Anyone have any luck with Duncan pickups in an RG?

Rotti · #1 09-14-2002, 10:15 PM

I was thinking of putting some Duncans in my RG and was just wondering if anyone has tried them. Everyone uses Dimarzio so I thought I'd try something different.

rty13ibz98 · #2 09-14-2002, 10:36 PM

ibanez is associated heavily with dimarzio, that is kinda why we lean towards them more. just like if i put pickups in my jackson's...i put duncans or emgs. the thing is "being close to stock but being custom" is the way i look at it, but this may not be the general concensus. i used to be all duncan before...PRO JB, even when i had tone zones, but i have since totally fell in love with the tone zone/ air norton combo. and also, most of us use dimarzios cuz their $10 cheaper than a comparable duncan. our guitar heroes use dimarzios, too. i like both, but if i put anything in an ibanez, usually it's a dimarzio. either way is good, its all personally preferance.
and yes i have put duncans in many ibanez's, sound great, but i always am looking for better sounds. in a basswood rg, i would lean more towards the duncan custom, due to the ceramic magnets. really a ceramic JB...more bite and meaner to wake up the boring basswood.

rich

bammbamm · #3 09-14-2002, 10:44 PM

I have had the JB models and I currently have the Scremmin Demon in one of my guitars, I like em just fine, they drive as much as I need and they clean up nicely when you roll back on the volume. Its all just preference, trial, and error.

Bamm

BZ Beetle · #4 09-15-2002, 11:38 AM

I never would have thought of putting a JB in an RG. I might have to try that. Ive heard various stories about Seymour Duncan's quality control as of late, so ive steered away from them a little. But im tempted to give them another go. I know from experience that the SH-6 distortion pickup sounds really thin in an RG. thats about the only duncan ive used in an RG. The reccomendation I got from the duncan forum was to put a pearly gates in the neck and a Duncan Custom 5 (the sh-14). OTOH, thats not a shredder combination either. I was going more for versatility. I have to say that this forum is the main reason i prefer dimarzios. From the moment i had an RG in my hands everyone immediately told me "tone zone bridge, PAF pro neck". i hear the air nortons are decent as neck pickups too. i personally havnt tried them yet. The Super Distortion is also a serious screaming beast. almost a little too agressive for me, but that might be your cup of tea (no screaming dementedly high output, but it rocks). One of these days for kicks I have to take one of the Gibson 57's out of my artist and slap it in an RG for giggles. it might suprise me lol

sniperfrommars1 · #5 09-15-2002, 04:47 PM

I like being different so my 520qs has duncans in it. Im using an sh-13 dimebucker (dimebag darrel signature pickup) and an sh-1 59er in the neck position turned around backwards So I can fret on the pole pieces. To be honest Ive used dimarzios and I dont dislike them or have a preference either way I really dig the paf pro. But this combination is just RIDICULOUSLY versatile. The 59er gives me all the vintage fat neck pickup clean and smooth lead tone I could want. And the dimebucker speaks for itself. The bill lawrence pickups were some of the best ever and this is just a continuation of that. But with whatever brand you choose I dont think you can really go wrong. Even satch likes duncans on occasion

CrossingStar · #6 09-16-2002, 04:02 AM

I like the TB-6 Distortion.

sniperfrommars1 · #7 09-16-2002, 04:49 AM

TB just stands for trembucker its just a f-spaced model 6 distortion

SV300 · #8 09-16-2002, 06:20 AM

Im int eh proccess of (saving up, scabbing money, and) ordering an sh-6 for my RG.

I wouldnt mind at all if it was thin sounding, i actually quite like thin pickups to some extent. Ill post here again when i get it done.

darren wilson · #9 09-16-2002, 08:33 AM

If you're buying Duncans for a Floyd-equipped guitar, you may want to make sure you get the "TB" models... as sniperfrommars said, Duncan's "Trembucker" models have the wider (F-spaced) pole piece spacing to line up better with Fender/Floyd Rose string spacing.

Duncan shot themselves in the foot a bit by first releasing a pickup called the "Parallel Axis Trembucker" and then adopting the term "Trembucker" to describe their wider-spaced models. Confusing? Yep. But the model numbers are the same... SH-4 is the standard Gibson-spaced JB... the TB-4 is what DiMarzio would call "F-spaced".

SV300 · #10 09-16-2002, 09:08 AM

ahh, i see.

I was quoted $600 HK dollars for an SH-6, which equates to $78 US. Im on a (very) tight budget; would the trembuckers cost more??

darren wilson · #11 09-16-2002, 10:15 AM

They shouldn't... they're production models just like their "SH" counterparts. A lot of stores don't carry both, however, so they may be a special order, which might increase the cost a bit. Or it might not... it depends on your dealer.

sniperfrommars1 · #12 09-16-2002, 03:57 PM

In all honestly Ive used both side by side and even though I cant really tell a difference, I still sleep better knowing my pickups are f-spaced so you should definitely get fspaced. Strangely enough so FEW stores actually carry the proper ones. Even though I would imagine most people who are into upgrading their guitars use floyds and the like its still kind of odd to me that many stores just carry the regular ones.

SV300 · #13 09-17-2002, 07:16 AM

Just got back from the music store, put a deposit on the TB-6. They didnt stock it, so i have to wait for a week or so.

BZ Beetle · #14 09-17-2002, 10:33 AM

Sniper, ive talked to both people that say F-spacing is utterly a MUST HAVE, and ive had techs laugh at me and tell me they will give me 100 bucks if i can tell a difference. I havnt won that bet yet

considering its the same money, i see no reason NOT to get the F-spaced version. you can tell the girlies after the show diggin your axe that the little holes are for ventilation, because the pickup will over heat after playing so hot

sniperfrommars1 · #15 09-17-2002, 12:37 PM

LOL> Good one Bzz. I used f-spaced only because its considered proper even though Ive tried both. I honestly cant tell any difference in output or string balance. Generally speaking magnets dont throw in the nice pattern you would think of a circle but typically in an oval pattern which is supposed to be picked up anyways. Besides all that rubbish I just get the f-spaced.