please discuss these 3 pups only...

[Dreamland_Rebel]

what are your feelings, thoughts, and opinions, on these three pups.

duncan distortion

dimarzio super distortion

dimarzio super 3.

~JW

[ranalli]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

Well I own all three and they're all great at different things.

The Super Distortion and Super3 are very similar. They're almost the same in output and the EQ's are somewhat close with a lot of mids a good bottom end and somewhat chopped treble. When I say chopped treble I dont' mean no treble I just mean not as bright as an EMG or even the Duncan Distortion which I'll get to.

The Super Distortion has pretty big bottom end and is a big fat warm sounding chunky pickup. It will warm up almost any guitar if it's harsh sounding although in some super-strat guitars I can find it kind of loose sounding due to the scale length...on the other hand I love this pickup with Les Pauls...so much punch and is great for classic rock stuff as well if you turn the gain down.

The Super3 is like the Super Distortion but with a tighter bottom end that makes it somewhat more aggressive IMO. The lessened bottom end makes the treble more apparent as well and the mids are cranked making this a warm pickup but there's not too much making it have a mid "honk" to it either. This pickup gives a big fat agressive sound that is tight.

THe Duncan Distortion is good too and works well in alot of guitars although I find it too bright in guitars that have ebony fretboards. It's very aggressive, pretty tight although it is more scooped sounding as well. The increased presence gives it the ability to really cut through the mix well but it's not quite as thick as the two Dimarzios. Great pickup though that is very versatile.

Hope this helps somewhat.

[zeegler]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

Get a Dimebucker dude!!!!


Sorry.... couldn't resist. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

thanks for the info, i'm thinking of going with a super 3.

i play 80's style metal, with lots of mids, and this pup will probably go in charvel model 3 with a maple neck. (basswood) and also for my project guitar that will be white korina with a maple neck.

if i like it in the model 3 (basswood) i'll probably throw one in my fernandes (alder w/ maple/rosewood)

how do think the super3 or any of the others will fair with these wood combo's

thanks,
~JW


PS: i hate Darrel's sound.
i'm looking for Iron Maiden, Ratt, King Diamond sounds.

[toejam]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

I've got a Super Distortion in my Jackson JJP that's a mahogany body and neck. I think it kicks ass... lots of chunk, well balanced with a little more bass than mids or treble. The Super 2 and Super 3 have the same power as the SD, just the Super 2 has more treble, the Super 3 has more mids. I like the Super 2 more for a neck pickup.

The Duncan Distortion I believe is a little more trebly compared to the DiMarzio SD, might be a little closer to a Super 2, but I haven't played one in a long time.

[pro-fusion]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

I've also played extensively through all three pickups.

--the Super Distortion seems a bit on the trebly side to me, although a very nice-sounding pickup, depending on the type of guitar you play. I thought it was harsh sounding in a neckthru 650xl, but it absolutely rocked in my basswood-bodied Fusion Pro.

--The Super 3 has more low mids, but also less treble, than the Super D. I used the Super 3 in a Carvin guitar I had that was all-maple neckthru and VERY bright-sounding. The Super 3 nicely rolled off some of the high end and added low-end punch. I wouldn't recommend it for a basswood body, though, since that wood doesn't give you much brightness to begin with.

--The Duncan Distortion is what I use now in my Soloist and I find it to be a very evenly balanced pickup. Seems a bit more saturated than the DiMarzio version, however, with the notes not being quite as crisp. The Duncan is a very 'juicy' pickup, if you get what I mean. The leads really scream, while the low end chunk is there, as well. I think this would do well in pretty much any guitar, but it's not quite as 'tight' sounding as a Dimarzio, so that might be a factor for you to consider.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: please discuss these 3 pups only...

thanks for the great responses guys!
~JW