Duncans vs BKP's

[AngusYoung01]

Well, I just got an email back from the folk at Fender and apparently the pickups in my Charvel Star are -

Seymour Duncan® TB-14 Custom 5 Humbucking Pickup in the bridge
Seymour Duncan® SH2N Jazz Humbucker in the neck

I have to say, they are great. Particularly the neck pickup, easily the most expressive neck pup I have ever tried, it doesn't sound condensed or anything, its crystal clean and oh so 80's (as is the bridge, but its a little flabby).

I was wondering how Cold Sweats would compare to these from anyone who has any experience in both pups?

Cheers guys.

[WezV]

Duncans are pretty damn good, dont ever underestimate them just because BKP's are better!!

if you like them there is little point changing them... other than the underlying feeling that something else might be slightly better.. thats what will get you in the end

I do feel that some of the duncan range (and even more so with Dimarzios) can be very gimmicky one trick ponies.  thats not something i have found in even the most extreme of BKP's range

a jazz humbucker in the neck has to be my favorite SD

[kellar]

The SH-2 is a great pickup, I had one for years.
Seymour Duncan does make some very good pickups. If you are happy with them, then just stick with it.

[Jonny]

Model:     SH-2
DC Resistance:    
- Neck: 7.72 k
- Bridge: 7.9 k
Resonant Peak:    
- Neck: 8 KHz
- Bridge: 7 KHz
EQ:    9 / 3 / 5 (Treb / Mid / Bass)
Magnet:    Alnico V Bar

Model:     SH-14
DC Resistance:    
- Bridge: 14.4 k
Resonant Peak:    
- Bridge: 5.4 KHz
EQ:    8 / 3 / 6 (Treb / Mid / Bass)
Magnet:    Alnico V Bar

EDIT: [I guess all that was a bit useless, but compared to a Cold Sweat (14k DC) the SH-14 is as good]

But I'm going by stats.. and stuff.

[AngusYoung01]

I'm wondering whether I should replace the Bridge pup.

It sounds great but its too fat.... with my Marshall DSL at the last gig it was warm overload, little definitition and its not as tight as I may need for that John Sykes tone....

[Philly Q]

[I guess all that was a bit useless, but compared to a Cold Sweat (14k DC) the SH-14 is as good]

But I'm going by stats.. and stuff.

Yeah, you can't judge by specs - for a start, the CS has a ceramic magnet and the Custom 5 is alnico.   The nearest Duncan equivalent to the CS would probably be the SH-5 Custom, which is the same pickup but with a ceramic magnet.

I've got an SH-14/SH-1n combo as the stock pickups in my sunburst Edwards V, and I must admit I quite like them.  In that guitar the SH-14 sounds quite bright and aggressive, a bit ragged but in a good way.  It's good enough for now, and in any case I haven't been able to decide on a suitable BKP model to replace it.

I've never liked the SH-2 much, I prefer a darker, warmer neck pickup.  The SH-1 is OK.

[dave_mc]

Duncans are pretty damn good, dont ever underestimate them just because BKP's are better!!

if you like them there is little point changing them... other than the underlying feeling that something else might be slightly better.. thats what will get you in the end

I do feel that some of the duncan range (and even more so with Dimarzios) can be very gimmicky one trick ponies.  thats not something i have found in even the most extreme of BKP's range

agreed, especially about the one-trick pony bit. there are some which aren't, though, and they're nice (e.g. '59).

based on my neck cold sweat, and from what i can remember from the jazzes i've tried, the CS probably won't have as nice cleans, but vastly superior, and tighter, overdrive. if your main concern with the neck pickup is cleans, i'd leave well alone, if it's a shreddy lead tone, i'd go with the cold sweat (caveat being that my cold sweat is in different wood than yours would be).

[AngusYoung01]

Well, I usually use the neck pup for cleans, and in this guitar there is no way I would change that pickup, it is literally the perfect neck pickup in this guitar.

But yeh, the bridge I am after a John Sykes tone, nice and tight (but not like a MM) with some vintage bit and stuff, but not a metal only pickup. My band is hair metal/ hard rock.

[ESPImperium]

I just got a BKP Painkiller yesterday and have decided that i like a good combination of BKPs and SDs, i prefer the 59' in the neck and the Painkiller in the bridge.

The thing is i have tried the Jazz in a Jackson DK2M i used to own, and i found that it was underpowered and sounded sterile, but i think that was the Alder body it had, however the 59' in the neck sounds full, expressive and tonally versitile, my fave passive neck pickup, altho if someone could do something that sounded like the EMG 60 in a passive form id love to hear that.

I am glad i put the Painkiller in my ESP LTD EC yesterday as it sounds tight and bright, organic and tonally rich, very versitile. The stock JB is just bland sounding, sounds almost fake to my ears now.

I do want to try a couple of Di Marzios before i comment on them.

[Mr Ed]

I like SD's... I think they have a much wider spread of sounds than Dimarzio who, to me, always seem to have very bass/mid heavy pickups and only a couple of trebley ones.

My Ravelle has a JB/Jazz combo and I can definately agree that the Jazz is $%&#ing fabulous, it really is a great pickup and... upon reflections about swapping pickups... I might not get rid of that afterall, just get a Nailbomb for the bridge and see how it works with the Jazz. Makes it a bit more affordable too.

Plus, you can't really compare the two - it's a tad unfair to compare handmade BKP's off against a mass manufactured giant, of course BKP's are going to be of a much higher quality. It's like weighing a Ford off against a Bugati Veyron.

[AngusYoung01]

Can I ask, would a Cold Sweat sound too out of place in the bridge of an Alder bodied guitar with a Jazz in the neck?

[Will]

Can I ask, would a Cold Sweat sound too out of place in the bridge of an Alder bodied guitar with a Jazz in the neck?

TO has one in a strat I'm sure, not sure of the wood, but it sounds quite right for the style. head over to youtube for a video of it somewhere

[AngusYoung01]

Can I ask, would a Cold Sweat sound too out of place in the bridge of an Alder bodied guitar with a Jazz in the neck?

TO has one in a strat I'm sure, not sure of the wood, but it sounds quite right for the style. head over to youtube for a video of it somewhere

OK  :D

But basically, I just need to make sure that it'd be balanced with my neck pup, thats not going out fo sho 8)

[Will]

Sorry for that sounding so lazy, I would find the video, but... I can never spell Twighlight O_____.
Its his username, so you will know when you see it. It just never comes out right when I search it :(

oops, well my memory is getting a bit messy then from TO's repsonse

[TwilightOdyssey]

www.myspace.com/twilightodyssey for Cold Sweat clips. I've not done a vid using the CS to my knowledge. Can be arranged, tho.


Should work fine, output wise, with the Duncan in the neck.