Duncan JB or Duncan Distortion?

  • Thread starter Thread starter anomaly
  • Start date Start date
Bloodrock said:
Distortion over JB for me. But my favorite Duncan has become the original Custom. Especially with high gain amps. The slightly lower output gives it a little more definition IMO.
Click to expand...
I had a Custom Custom. Wasn't too fond of it. Well at first I dug it, but something about it started bothering me, it just seemed to lack character. I kinda feel the same way when I hear clips of the Custom, it's almost as if it's so balanced sounding that it doesn't do anything unique with the tone, just bland.
 
anomaly said:
I find the JB has a slight roll off in the very high end which gives it great definition IMO, sometimes the Duncan Distortion can be a bit much in the presence frequencies (it's quite sizzly) that it covers up a bit of the tonal information. It's got great attack though. It really seems to depend on the rig your using it with.
Click to expand...
Try the Fluence Classic, then! It's based on a particularly good 80's JBJ the Fishman guys have with the added hi-fi note separation Fluences have.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Try the Fluence Classic, then! It's based on a particularly good 80's JBJ the Fishman guys have with the added hi-fi note separation Fluences have.
Click to expand...
I actually really like the EMG-81 for what it does, it's a classic and I have them in two of my guitars, but I don't really like the Fishman Fluence pickups. IDK why really?? I guess they seem like a tamer more polite version of an 81 to me, with a kinda semi passive second voicing. When I go for passives I go for real passives, they just sound more natural.
 
anomaly said:
I actually really like the EMG-81 for what it does, it's a classic and I have them in two of my guitars, but I don't really like the Fishman Fluence pickups. IDK why really?? I guess they seem like a tamer more polite version of an 81 to me, with a kinda semi passive second voicing. When I go for passives I go for real passives, they just sound more natural.
Click to expand...
The Classics are nothing like the Moderns, though. Like, really, at all.

I'm a big fan of the 81 as well. But I also like the Moderns. But the Classics are way different. They sound NOTHING like Moderns or EMG's. You see how the Modern Ceramic is sorta like an more polite 81? I agree. But te Classics are nothing like that at all. They're very passive-sounding and feeling, just with the Fishman clarity and consistency. Give them a try. Worst case scenario, you can move them. They're so hyped right now, I doubt you'd have any trouble or lose too much.

I am a big Fishman fan. But I do agree that there's a lot of hype around them like they're the be-all-end-all of pickups, and they're not. I like them, but I still keep my passives around.

Another one you'd maybe like is the EMG 57, but you've probably already tried it? But that one is way closer to the 81 than to the JB.
 
Last edited:
anomaly said:
I actually really like the EMG-81 for what it does, it's a classic and I have them in two of my guitars, but I don't really like the Fishman Fluence pickups. IDK why really?? I guess they seem like a tamer more polite version of an 81 to me, with a kinda semi passive second voicing. When I go for passives I go for real passives, they just sound more natural.
Click to expand...
EMG 81 is the best active bridge pickup for hard rock and metal...still king of the hill after all these years in my opinion.
 
Rex Rocker said:
The Classics are nothing like the Moderns, though. Like, really, at all.

I'm a big fan of the 81 as well. But I also like the Moderns. But the Classics are way different. They sound NOTHING like Moderns or EMG's. You see how the Modern Ceramic is sorta like an more polite 81? I agree. But te Classics are nothing like that at all. They're very passive-sounding and feeling, just with the Fishman clarity and consistency. Give them a try. Worst case scenario, you can move them. They're so hyped right now, I doubt you'd have any trouble or lose too much.

I am a big Fishman fan. But I do agree that there's a lot of hype around them like they're the be-all-end-all of pickups, and they're not. I like them, but I still keep my passives around.

Another one you'd maybe like is the EMG 57, but you've probably already tried it? But that one is way closer to the 81 than to the JB.
Click to expand...
OK, maybe I will give them a shot next cheque time. Yup, i've tried the 57 and I like it, but I was expecting something way different than a 81, but it turned out to be really close to a 81 but with perhaps a bit more compression IMO and maybe a little more top end??
 
angelspade said:
EMG 81 is the best active bridge pickup for hard rock and metal...still king of the hill after all these years in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I love the EMG 81 but only for heavier stuff. It is almost too clear and articulate and for some stuff, I love the bounce and raw feel of a different pickup.
 
BK Nailbomb
Jaden FW
Duncan custom 5
all 3 will work but will sound different in different guitars
 
anomaly said:
OK, maybe I will give them a shot next cheque time. Yup, i've tried the 57 and I like it, but I was expecting something way different than a 81, but it turned out to be really close to a 81 but with perhaps a bit more compression IMO and maybe a little more top end??
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'd say the 57 is hotter than the 81, and it's got a little more brightness and low-mid chunk. I like it, personally, but the 81 is still my fav EMG. Or would still be if EMG 81's still sounded like 81's from, I dunno, like 6 or 7 years ago.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Yeah, I'd say the 57 is hotter than the 81, and it's got a little more brightness and low-mid chunk. I like it, personally, but the 81 is still my fav EMG. Or would still be if EMG 81's still sounded like 81's from, I dunno, like 6 or 7 years ago.
Click to expand...
Ya, both of my 81's are over 10 years old, one of them has the old block logo style. They have different parts now or something I heard? I haven't bought a new EMG in a long while so I don't know if this change has really affected the sound or not??

On another topic, you know a good brand of volume pot? 500k? i think i'm gonna throw the JB in my LTD Viper?? with just the bridge pickup active and one volume pot active, I dont use the neck pickup or tone control so why bother?
 
My ears sometimes feel the Fluence are too compressed.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9307.jpeg
    IMG_9307.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 43
anomaly said:
Ya, both of my 81's are over 10 years old, one of them has the old block logo style. They have different parts now or something I heard? I haven't bought a new EMG in a long while so I don't know if this change has really affected the sound or not??

On another topic, you know a good brand of volume pot? 500k? i think i'm gonna throw the JB in my LTD Viper?? with just the bridge pickup active and one volume pot active, I dont use the neck pickup or tone control so why bother?
Click to expand...
I like CTS or CTS-made DiMarzio. I've also had the Duncan (Bournes) pots, but they're a little more fragile, I've found. But all work great. CTS is the safest bet all around, IMO.

CTS make pots for a few different brands, I think. Fender pots are CTS. I think Gibson too?
 
I just put a Distortion in an alder-bodied Charvel that had maybe 5-6 pickups tried in it.

Should have done that on day one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top