So the Duncan Screamin Demon sucks..?

[JohnSykes]

I've been checkin the forum and there is some hate lol

What do you think of it?

You used it in the neck or bridge position? Strat or Les Paul?

 

[AndyK]

It might be OK with an amp with tons of low end high gain - but with a Marshall, it sounds like a weak PAF missing the nice treble.

 

[Iron Dog]

I have one, had it in the bridge of an LTD M-300 and then put it in the bridge of my 1st gen ESP Kamikaze. I found it to be weak sounding (I prefer hi-gain pick ups) and very muddy. In the end I replaced it with the Kamikaze's original pick up which turned out to be an SD Distortion, much better.

I have an Screamin' Demon trembucker I'm not using or planning on using if you're looking for one anyway.

 

[AndyK]

The pickup is totally mis-named. Should have been called the "Weak PAF with mid hump"!

 

[Iron Dog]

The pickup is totally mis-named. Should have been called the "Weak PAF with mid hump"!

+1, there's no Screamin' and there's no Demon anywhere in that pickup.

 

[Soulstealer]

Hmmm...was thinking of trying one of these. I'm looking for the clarity and pureness of a Seth Lover, with the harmonics of a JB.

 

[AndyK]

Hmmm...was thinking of trying one of these. I'm looking for the clarity and pureness of a Seth Lover, with the harmonics of a JB.

JB has the harmonics due to the high output. The Demon is low-mid output. It is clear, almost like a single coil. But doesn't get harmonics like a JB.

 

[lespaul6]

try the pearly gates if you want harmonics.. they are moderate output but sound great with a marshall.

 

[2prog4u]

Hmmm...was thinking of trying one of these. I'm looking for the clarity and pureness of a Seth Lover, with the harmonics of a JB.

JB has the harmonics due to the high output. The Demon is low-mid output. It is clear, almost like a single coil. But doesn't get harmonics like a JB.

Plus its got a funky attack...almost clanky. I wanted to like it, but pulled it pretty quickly.

 

[JohnSykes]

Well thats a huge dissapointment.

I thought it was the "PAF pro" version from Duncan.

 

[glassjaw7]

I had one in a strat copy and a washburn Dime (odd guitar for that pup, I know). As stated, the name is very misleading. It is a low to moderate output pup and seemed to lack dynamics. It has sort of a high end roll off and a nice "purr". It sounded ok for lower gain stuff with my dual rectifier but not for aggressive high gain stuff or harmonics. It just had a decent, warm tone.

 

[charveldan]

Tried one 12 years ago.

Worst upgrade pup I ever tried in 30 years ... period.

Sent it back.

I like George but he's an endorsement whore and will do anything for $$$ even if it sucks balls.

Seymour shoulda named it the "really shitty Goerge Lynch pickup".

 

[AndyK]

Tried one 12 years ago.

Worst upgrade pup I ever tried in 30 years ... period.

Sent it back.

I like George but he's an endorsement whore and will do anything for $$$ even if it sucks balls.

Seymour shoulda named it the "really shitty Goerge Lynch pickup".

Ha! The Shitty Demon!

 

[AndyK]

Funny thing, I found a video of mine from 4 years ago, using a Demon in my Charvel (you can tell with the dumb miss matched coil screws) through a Friedman Marshall. Sounds pretty good actually. So it does depend on the guitar and amp.

 

[Kidkramer71]

I tend to disagree somewhat with the screaming demon reviews this far.
It is not as hot of a pickup true but it does scream it really comes alive at high volume through a good tube amp and is really fat and pinch harmonics are killer on it .
Playing at low volume it does not respond the same .
This pickup does growl for sure !!
It just has to be used as intended !!
It really was designed for George Lynch and how he plays at very high volume through high gain killer tube amps . For regular harmonics or tapping it is not that great . I have a jb in the exact same kramer and for tapping and stuff it is better and it is bright , but for fat burley in your face grinding rhythm it kills as well as screaming vibrato bends and pinch harmonics.
As far as all around pickup for 80's type stuff I would say the jb is one of the best .
But the screaming demon does not suck just needs to be used how it was designed.
Jmho
Rock on
Jim

 

[Jer]

I hate this pickup...Cover shipping and you can have mine if you want it:

 

[gtr31]

You may dig the Demartini
Custom shop I think that's a cross
Between a pearly gates and Jb

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I thought the demartini custom shop is a JB with alnico II....

 

[blackba]

I have used on in a gibson lp studio lite and an epiphone lp. It's like a weak paf. It's far from my favorite pickup but it was a big upgrade over the stock epiphone les Paul pickups. If you go in expecting a paf output I think you will be better setup to like it. Its a pretty good match with a '59 in the neck.

 

[sahlomonic]

I tend to disagree somewhat with the screaming demon reviews this far.
It is not as hot of a pickup true but it does scream it really comes alive at high volume through a good tube amp and is really fat and pinch harmonics are killer on it .
Playing at low volume it does not respond the same .
This pickup does growl for sure !!
It just has to be used as intended !!
It really was designed for George Lynch and how he plays at very high volume through high gain killer tube amps . For regular harmonics or tapping it is not that great . I have a jb in the exact same kramer and for tapping and stuff it is better and it is bright , but for fat burley in your face grinding rhythm it kills as well as screaming vibrato bends and pinch harmonics.
As far as all around pickup for 80's type stuff I would say the jb is one of the best .
But the screaming demon does not suck just needs to be used how it was designed.
Jmho
Rock on
Jim

I agree with this. Yes, the name is very misleading, but if you don't think of it as a high output pickup, then you may like it. If anyone loves the rhythm tones on the Wicked Sensation album (my personal benchmark for rhythm tone IMO), remember that it was recorded with the Screamin Demon in the alder bodied Skull and Snakes guitar, through the SLO.

If you're looking for modern high gain stuff, you probably won't like it. I think Seymour Duncan's description for the Screamin Demon pickup says it perfectly: "Less bite, more growl".