Best Duncan Pick Up For 2 Channel Triple

[Yetti]

Sup Guys i wanted to get some opinions on a Pickup change i want to make.
Ive got a Prs Single Cut, And its got the #7s in it. And i find them a little bassy, the neck one for sure while playing on a Dirty channel, but im okay with that its pretty sweet for cleans, but im noticing the Bridge Seems to be flabby too on my amp.
So Im looking in the Duncans Library of pickups and I will be playing this guitar in mostly Dropped C.
Looking for any opinions of people that have experience in the Duncan area.
I know ears are different and testing is recommended but i wana hear from some experienced users.
From what i ve read online ive gathered some opinions maybe you can tell me if there good ideas.

I originally wanted to get the Custom Custom(SH-11), as Myles Kennedy uses them in his prs' and rigs and they drop tune to Half step C# and B mostly.
But reading it looks like maybe the Custom 5 (Sh-14) Would be the better option because a guy said their lows are right in the middle of C and B. So that sounds pretty good. But he also mentioned if you want a lil more mids get the Regular Custom (SH-5)
So im leaning in the direction of getting a Regular Custom because with a Triple Rec i think the tiny bost of mids will Destoy in C?
Any One got any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[mastora]

I'd look into AHB-1 Blackouts. They are active pups , lots of headroom, lots of everything. I have a Triple three channel recto and am very inpressed with them. Maybe the Duncan Distortion or the JB is always a good choice too.

 

[fluff191]

I'd look into AHB-1 Blackouts. They are active pups , lots of headroom, lots of everything.

+100

If you are drop tuning, the Blackouts are great. The AHB-3 EMTY's are specifically made for drop tuning and are great sounding as well.

 

[Yetti]

I dont wana do actives. I've got emgs in my other guitar for dropped d standard. Gets a near perfect as I lay dying tone. But I wana stay passive cuz battery's are a headache something full and articulate that suit well with downtunned. The distortions have been round a long. time. Might be willing to nvestgate.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

The PRS Tremonti is the pickup for this application. It was wound for Mark, who has been the most avid PRS Singlecut/triple rectifier user for YEARS.

Basically, the pickup was wound for this very application.

Eric

 

[Yetti]

Ohh yeah I had been thinking about that too.
That was my first thought back when I thought about changing. Before I started reading bout other brands

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Trust me...the pickup was made for this application.

Eric

 

[screamingdaisy]

The two best results I've gotten were EMGs and PAF style pickups (57 Classics, Burstbuckers, etc). I think the trick is to use brighter pickups (like PAFs or and EMG 81) and turn the guitar's tone knob down to around 7 or 8 to eliminate the fizz you get when running them on 10.

Mid heavy pickups are a good choice too... they produce similar results to using a bright pickup with the tone rolled back but have more compression to them. The extra compression could be good or bad, depending on what your goals are.

I prefer low output pickups because I think they produce a more percussive effect than a higher output pickup gives. With EMGs I used to achieve a similar effect by turning the gutiar's volume pot down until things tightened up and the amp punched harder.

I don't like bass heavy high output pickups with Rectos. I feel these were originally designed to push a Plexi... and probably best left to that purpose.

I've found Duncan's are either too scooped or too mid boosted. I generally like Gibson pickups... they're a little more raw and edgy.

 

[espboogie123]

I primarily use Duncan sh-6 distortion/sh-2n jazz in my guitars.

 

[YellowJacket]

I just replaced my pups and electronics on my Gibson Les Paul this summer. It is definitely a huge minefield out there. There are many different pickups for many different sorts of tones. The idea is to find the right pickup that will enhance the tone of your amp AND work well with your guitar. Not sure what to say here . . . Definitely look into the Tremonti PUP if you are going for that traditional PRS / Mesa chainsaw tone.
Basically, I read a lot about precision machine wound pups vs hand and scatterwound designs. After agonizing over 100+ different Seymour Duncan pups, I actually sprung for Bare Knuckle Rebel Yells.
When I read up, I discovered that scatterwound / slightly mismatched coils gives much more bite and articulation to the tone, as well as an evenness across all frequencies. The guys on the Seymour Duncan site were actually making frankenpickups (Hybrids) by swapping one of the coils from two similar but slightly different pups. Gibson also figured this out which is why they have a different number of winds for each bobbin on their Burstbucker pickups. These things also have a hairier sound with more bite and articulation. Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups are also built using a similar principle and they charge a small mint for them.

I discovered that what I was looking for was not available from SD's standard offerings so when someone was selling a pair of BKs barely used, I snatched them up.

For less bass, you can try and fiddle with how the pickups you have are set. Lower them slightly and raise the pole pieces. This will reduce low end and increase treble but will also decrease output slightly. You can also turn the bass down on your amp as well!

I personally advocate taking a look at Bare Knuckle pickups and other boutique winders as well as Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. My Rebel Yells are probably not quite the high output you want but they do handle gain incredibly well and they have a super phat and balanced tone which is not overly bassy and VERY articulate.

 

[mastora]

Do you have your heart set on Duncans? I have 9 guitars all ranging from stock junk to Duncans to Dimarzio to Bill Lawrence to EMG's and Blackouts (I prefer the Blackouts over the EMG's). Each have their own tone and flavour. I personllay won't stick with one brand because I like the different tones and styles. I do however prefer high output pup over the low and med. output. That being said, you might want to consider Dimarzio X2N. and Bill Lawrence L500XL. Both high output and both have great tone and versatility.

 

[Neptical]

For a PRS user (as I am 8) ), if I were to recommend one pup..it would be the set of Dimarzio D-Activators (neck/bridge). Very well balanced, tight, and aggressive all the while still being able to sing very sweet and smooth for leads. Won't be disappointed.

~Nep~

 

[Yetti]

Nothing set on any brand, i was just tossing the idea around of the Duncans cuz there are so many options.
The Tremonti is pretty much going to have to be the one.
Although i dont know much about dizmarios so this thread has pretty much a flavor of everything.
haha so more confusions. I dont want to have to spend a bunch of money trying all kinds of **** but maybe thats the best way to find my tastes.

 

[YellowJacket]

The Tremonti sounds like what you are looking for. Still, at least have a look over at the Bare Knuckle Webpage first. I think you might fancy a Warpig or a Nailbomb! http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

 

[erectifier]

Noone here recommends dimarzio? Ive been looking at them to throw in a prs se for ages but have no idea what to choose really

 

[Neptical]

Noone here recommends dimarzio? Ive been looking at them to throw in a prs se for ages but have no idea what to choose really

I did. Look up 3-4 posts.

~Nep~

 

[erectifier]

For a PRS user (as I am 8) ), if I were to recommend one pup..it would be the set of Dimarzio D-Activators (neck/bridge). Very well balanced, tight, and aggressive all the while still being able to sing very sweet and smooth for leads. Won't be disappointed.

~Nep~

I'd been looking at the tone zone as a possible bridge pup, but noticed it had a heavy bass/low mid response and wasn't sure if it would be great for driving a recto. What sort of styles do you play?

 

[jtroska]

The PRS Tremonti is the pickup for this application. It was wound for Mark, who has been the most avid PRS Singlecut/triple rectifier user for YEARS.

Basically, the pickup was wound for this very application.

Eric

I have a Tremonti (aka SC250) pickup. It's my favorite by far. It has such good clarity and yet no harshness side effects.

I've never liked the Duncan JB, although it's very popular. Well, it worked well for another player I've worked with who was having trouble keeping his Mesa F-50 under control at high volumes. The JB smoothed his sound out for him.

 

[LesPaul70]

Still, at least have a look over at the Bare Knuckle Webpage first. I think you might fancy a Warpig or a Nailbomb! http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

+1

The BKPs are a bit more expensive than your regular Seymour Duncans but IMO they are well worth the extra cost.

If you downtune a lot (as the original poster seems to do), the Warpig could be a great choice. The thing was basically built for downtuned stuff (although I use one in stadard tuning). If you are worried about flabby bass, just be sure to get the ceramic version. The Alnico V version is more organic and has huge, somewhat looser bass response. The ceramic version has better precision and tight, focused bass response.

Or, better yet, just email [email protected] and tell them what you want. Follow their recommendation, and you really can't go wrong.

I have installed BKPs in two Gibsons and couldn't be happier with my choice.

 

[ElectricTurkey4369]

Still, at least have a look over at the Bare Knuckle Webpage first. I think you might fancy a Warpig or a Nailbomb! http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

+1

The BKPs are a bit more expensive than your regular Seymour Duncans but IMO they are well worth the extra cost.

If you downtune a lot (as the original poster seems to do), the Warpig could be a great choice. The thing was basically built for downtuned stuff (although I use one in stadard tuning). If you are worried about flabby bass, just be sure to get the ceramic version. The Alnico V version is more organic and has huge, somewhat looser bass response. The ceramic version has better precision and tight, focused bass response.

Or, better yet, just email [email protected] and tell them what you want. Follow their recommendation, and you really can't go wrong.

I have installed BKPs in two Gibsons and couldn't be happier with my choice.

I'm with you %100 there man!
I just bought a Holy Diver and put it in my Les Paul, and is it ever perfect...I replaced my 498t and the Holy Diver much tighter, organic, articulate and dynamic sounding. BKP's really respond well to the volume knobs too. I roll off my volume a bit and theres still tons of clarity and punch. And Tim is super helpful. I e-mailed him probably 20 with my stupid questions and he was kind enough to answer them perfectly. I will DEFINITLEY order from them again.