software

Dropped a SH-6b Distortion into my fat strat bridge last night but am not happy about it. Have an Invader in my Epi Les Paul that has that thick, warm and heavy tone and am very satisfied. Wanted something similar but a little brighter in the fat strat so I picked up the Distortion. This humbucker sounds like Mud on Mud all the way through. The Invader has more tone than this thing! I own 3 different Duncans and am happy with all of them. This is my first disappointment. I pulled out the SH-6 and dropped in an old DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge. The DiMarzio smokes the Duncan. Guess I'll go on ebay to dump this pup. Too bad!

I've never heard a Distortion described as muddy. Are you sure it was wired right or not defective??

It was wired up right, in series with the red/white tied together. It could be defective, I don't know. Output is good but very dull. Could phasing be a problem?

Are you still running the stock 250k pots?

The DD seems to like pots that are at least 500k.

Uhm... I've heard many Distortions before... and what you described is definately not what a DD should sound like

Running on 500k tone pots now. Sounds great when I pull out the Duncan Distortion and put the DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge. Other pups in guitar are a JB jr in the neck and a DiMarzio quot;Chopperquot; in the middle. They work fine. I must have a lemon! Thought this HB would be fairly bright but it is muddy throughout tone range. Dull. Ugh..........

that sound like something is wrong

sounds very wrong

something is wrong, wrong, wrong a DD is anything but muddy

do have an multi meter? so you could measure the dc resistance!

Yes, have a multi meter at home and can check resistances when I get there. Another member has told me that he believes it is a phasing issue and that I should reverse connect the leads. Will also do this when I get home. Shouldn't the Duncan Distortion compare favorably with an old DiMarzio Super Distortion? Was hoping this would be an upgrade.

Phasing only matters when you are selecting 2 pickups at one time. You wired in series according to your description, even if you ran black to grnd amp; green to hot (backwards) it should still sound the same.

Directly solder the pickup temporarily to the output jack, all by itself, and give it a listen.


Originally Posted by Dave ZPhasing only matters when you are selecting 2 pickups at one time. You wired in series according to your description, even if you ran black to grnd amp; green to hot (backwards) it should still sound the same.

No the two coils are maybe quot;out of phasequot;....

Originally Posted by SludgenutzDirectly solder the pickup temporarily to the output jack, all by itself, and give it a listen.

without any load?

I would measure the dc as already said and if that's ok i would test mixing (for example) the green and white (?) wire


Originally Posted by MarcelNo the two coils are maybe quot;out of phasequot;....

without any load?

I would measure the dc as already said and if that's ok i would test mixing (for example) the green and white (?) wire

Yes....I need to run full diagnostic with multimeter.....I believe that this pickup should read about 16.2k in series. I can also install in an old backup guitar I have, which is a single humbucker configuration, for testing.

OK.....A guy here at work had a multi meter. Resistance reading in series is 16.84k. That is within normal parameters. Can this thing be wired out of phase between it's own two coils? That would be a factory glich but correctable.


Originally Posted by panamangOK.....A guy here at work had a multi meter. Resistance reading in series is 16.84k. That is within normal parameters. Can this thing be wired out of phase between it's own two coils? That would be a factory glich but correctable.

I dunno if that would sound like you described but it could be.
Maybe just try switching wires as i said above

Maybe when you dropped it, you broke it.*Ta dum tish


Originally Posted by MintyMaybe when you dropped it, you broke it.*Ta dum tish

You right, I should not have dropped it into my guitar. I should have installed it! LOL. Maybe it works ok and just sucks compared to a DiMarzio Super Distortion. If all these checks and adjustments don't work, next place I drop it will be in the trash


Originally Posted by panamangYou right, I should not have dropped it into my guitar. I should have installed it! LOL. Maybe it works ok and just sucks compared to a DiMarzio Super Distortion. If all these checks and adjustments don't work, next place I drop it will be in the trash

wait before you drop it in the trash I'll give you my adress