Duncan Designed vs Jackson CVR2 pickups?

[rebar71]

Can anyone detail how these pickups compare to each other?

My guitar has CVR2 pickups in it. I can get a set of the HB102 & 103 Duncan Designed pickups pretty cheap. Are they worth the trouble?

The guitar is an MIJ JS30DK.

I'd rather get the JB & Jazz set, but I can't justify the funds for those right now.

[RacerX]

I had an HB103 in my KVX10 and I replaced it with a Duncan Distortion. I can hardly tell the difference, so I recommend the 103.

[wilkinsi]

The DD's sound brighter and dirtier, better than the CVR2's IMO. I miss my DX10DFS.

[DonP]

I have the HB103 set in my KE3 body/DK1 neck. I haven't found the need to replace them because they sound great.

I had an HB102B in a DK2 and put a TB4 in a similar build guitar (difference was a JT580LP vs. a Kahler Killer) and couldn't tell the difference, so I sold the TB4 instead of upgrading the DK2.

I've never heard the CVR2's.

[Twitch]

I have both the Duncan Distortion and the HB103, both sound good, neither one to me is better than the other either. If you can get the Duncan Designs cheap enough, Id say go for it. Ive had a JS series before and hands down the CVRs were the second worst thing about it as far as Im concerned.

[Nagash02]

I'll never understand people who change pickups on their entry-level guitar -__-'. WTH ?

[VitaminG]

because it's a relatively cheap, completely reversible upgrade? Because they like the way the guitar plays but not how it sounds? If he ever decides to offload the guitar, the stock pickups can always be reinstalled and he still has his "upgrade" pickups to put in another guitar.

[rebar71]

I have the HB103 set in my KE3 body/DK1 neck. I haven't found the need to replace them because they sound great.

...

just got some more info from the seller. they actually came out of a KE3 - a 103B and 103N set.

I'll never understand people who change pickups on their entry-level guitar -__-'. WTH ?

like Vitamin said... I like the way the guitar plays - I'm really not even that dissatisfied with the way it sounds. the stock CVRs just sound a bit muddy at times. and the seller only wants $30 for the pup set - so it's a VERY cheap upgrade. The fact that it's an "entry level" guitar is why I can't justify the cost of the pups I'd like to put in it. But I can certainly justify $30 if the DDs worth the trouble to install.

[Fender]

Had em' and loved em' more than actual SD's. I'm actually not a fan of SD's at all, but i totally dug the Duncan Design. There are for sure better pick-ups out there, but for what they prolly cost to make contrasted to how great they sounded is a real joke. Go for it

[Nagash02]

Yeah okay for the cheap upgrade... I'mmore the kind of guy who would buy a new guitar (the same line but a semi-pro or pro model) and put the right pickups in this one, but I could understand if everyone disagrees with me ^^.

[rebar71]

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I'm just not at the stage where I need to purchase a new guitar.

[DonP]

just got some more info from the seller. they actually came out of a KE3 - a 103B and 103N set.

You should be happy with that set if you are into thrash metal. That guitar is my old school Metallica guitar.

[rebar71]

I just picked these up this morning. He said the Kelly they cam out of was an early 90's model... don't know if that's relevant to quality or sound...? They look to be in good shape for their age. Only the neck pup has a small spec of rust on one of the pole pieces.

Not sure exactly when I'll get around to putting them in. I'm gonna change out the pots at the same time cuz I got a scratchy volume pot. And then I'll post up my own impressions on how the pickups compare.

[rebar71]

ok - I just installed these pups and either i did something wrong, or these pickups have half the output of the stock CVR2s - which i doubt. I followed Seymour Duncan's wiring diagram....

http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/schematics/2h_1v_1t_3w.pdf

blah blah blah - i'm going to bed.

I guess the one main question i might have right now is... do Duncan Designed pickups have the same wire colors as true Seymour Duncan pickups? Everything I read before starting this project said they do. Everything works - new volume pot, tone pot, switch, both pups with the switch - just low output.


EDIT: just checked the resistance... neck pickup is reading fine at 7.64k ohms. Bridge is only reading .74k ohms... both CVR2s read 10.9k.

[DonP]

Red and white together. Resistance between green and black should be around 16K.