SD Screamin Demon and Air Norton Combo

RG7420 · #1 12-21-2002, 03:01 PM

going in an rg320 qm. w/lo trs trem. don't need something too hot, just balanced and clear, yet crunchy

TechMetal · #2 12-22-2002, 04:59 PM

I originally wanted an AirNorton to go with a Duncan JB-7 on my RG. I was told that it's OK but I could have volume differences between the two. I got a SD Jazz neck instead. I haven't tried it yet but I think its gonna sound killer! Let me know your combination sounds!!

butch · #3 12-22-2002, 10:40 PM

I don't know about the Air Norton (never used one). I have used a Screamin' Demon in tandem with a Duncan Pearly Gates in the neck, with great results. These pickups have a great balance and provide a good clean, powerful match.

Cheers,
Butch

RG7420 · #4 12-23-2002, 12:23 AM

thanx for the input. i will let you all know how it all works wed. when i get it wired together. hey butch, please tell me what guitar you have the GLSD in and what u think of it.

germX · #5 12-23-2002, 03:31 AM

i have the Screamin Demon in my S540 since day one. it's less bassy, less trebly, more mids but not as overpowering as the JB model. it still sounds warm, i guess it's the '59 characteristic which it retained- it's modeled after the '59 anyway... if you don't want an overpowering humbucker, just a nice humbucker- this is the one to get

however, this made way for the Invader recently, i'm into more bass now...

butch · #6 12-25-2002, 12:32 AM

Without a doubt, the Screamin' Demon is one of my favorite aftermarket pickups. I have had it in everything from a RG770DX, to a Jem, to a 504R. Right now, I have it in an RG520, matched with a Pearly Gates in the neck position.

What I like most about the pickup (and the match) is that they maintain the warm, vintage tone of an Alnico magnet, just beefed up a bit. The Demon isn't that much of a high gain pickup. I like this because you can always add gain, but you can't clean up a super high gain pickup.

I don't play super high gain music. The material I play calls for a Lynch/ Sambora/DeMartini/Mars type tone (80's covers). I run my guitars through a Marshall JMP1 and Rocktron Intellifex through Hafler power amps. If you are looking to get those types of tones, you'll be in good shape (if you like heavier, Scott Ian from Anthrax also uses it as well).

Check out the sound samples on the Duncan website.

Cheers,
Butch

RG7420 · #7 12-25-2002, 03:17 PM

Hey all, thanks for all the input. we opened our gifts last night cuz mom had to work. anyway, the pups are in now. i put the norton in backwards with the screws closer to the neck. i am amazed at how much better my Ibanez RG320dxqm sounds now. it's way more responsive, even though the only amps i ran it thru yet were a POD and a J Station. cleans are really nice, and the output of the pups still overdrives the clean channels. the lead channels sound great. neck is nice and full and almost sounds like a single coil. just a little fatter. there is a great balance between the two, i didn't notice any volume drops. the SD screamin demon does sound a little thinner than the air norton. also because those modelers have so much gain, i can still pull off metal with no problem. still no complaints. can't wait to hear it thru my ADA mp-1 rack. still need a tube power amp for it to do it justice.

btw, i swapped the magnets out of my Tone Zone and Super 3. i heard great things about putting a ceramic magnet into a tone zone. well, the orginal clipped my POD's imput if i strummed too hard. now it's so hot it clips it when i do lead runs. Very Hot, Very clear.

aerocol · #8 04-19-2003, 11:24 AM

Wow!

I have had the same combination of pickups in my own self built strat for the last year. I love the combination and would advise a coil tap switch. Almost as twangy as a tele with poth pickups on. Very cool........

Love the way the demon cleans up when you back off the volume. It really is a great pickup.....

Not as impressed with the air norton. I think a PAF would have been a better choice. Very warm and bass heavy. Also my pickups are screwed into the body.... even more bass I feel, again would prefer a paf...

Col

RG7420 · #9 04-20-2003, 12:19 AM

well, in the meantime, i have done some more mods. what i did was i got a seymour duncan tb-5 custom and put it in the bridge and put the demon into the neck. seems to be a cool combination. i put the air norton into my newly repainted rg570. painted it green to match my truck. had the guy fix a patch of rust and used the same paint for the guitar. looks really cool. anyway for bridge on the 570, i have a modified tone zone w/ ceramic magnet and allen screw pole pieces. TZ is a bit brighter and a little more agressive.

RGN · #10 04-28-2003, 12:56 PM

To be honest the Screaming Demon is the one SD pickup I really hate. It was in a George Lynch Skull & SNakes that I owned for about a year. The pickup is very weak in my opinion and has no balls. You'll either love or hate this pickup. It has a very distinct personality. I use either a Custom Custom or JB about 90% of the time. I have also tried the Full Shred (in my old Charvel), Invader (in an RG520QS) and DIstortion (Charvel). I didn't really care for the full shred either.