Charvel So Cal bridge pup swap SuperD-->Duncan Custom; what to expect?

[Speeddemon]

First of all, for those of you who've used multiple Super Distortions at the same time or swapped 2 in the same guitar, did you ever notice differences in tone?
The reason I'm asking, is that the Super D that's in my Charvel So Cal right now, has a 14.51k DC Resistance, but the previous one was 14.33k and I remember that one sounding bolder. The current one seems...too polite, hardly any hair or 'rawk' going on.
I got another one in a Les Paul Custom, measuring at 13.99k (paired with a DP103 36th Anniv PAF in the neck; awesome combo!) which also seems to 'rawk' more.

So because of this... I was thinking, since the Charvel So Cal (alder body, maple neck and fb) is pretty darn jangly and bright to begin with (I did upgrade the Floyd's block to an FU Upgrades big brass block with trem-stopper, because I added a D-Tuna...), how would you recon a Duncan Custom (SH-5) would work here, compared to the Super Distortion?

In the past I've went through many pup changes in that guitar; neck went from stock Evo Neck (nice but bright) to Air Norton, to Breed neck (bigger/wider, but too jangly up top here) back to the Air Norton.
Bridge went from stock Tone Zone (too loose in the low mids) to Duncan Distortion (=instant thrash machine, but not really subtle and was lacking some low end for more versatile stuff) to Super Distortion (the 14.33k one), to Norton...Enjoyed that a lot for a long time, but since it's my 'Adrian Smith' guitar, I figured, back to the Super D, and throw the Norton in a Gibson '67 RI V with the Breed Neck (=awesome combo!).
So...my choices would be:
1) swap Super D (14.51k) for a Duncan Custom SH-5. Never played one, so not sure if it becomes too bright, if the output is enough or not...
2) swap Super D (14.51k) for the Super D (14.33k), which seemed to rawk more...going on 10-12 year old memories though...
3) swap Super D (14.51k) back to the Norton.
Since I probably prefer to keep this one all Dimarzio, I've even considered the D-Sonic and Crunch Lab... Maybe contenders? I want something big and bold with enough clarity, that sounds awesome for leads and rhythm as well. A bit compression doesn't hurt and I don't like overly modern, scooped, clinical, lifeless crap or actives.

Whaddaya guys reckon?

 

[EyesOfTheSouth!]

Pariah Destruction 70’s with no tone pot. It’s basically a Super Distortion with more clarity and less low mid softness.

 

[tallcoolone]

The swap in the title would result in more honk, clarity and high end vs the SD. The Custom is a lot like the Norton IMO, but I like the Norton more. Not as honk-y

 

[Racerxrated]

The swap in the title would result in more honk, clarity and high end vs the SD. The Custom is a lot like the Norton IMO, but I like the Norton more. Not as honk-y

I'd go in a different way in describing the differences....I've had many SoCals, still have 1 and they've had customs in them. The Super D will be brighter slightly and looser than the Custom; the Custom has much better/tighter and more abundant lows than the DiMarzio. Duncans to my ear are sweeter sounding than 90% of DiMarzios, the Super D is the 1 exception that sounds great but definitely a looser pup than the Custom. The Custom is my fav Duncan and to me, is similar to an Afwayu in many ways. Good mids and highs without being overbearing like a JB can sometimes be. It's really well balanced and in a SoCal should be a great sound for the OP.

 

[tallcoolone]

I'd go in a different way in describing the differences....I've had many SoCals, still have 1 and they've had customs in them. The Super D will be brighter slightly and looser than the Custom; the Custom has much better and more abundant lows than the DiMarzio. Duncans to my ear are sweeter sounding than 90% of DiMarzios, the Super D is the 1 exception that sounds great but definitely a looser pup than the Custom. The Custom is my fav Duncan and to me, is similar to an Afwayu in many ways. Good mids and highs without being overbearing like a JB can sometimes be. It's really well balanced and in a SoCal should be a great sound for the OP.

If you like the Custom you really should try the Norton.

 

[braintheory]

I'd go with an old Mighty Mite 1400. It was meant to be a copy of the Super Distortion, but is much better. It's what I'd recommend to any Dimarzio fan that wants an upgrade. Some of the vintage Bill Lawrence's could also be good contenders. Not much else I'd recommend for this criteria

 

[marvcus]

PAF pro?

 

[Matte23]

In my 2012 Charvel San Dimas MIJ, first I've changed the floyd block with a brass one and the guitar gains sustain and body, after that I've put the DP100 SuperDistortion and a PAF 36th in the neck; they sounds good but they lacks clarity in the high end, so I swap the Super distortion in the bridge and I've tried the Duncan Distortion and It surprised me becouse It has the more high treble than dimarzio, the bass are more tight, and It is more dynamic pickup when I use the vol knob. The guitar has a very Lynchesque sound now! (no tone pot in my charvel)

 

[SpiderWars]

Regarding the resistance, the temperature will affect it and if measuring in the guitar it’s in parallel with the volume pot which is only a small change but it’s there. A 13k pickup in parallel with a 500k pot would measure around 12.67k.

You may already know that but just mentioning it.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have a brand new TB-5 in the box with your name on it... Or the '78 is a good one.

Another to consider is the Wes Hauch Jupiter 6. I had a pair in the Charvel I just sold, and those are phenomenal pickups. String to string clarity, great lead tones, and tight crunch to thrash and beyond. Can't recommend enough. And they're not a ridiculously high output at all.

I personally can't jive with Dimarzios. They're always missing something. I did like the Crunch Lab/Liquifire set, and the EVO bridge.

 

[Speeddemon]

@napalmdeath thanks, but I'm in Europe. Shipping and taxes would make it ... not great and I found one locally already.

Everyone, thanks for the suggestions, please keep in mind I'm currently not interested in 3rd options like Pariah, BKP, Mighty Mite etc. I'm trying to see what I can do with what I have and I'm trying to make sense of the tone differences between the two (or three, if counting the one in my black Les Paul custom too) Super Distortions.

@tallcoolone isn't the Norton supposed to be a lot leaner in the low end than the Custom? I mean, I love the Norton and used it for years in this So Cal. It was just that I thought, "this axe can have some more lows and power". And this current SuperD almost makes it sound like the guitar is working on 80-90% instead of full throttle, if that makes any sense.

 

[tallcoolone]

@tallcoolone isn't the Norton supposed to be a lot leaner in the low end than the Custom? I mean, I love the Norton and used it for years in this So Cal. It was just that I thought, "this axe can have some more lows and power". And this current SuperD almost makes it sound like the guitar is working on 80-90% instead of full throttle, if that makes any sense.

Well, they are diff manufacturers so I’m not sure what u mean by “supposed to be”? Right now I only have a hybrid Custom for reference. i do have a current SD and the Norton def has a leaner bottom end and clearer top.

 

[Speeddemon]

Yes, I'm well aware (with experience) that the Norton has a leaner bottom end than the Super Distortion.
But since you mentioned that the Norton sounds very similar to the Duncan Custom and @Racerxrated suggested that the Custom has even a bigger low end than the Super Distortion, that's where I got confused...

 

[Racerxrated]

Yes, I'm well aware (with experience) that the Norton has a leaner bottom end than the Super Distortion.
But since you mentioned that the Norton sounds very similar to the Duncan Custom and @Racerxrated suggested that the Custom has even a bigger low end than the Super Distortion, that's where I got confused...

The last time I tried a Super D it was a vintage 70s version; I do like the low end and hair the SDs have but the low end is too loose for me. The Custom will have that same or bigger low end, and way tighter. Less hair on top but evenly balanced in the mids/highs.
If I chose to sell the Shaw DFs, MCPs and Tone Nerd pups I have, I'd throw a Custom into every one of my superstars. Easily my fav non boutique pup.

 

[anomaly]

I'd go with an old Mighty Mite 1400. It was meant to be a copy of the Super Distortion, but is much better. It's what I'd recommend to any Dimarzio fan that wants an upgrade. Some of the vintage Bill Lawrence's could also be good contenders. Not much else I'd recommend for this criteria

Bill Lawrence pups sound really unique though, they have a sound of their own. I've never heard another pickup sound even close to a bill lawrence other than the Dimebucker. Very bright.

 

[braintheory]

Bill Lawrence pups sound really unique though, they have a sound of their own. I've never heard another pickup sound even close to a bill lawrence other than the Dimebucker. Very bright.

Totally agreed, they are unique for sure. I just felt they matched very well this criteria he asked for: “big and bold with enough clarity, that sounds awesome for leads and rhythm as well. A bit compression doesn't hurt and I don't like overly modern, scooped, clinical, lifeless crap or actives.”

The Dimebucker sounds close to the more recent Bill Lawrence’s, but the older ones have a different flavor IME. Either way I love the old Bill Lawrence’s and I think many on here would too if they tried them

 

[napalmdeath]

Yes, I'm well aware (with experience) that the Norton has a leaner bottom end than the Super Distortion.
But since you mentioned that the Norton sounds very similar to the Duncan Custom and @Racerxrated suggested that the Custom has even a bigger low end than the Super Distortion, that's where I got confused...

I always found the Super Distortion muddy.

 

[harddriver]

The last time I tried a Super D it was a vintage 70s version; I do like the low end and hair the SDs have but the low end is too loose for me. The Custom will have that same or bigger low end, and way tighter. Less hair on top but evenly balanced in the mids/highs.
If I chose to sell the Shaw DFs, MCPs and Tone Nerd pups I have, I'd throw a Custom into every one of my superstars. Easily my fav non boutique pup.

I agree about the low end being less tight on the Super D than compared to the Duncan Customs.

I've tried quite a few Dimarzios, Steve's Special, Tone Zone, 36th anniversarys PAF's and the Duncan's just are my favorite, Custom, Seymourizer II, 78 model, 59B and 59N.

I have to add that the Dimarzio's in my EBMM Axis were the only ones that I liked even though many say the Tonezones are close.

 

[Speeddemon]

There's quite a few DiMarzios I like; Norton, 36th Anniv PAF neck, Air Norton (in the neck), Chopper, FT-1, SuperD (like the JB, in the right guitar it shines!), AT-1, Breed Neck...

but PAF Pro, very meh. Evo=too bright. Tone Zone=typically bloated & bland, but in the right guitar it seems to work mostly.

I will say that while some of my fave pickups are Duncans, they seem to have a harder time coming up with a juicy, not clinical or scooped neck pickup. For balls to the wall metal, the Distortion neck was good. I like the Pearly Gates neck in a Les Paul and the Screamin' Demon sits comfy in an ESP Horizon NT-II... But Jazz, 59n, AIIPro...nah. And I'm not going the Antiquity/Seth Lovers route either.
A 36th Anniv PAF in the neck of a Les Paul will outperform a stock 59n IMO. I haven't tried the 59n with an A4 magnet yet; apparently that fixes the mid-scooped and woofy character.

My 2ct on Dimarzio vs Duncan. Carry on.

 

[Racerxrated]

I used to have 5-8 Tone Zones laying around at any given time; I hated the way they sounded in the SoCals I bought. Only 1 USA SoCal actually sounded good to my ears with the stock Tone Zone; a Candy Tangerine. That one had special tone. But, I offed it to grab a 1984 Charvel GC had mis labelled as a Model 4. Lol