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I recently purchased 2 Duncan 59's (neck and bridge) to put in my Hamer Echotone 335 copy. I played with them last night for the first time and while I got the clarity I was after, the bridge just seemed to lack the ability to drive my amp harder (little more overdrive) than the stock pickup. (Or my PRS for that matter). I am thinking of taking up the quot;trade upquot; policy and getting a replacment for the bridge pickup. I really like the overall tone of the 59...but just need a bit more power and drive out of it. My amp is a Marshall JCM 800 2205 if it matters. I try to keep the gain about 1/2 as it gets noisy otherwise.

I'll play with the pickups some but thought I'd get suggestions on a potential tradeup. I dont want huge gain...just a bit more.

You have the same amp I do, tho I use solid body guitars. If you're looking for that Alex Lifeson type of break up, I would suggest a JB.


Originally Posted by kingsxmanI recently purchased 2 Duncan 59's (neck and bridge) to put in my Hamer Echotone 335 copy. I played with them last night for the first time and while I got the clarity I was after, the bridge just seemed to lack the ability to drive my amp harder (little more overdrive) than the stock pickup. (Or my PRS for that matter). I am thinking of taking up the quot;trade upquot; policy and getting a replacment for the bridge pickup. I really like the overall tone of the 59...but just need a bit more power and drive out of it. My amp is a Marshall JCM 800 2205 if it matters. I try to keep the gain about 1/2 as it gets noisy otherwise.

I'll play with the pickups some but thought I'd get suggestions on a potential tradeup. I dont want huge gain...just a bit more.

I have heard people say the Demon sounds like a juiced 59 but I have never used one personally.

a C5 perhaps?

the screamin demon is a little hotter, more agressive 59. little less bite and a bit more growl, as it's advertised on the duncan page


Originally Posted by kingsxmanI recently purchased 2 Duncan 59's (neck and bridge) to put in my Hamer Echotone 335 copy. I played with them last night for the first time and while I got the clarity I was after, the bridge just seemed to lack the ability to drive my amp harder (little more overdrive) than the stock pickup. (Or my PRS for that matter). I am thinking of taking up the quot;trade upquot; policy and getting a replacment for the bridge pickup. I really like the overall tone of the 59...but just need a bit more power and drive out of it. My amp is a Marshall JCM 800 2205 if it matters. I try to keep the gain about 1/2 as it gets noisy otherwise.

I'll play with the pickups some but thought I'd get suggestions on a potential tradeup. I dont want huge gain...just a bit more.

NO! Don't trade it. If you're happy with the tone and clarity, just get a SD Pickup booster and you'll have the drive you need without sacrificing clarity!

Trade it. Get a C5 or a Custom, it's like a PAF (59) on steroids. Soudns ****in amazing through EL34 amps, too.

I didnt think about the pickup booster...but I dont really want to shell out more green.
Are the C5, Custom or screamin deamon available in gold cover?

Yes, yes, and yes.

The Demon should be the way to go.

As an owner of multiple guitars equipped with the Screamin' Demon, I don't think this is the way to go in a 335-style guitar, especially if you get it covered. I think that will not be a good choice. I like the above recommendation of the pickup booster, or use a JB set a bit lower than usual.

I would go with a Custom...sounds a lot like a 59, just a little bigger and meaner, the C5 might be lacking in the mids a bit too much, but if not then it would be a good choice too...I will not comment on the JB or the Demon

if the mids are fine with the 59, i dont see why a C5 wouldnt work.....its got the EQ of the 59, with more output, to drive the amp harder......especially with your amp, you should have plenty of grind in the mids, so it shouldnt be a problem...... the C5 is just like a hotter 59, with a bit more of everything the 59 has......if its a little too much, you can just set the C5's height a little lower than normal, and it should compensate

The 59 B is one of my very favorite pickups so I'd suggest moving it as close as possible to the strings before replacing it. Maybe adjust the middle four polepieces in an arch to match your fingerboard radius.

If that doesn't work, I think the Demon is a good call but you won't find it with a gold cover.

A little hotter still would be the Custom, as Christian suggested.

I used a Custom 5 for awhile in my Hamer and wished it had a little more mids and little less edge to the treble, but it does sound alot like a hotter 59B. I prefer the 59B though...great Clapton Bluesbreakers tone, IMO.

The JB is an alnico 5 pickup like the 59, SD and C5 but wound hotter than any of those three. It's a favorite of Seymour's and is Duncan's #1 selling bridge humbucker. Some players find it to have a little bit of a hard sound in the upper mids in some guitars.....but certainly not in all guitars or to all players.

I use the Custom Custom in my Hamer Monoco and that is my favorite of the hotter Duncan pickups. Lot's of smooth, syrupy mids. Through a Marshall it reminds me of a Eddie Van Halen's early tone a little.

THanks Lew. I'll try raising the 59 a bit and adjusting the pole pieces as you said. If that doesnt work, I'll probably consider a custom custom as I definetly want to keep the mids. I do NOT like the quot;scoopedquot; sound. TO me..that isnt quot;fatquot; sounding. Since I definitely need the gold cover on this guitar...the demon is out.

I am being told that for a 59 type tone but with just a touch more output to try the dimarzio virtual PAF's?
they have about 10% more juice than the 59's?

I have used both, in terms of drive the 59 and VPafs are quite similiar. The Vpafs have more clarity esp on the E and A strings. They are a touch brighter too, I dig both pickups a bunch.

I couldnt find anyone locally (minneapolis) selling Dimarzio's in stock. I gave the Virtual PAF's alot of thought before going with the 59's. I got a deal on the 59's from someone who had them in stock (in gold covers) so thats why they're in. If I change, I'd be doing the trade in policy with Duncan. I would keep one 59 for the neck (should I keep the bridge pickup for the neck?) and would just replace the bridge.

I really like the Screamin' Demon in the bridge position. I just ordered one to put into my Les Paul. It is just right for me.

C5 for life, haha or maybe a custom would be my opinion.

I called duncan today and thier response was that I should try the Custom 5 also. They said its just a 59 on steriods.