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hi guys, i have a seymour duncan sh-5 custom in the bridge position of my guitar right now and although i love the lead tones ofthis pickup i am not too pleased with the palm muted qualities. i was wondering if i mgith be better off choosing a JB or an duncan distortion. what do you think? i play heavy music, mostly scandinavian metal like ensiferum, children of bodom, throne of chaos, dimmu borgir (early stuff), also i really love the tone that sepultura get on their beneath the remains and arise albums. My fave band are megadeth and i know mustaine uses a JB but i was wondering whether my cheap setup of a peavey bandit and a mt2 metal zone pedal would be able to get even close to that tones megadeth get. thanks for any help

I think replacing it with the JB would be a good idea, I'm sure you could get some megadeth-ish tones.. your set-up might be a little bright though, which would lead me to think the distortion might be an even better pick-up for ya....

I'll say both would probably be good replacements and wait for someone with more experience with those to chime in!

Rock On

the custom is better at palm mutes than the JB will ever be. so if you want a thicker, tighter rhythm sound, i suggest you get the duncan distortion. max cavalera uses the DD...

The JB palm mutes are lacking in my opinion. The DD will be better for that but, the only thing I can give the JB is the good leads. The full Shred might not be a bad idea. But, on the other hand, you may want to consider inversting in alot better amp before you do anything. A better amp will make alot more difference that any pickup swap will ever do.

But, on the other hand, you may want to consider inversting in alot better amp before you do anything. A better amp will make alot more difference that any pickup swap will ever do.[/QUOTE]
If you only change the pickup I would say a DD.

The custom is a great pickup with palm muting i suggest u try and eq your amps settings a bit, nailing a hardrock tone is definetly in the ballpark of the custom (killer pickup)

Custom is much better in palm muting than JB...

And Dave Mustaine changed his pup recently as i know he was used to have Custom in Bidge position..

I think your problem can be because of Metal zone`s difficult EQ circuit.. Its hard to set it.

If you want a better palm muting pup from Duncan, i think its Dimebucker.. DD would be good also but JB would be a wrong choice after Custom when we think about palm muting and your musical way...

As someone said above, don't discount the Full Shred. Has good lead like the JB, but very nice palm muting as well... responds great to fast riffing. But don't expect lots of gratuitous bass from it :P

go for the DD. That thing rocks hard. Palm muting is HUGE sounding. Very full mids, and a detailed top end, and a big bottom.

It gets my vote.

Full Shred or Demon. Demons have done me justice in the CHUG department. Full Shreads are pretty chuggy too. It may have something to do with the allen screws. More presence maybe.

k thanks for all the replies guys. i love the customs lead. how bout emg 81 or 85?

try a megadrive by dimarzio i hear this thing is GOD for palm mutes