Jackson Pups Vs. Duncan Designed

[Gank]

My 2003 KVX10 is currently loaded with the factory Duncan Designed pups and I'm not quite happy with the sound. The current bridge pickup is an HB-103B, supposedly designed after the Duncan Distortion, and sounds loose to me on the bottom end.

Digging through my stash of parts, I found both a Jackson J-85 and a J-80C from an early 90s Dinky. Would either of these be a better replacement or should I just pickup something else? If something else, anyone have suggestions for an alder bodied V?

[MartinBarre]

If you don't like what you've got in there, I don't see any harm in trying the Jackson pickups. Give it a go, if you don't like it try something else.

If you like tight bass, get a real Duncan Distortion. Another Distortion for the neck, or a 59 will work well too.

[scarylynch]

FOr a factory description of the jackson pickups check this link out: http://zeus.lunarpages.com/~jimshi2/...nualpage5R.jpg

[sprocket226]

How do I know what pick-ups I have? They both say "Duncan Designed"

[DonP]

How do I know what pick-ups I have? They both say "Duncan Designed"

You have to do some investigating.

If they are on the original guitar, look up the manufacturer's specs.

If not, measure DC resistance and make your best guess. Trying to tell a HB102B (JB) from an HB103B (DD) would be hard because they have the same wind, but different magnets.

[Gank]

FOr a factory description of the jackson pickups check this link out: http://zeus.lunarpages.com/~jimshi2/...nualpage5R.jpg

Very cool, thanks.

[MartinBarre]

What difference does it make what they are? If you like them, keep them, if you don't replace them.

[Jacksonguy666]

What difference does it make what they are? If you like them, keep them, if you don't replace them.

+1
No offense Gank, but if you don't like them, then why does it matter?
Unless you want to sell them...

[Gank]

+1
No offense Gank, but if you don't like them, then why does it matter?
Unless you want to sell them...

There's no question that I don't like the Duncan Designed pups - My question was if the J-80C or J-85 were worth using.

I found both a Jackson J-85 and a J-80C from an early 90s Dinky. Would either of these be a better replacement or should I just pickup something else?

[MartinBarre]

My response there was actually aimed more at Sprocket.

[sprocket226]

My response there was actually aimed more at Sprocket.

So what the hell's the matter with knowing what model pick-ups I have?
Let's say one of them takes a shit, I need to know what it is to replace it right? :think:

[MartinBarre]

Oh FFS here we go again.

[Jacksonguy666]

OH! I'm sorry Gank, I mean't to say that to sprocket also, my bad...
But why would you replace a Duncan designed? Thats like replacing an old parachute with a hole in it another one with a hole in it.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

So what the hell's the matter with knowing what model pick-ups I have?
Let's say one of them takes a shit, I need to know what it is to replace it right? :think:

Nothing's the matter with it, if it's the best sounding pickup you've ever heard and you want to replace it with the exact same thing. Most people with DD pickups would rather buy a better pickup, regardless of whether the DD has quit working or not.

If it quits working, you do some research and pick out a new humbucker and solder it in.

You could remove the pickup and see if it's got a label on the bottom that shows the model.

[scarylynch]

If you don't like the Duncan Design pickups then try to figure out what sound you are going for then go from their.

At the www.seymourduncan.com website, they have sound samples of all their pickups. Or, if you like a famous guitar player's sound then look into said players gear.

As for the Jackson pickups.. The J-80 series are not real hot. That would be the 90 series. The 80 series are kinda like hot PAF's, comparable to a Duncan Pearly Gates model (ZZ Top's choice) but not exactly.

It take a half hour on a bad day to swap a pickup so i say just do it and see if you like the tone.

**** a note about Duncan Design Pickups.. These pickups are patterned after their American made counterpart. If you pull your DD and it has a sticker on the under side that reads HB 102, it is a "JB" clone. HB 103- a "Distortion" clone.. So, it's idiotic to replace these models with the same model American made Duncan. If You hate the sound of the clone JB, then DON'T put a real JB in it's place!

For more Duncan Design reference look here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...-designed/all/