[mat091285]

Hi guys just wanted to ask if anyone has any experience with the SH-6 duncan distortion? I heard from the Duncan Board that is just a JB with a ceramic magnet.

[zimbloth]

Wow you got some bad information. The JB has a ceramic magnet too. I have a lot of experience with the Duncan Distortion. I had it in 3 seperate BC Rich USA's, a Washburn Sonic 7, a Gibson Les Paul Gothic, Fernandes Vortex Elite, and probably others which I don't recall at this time.

The pickup is okay, but I really believe this is one of the worst bridge pickups Seymour Duncan makes. It's quite bright with a lot of harsh overtones. It is a bit stale sounding, it doesn't really have the same balls the JB/Custom/Invader have. I really don't recommend it. It depends on what guitar you put it in, but even in mahogany I think it sounds boring and dull. Depending on your guitar, I would recommend the SH4/5/8 over this in a heartbeat.

[D-EJ915]

The JB has an Alnico 5 magnet in it.

Unlike Zimbloth said, the JB has no balls and has weak, flabby bass, it sucks really hard.

[zimbloth]

Maybe through some rigs, but I'm guessing the legion of badass JB users with Mesas and comparable tube rigs would disagree.

The JB doesn't have great bass response perhaps, but compared to the Duncan Distortion it does. The DD is harsh city, at least through any quality tube amp I've ever tried it with. Maybe with digitals or solid staters it would sound ok, but I wouldn't know.

As for the JB being Alnico, I thought the 7-string version was ceramic but I could be wrong.

[D-EJ915]

The JB and DD use the same wind.

Funny how most guys I talk to say the DD has way more bass than the JB does. Even through Mahogany Schecters the JB just doesn't cut it for me, it sounded thin imo. I've played it with all sorts of axes from mahogany to alder, stop bar, floyd, etc. so it's not like I'm basing my opinion on 1 axe either.

I dunno, I just don't get along with it. The good thing is that if you don't like it you can trade it in to Duncan for a different one of their models.

[zimbloth]

Yeah, I am no JB lover bro. I find them kind of boring personally. I much prefer the SH-5 and SH-8 models. BUT, I've had a TON of experience with both the JB & the Duncan Distortion, and the DD was just harsh and sterile in every guitar I ever had it in (diverse configuruations/amps). Conversely, I've had a million guitars with JBs, and sometimes they sounded pretty cool, othertimes weak. The whole JB in mahogany being great thing is definitely a myth I think. It sounds better in alder than mahogany IMO. I had two USA Jacksons (Marty Friedman Sig + KV2) with those and it sounded cool. I had it in a number of mahogany guitars where it sounded pretty bland.

[mat091285]

So i guess i will go for the custom then... nout sure why in the duncan board alot ppl recommended me a duncan distortion for thrash metal ..

[zimbloth]

They just said that because it's very bright and very middy, but it's just not very good. Try the Custom, if you don't like it give the JB a shot.

[Brett89]

Hi there!

I think, in the future I will by an RG7321... you know that it's a basswood body guitar.... soo my quastion is that what kind of SD pick ups sould I put in it?

[zimbloth]

Basswood is a fairly neutral body wood. A lot of pickups would work in that. I'd check out the Invader or the Custom. The JB might work okay too. I would still stay away from the Duncan Distortion. The Invader is a pickup almost no one in the metal world uses, it's very unique and is not for everyone, but if you eq your amp right ,it's one of the heaviest tones ever.

In the neck pickup, the Jazz or 59 would probably be cool. Or if you go with the Invader in the bridge, an invader in the neck works too unless you care about prestine clean sounds