Ordering a JB with less output from Duncan Custom Shop

[cardinal]

@gruggmanny
I haven't even listened back to it yet. Was done with a R8 with the Dimarzio DP103 in the bridge, SD-1, Marshall 2204, Marshall 1960AV, e609 mic.



Started with the SD-1 off. I adjusted the volume knob and dynamics a bit before switching on the SD-1 to play Crystal Mountain.

 

[gruggmanny]

@gruggmanny
I haven't even listened back to it yet. Was done with a R8 with the Dimarzio DP102 in the bridge, SD-1, Marshall 2204, Marshall 1960AV, e609 mic.



Started with the SD-1 off. I adjusted the volume knob and dynamics a bit before switching on the SD-1 to play Crystal Mountain.

Sounds wicked especially when the SD1 is turned on.

Does the 36th have a midrange like the X2N you used in that video?

 

[cardinal]

Sounds wicked especially when the SD1 is turned on.

Does the 36th have a midrange like the X2N you used in that video?

I've never used an X2N before, sorry. This video was just the DP103 36th PAF at various volume knob settings and with/without a Boss SD-1 boosting it.

 

[gruggmanny]

I've never used an X2N before, sorry. This video was just the DP102 36th PAF at various volume knob settings and with/without a Boss SD-1 boosting it.

Oh I thought you meant X2N with the DP102, 36th is DP103.

But anyways it has that midrange quack, damn. Probably have to try that one. Does it have the dynamics, touch sensitivity and response of a typical PAF?

 

[cardinal]

Oh I thought you meant X2N with the DP102, 36th is DP103.

But anyways it has that midrange quack, damn. Probably have to try that one. Does it have the dynamics, touch sensitivity and response of a typical PAF?

ugh you're right. I've edited my post to have the correct DP#. I always get that wrong haha.

In the video, it starts off with the volume knob at full then I roll it down and try to get it as clean as I can with my picking dynamics. Then you should be able to hear the volume knob swell back to full and it stays there the rest of the video. When noodling, I'm trying to adjust my picking dynamics between light and soft to show the pickup getting cleaner/quieter/softer vs more sustain/louder/sharper. Then the SD-1 clicks on.

It's reasonably dynamic, but the pick up wants to rock out IMHO. Theres always a sort of "crunch" to the voicing I think. It's an aggressive pick up. I'll try to find time today to make a similar video with a Seth Lover to show the difference. The Seth is more laidback, so when you ease off the attack, it sounds a bit smoother/more gentle. But it never gets as mean as the DP103 either.

 

[gruggmanny]

ugh you're right. I've edited my post to have the correct DP#. I always get that wrong haha.

In the video, it starts off with the volume knob at full then I roll it down and try to get it as clean as I can with my picking dynamics. Then you should be able to hear the volume knob swell back to full and it stays there the rest of the video. When noodling, I'm trying to adjust my picking dynamics between light and soft to show the pickup getting cleaner/quieter/softer vs more sustain/louder/sharper. Then the SD-1 clicks on.

It's reasonably dynamic, but the pick up wants to rock out IMHO. Theres always a sort of "crunch" to the voicing I think. It's an aggressive pick up. I'll try to find time today to make a similar video with a Seth Lover to show the difference. The Seth is more laidback, so when you ease off the attack, it sounds a bit smoother/more gentle. But it never gets as mean as the DP103 either.

Actually it's good if it's more aggressive. My last PAF kinda started to choke out/fall apart if you palm muted way too hard. Probably that doesn't happen with this pickup?

 

[cardinal]

Actually it's good if it's more aggressive. My last PAF kinda started to choke out/fall apart if you palm muted way too hard. Probably that doesn't happen with this pickup?

To me is holds together, but I guess it depends on what you're after. There's some chugging at the end of the Crystal Mountain riffing to judge if you think it holds up.

The DP103 36th seems almost EQd to me. My initial impression is the the bass/low end is compressed (bouncy, chewy feel) and rolls off somewhat quickly to stay clear and tight. The top end is not compressed but the frequencies don't extend too far high, so it doesn't get harsh. And there's a prominent upper-mid spike to "voice" the pickup with a quack/cocked wah/nasal sound.

It's almost "unnatural" I guess is how I might describe it because it seems almost mastered/EQd? It's my preferred guitar, don't get me wrong. But it's not as "raw" sounding as the wooly/brighter Seth Lover or the grainy 57 Classic, in comparison.

But the Dimarzio handles overdrive much better because it's been so engineered. It's not built like a normal PAF. It has a lot of the Dimarzio tricks thrown at it.

 

[gruggmanny]

To me is holds together, but I guess it depends on what you're after. There's some chugging at the end of the Crystal Mountain riffing to judge if you think it holds up.

The DP103 36th seems almost EQd to me. My initial impression is the the bass/low end is compressed (bouncy, chewy feel) and rolls off somewhat quickly to stay clear and tight. The top end is not compressed but the frequencies don't extend too far high, so it doesn't get harsh. And there's a prominent upper-mid spike to "voice" the pickup with a quack/cocked wah/nasal sound.

It's almost "unnatural" I guess is how I might describe it because it seems almost mastered/EQd? It's my preferred guitar, don't get me wrong. But it's not as "raw" sounding as the wooly/brighter Seth Lover or the grainy 57 Classic, in comparison. But the Dimarzio handles overdrive much better because it's seen so engineered.

Will give the 36th a try, I think it'll do justice for my superstrat. Thanks for helping me out with this!

 

[DistortED]

I've had the Seymour Duncan Super V from the Custom Shop and really dug it. Supposedly it's a copy of a JB prototype that Lynch tried out and liked. Maybe reach out to the Custom Shop for their specs on it ?

 

[harddriver]

I have three more JB options for you. The Thrash Factor pickup is cloned after a 80's JB pickup that Dave Mustaine kept in his favorite guitar I guess for recording.

The other JB option would be a custom shop Allan Holdsworth pickup that Jake E Lee used in his Whitey Charvel. It has all screws for the polepieces. I had MJ wind me one for the Jake E Lee Whitey guitar, if you like Jake tone then it might be for you.

The Jalen FW pickup is cloned after very early JB's that read in the 15K ohms range and they have a misamatched coils which has an affect on the tone as well, alot of people seem to like them. Jim Gaustad used on in his FW video I think. There were some old threads talking about the early JB specs if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

 

[harddriver]

My experience with just lowering a pickup It tends to sound weak and lifeless versus having it up a little bit higher to the strings, but it’s possible it could work OP just needs to try it. To answer the OPs question about the Duncan custom shop , I used to order from them years ago and they would wind you any pickup you describe to them . Not sure what their customer service is like these days.

Did MJ finally retire?

She answered the phone back in 2009 when she wound my Allan Holdsworth pickup. She was very nice I asked if she knew the spec of the Jake E Lee Allan holdsworth p/u and she flipped open her little book and said "Yep I got it right here, rattled off the specs and I placed my order. She also wound my 78 model. Both are great pickups.

 

[harddriver]

Dumped the Warren DiMartini in my Snake Custom shop for a 78.
Lower output and still retains an Eddie type growl.

I found myself adjusting and lowering the Ratt pickup to the point is sounded weak.
Had to roll off the guitars volume a few clicks and still had this tone I was not happy with.

I like my 78 as well, I haven't found anything that has bested it yet.

 

[JohnnyGtar]

I like my 78 as well, I haven't found anything that has bested it yet.

Call MJ and tell her what you want and see if she can wind a pickup to your specs. (Most likely, she can.)

Another vote for the 78, too. I had a 78 that was wound by MJ around 20 years ago. Amazing pickup. It's not 12K, but definitely worth a try. You can get the 78 as a standard production pickup now and Duncan has a 21 day exchange policy.

 

[hammered]

Did MJ finally retire?

She answered the phone back in 2009 when she wound my Allan Holdsworth pickup. She was very nice I asked if she knew the spec of the Jake E Lee Allan holdsworth p/u and she flipped open her little book and said "Yep I got it right here, rattled off the specs and I placed my order. She also wound my 78 model. Both are great pickups.

I’m pretty sure she’s still part of the team there. Spoke to her a few times myself, very nice woman

 

[hammered]

I have three more JB options for you. The Thrash Factor pickup is cloned after a 80's JB pickup that Dave Mustaine kept in his favorite guitar I guess for recording.

The other JB option would be a custom shop Allan Holdsworth pickup that Jake E Lee used in his Whitey Charvel. It has all screws for the polepieces. I had MJ wind me one for the Jake E Lee Whitey guitar, if you like Jake tone then it might be for you.

The Jalen FW pickup is cloned after very early JB's that read in the 15K ohms range and they have a misamatched coils which has an affect on the tone as well, alot of people seem to like them. Jim Gaustad used on in his FW video I think. There were some old threads talking about the early JB specs if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

I like that Jalen FW a lot . I just got another one to put in my Strat

 

[Shask]

@gruggmanny
I haven't even listened back to it yet. Was done with a R8 with the Dimarzio DP103 in the bridge, SD-1, Marshall 2204, Marshall 1960AV, e609 mic.



Started with the SD-1 off. I adjusted the volume knob and dynamics a bit before switching on the SD-1 to play Crystal Mountain.

That kind of has that scratchy high end I hear in a lot of Dimarzios. I never liked that sound. I have a Super Distortion that I had to take out after a day, lol.

 

[Ben Waylin]

The Jalen FW pickup is cloned after very early JB's that read in the 15K ohms range and they have a misamatched coils which has an affect on the tone as well, alot of people seem to like them. Jim Gaustad used on in his FW video I think. There were some old threads talking about the early JB specs if you want to go down that rabbit hole.

Jalen FW spec:

Series Resistance – 15.659 kΩ
Series Inductance – 7.924 H
Slug Coil – 7.138 kΩ
Screw Coil – 8.551 kΩ
Parallel – 3.889 kΩ
Magnet – Rough Cast Short Alnico 5
Lightly potted / no vacuum potting

 

[cardinal]

Oh I thought you meant X2N with the DP102, 36th is DP103.

But anyways it has that midrange quack, damn. Probably have to try that one. Does it have the dynamics, touch sensitivity and response of a typical PAF?

Same deal with with a different guitar (still an LP Standard spec) but with Duncan Seth Lovers. Tried to recreate the basics of the first vid.

 

[Ben Waylin]

The lead work on this track is my Jalen FTW into a Dumble Overdrive Special clone.

 

[harddriver]

That kind of has that scratchy high end I hear in a lot of Dimarzios. I never liked that sound. I have a Super Distortion that I had to take out after a day, lol.

I don't care for Dimarzio's either. I've tried the Tone Zone, Steve's Special, 36th anniversary's and no bueno...... My EBMM axis pickups were about he only ones that were decent.