. Go figure.
fusion101
New member
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
Lew pretty much nailed on the spot, but i guess u would if u've tried every pickup known to man. I like Kinman pickups the most and they cost a hell of alot more that standard duncans but u acan really hear the diffrence. As far as humbuckers go most of my favorites are the 59 and JB rather than the ants.
Lew pretty much nailed on the spot, but i guess u would if u've tried every pickup known to man. I like Kinman pickups the most and they cost a hell of alot more that standard duncans but u acan really hear the diffrence. As far as humbuckers go most of my favorites are the 59 and JB rather than the ants.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it...even if I am about half deaf now! :laugh2:
fusion101 said:
It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it...even if I am about half deaf now! :laugh2:
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
Most of the time but not always. My favorite PAF type neck pickup that I've come across so far is a cheapo Kent Armstrong import and sounds better the others I've tried. I think it's like $30-$35 new. I would have never bought it but it came in an import guitar I had....ended up loving the pickup after using that guitar.
Most of the time but not always. My favorite PAF type neck pickup that I've come across so far is a cheapo Kent Armstrong import and sounds better the others I've tried. I think it's like $30-$35 new. I would have never bought it but it came in an import guitar I had....ended up loving the pickup after using that guitar.
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
All I can say is this: If you are already hesitant about the price, I would say "don't do it". Spending that kind of money on pups is intended for people who don't mind blowing the dough and then putting them in the drawer for a rainy day when you don't like the tone. It is an unpleasant thought to have buyer's remorse on a $300 set of pickups....I can think of several pedals or used amps (Blues Junior) that would be better suited for that kind of money.
Overall, depending on what type of pickup and tone for which you are searching, the price can have a meaningful impact (i.e. improved for the better) on your tone. From experience, I can say that the Strat Antiquities sound phenomenal compared to the machine wound AII pros. There just seems to be a little extra magic from MJ's/Seymour's hands.
You will have to be the judge of whether the extra price is worth it. Several of us, here, are not afraid to spend lots of money on gear without regard to what happens if we don't like the pickups, amp, etc. I suppose I may be foolish, but I enjoy testing about the "best of the best". It is part of my goal of achieving phenomenal tone!
I hope that is helpful.
Very Best Regards,
Lee Moore
All I can say is this: If you are already hesitant about the price, I would say "don't do it". Spending that kind of money on pups is intended for people who don't mind blowing the dough and then putting them in the drawer for a rainy day when you don't like the tone. It is an unpleasant thought to have buyer's remorse on a $300 set of pickups....I can think of several pedals or used amps (Blues Junior) that would be better suited for that kind of money.
Overall, depending on what type of pickup and tone for which you are searching, the price can have a meaningful impact (i.e. improved for the better) on your tone. From experience, I can say that the Strat Antiquities sound phenomenal compared to the machine wound AII pros. There just seems to be a little extra magic from MJ's/Seymour's hands.
You will have to be the judge of whether the extra price is worth it. Several of us, here, are not afraid to spend lots of money on gear without regard to what happens if we don't like the pickups, amp, etc. I suppose I may be foolish, but I enjoy testing about the "best of the best". It is part of my goal of achieving phenomenal tone!
I hope that is helpful.
Very Best Regards,
Lee Moore
mrfjones
New member
Re: Ya get what pay fer?
i really do like the pickups that are hand wound as compared to those made by a machine. Lew is right, there is just something about them that stands out. though i do like the sound of production line pickups, there is just something extra about my antiquities and voodoos
i really do like the pickups that are hand wound as compared to those made by a machine. Lew is right, there is just something about them that stands out. though i do like the sound of production line pickups, there is just something extra about my antiquities and voodoos
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