software

I'm going to ask that only people who've owned at least 10 models of Duncan bridge humbuckers post in this thread. No second hand, parroted, or
'I heard' info allowed.....only first hand info only. Please list in order of your favorites first, the top 5 bridge humbuckers. Also, list the pickups you liked least, in order of worst to 'a little better.'

My favorite bridge humbuckers

1. Custom 5
2. 50th Anniversary Seth Lover/Production Seth Lover
3. EVH
4. Custom Custom
5. 59 bridge.

Least Favorites

1. Pearly Gates Bridge
2. Full Shred
3. Invader
4. Distortion
5. Screamin Demon

Couldn't figure out where to put the JB? lol


Originally Posted by JOLLYCouldn't figure out where to put the JB? lol

Good point! It definitely belongs in the first list somewhere!

Fav:
Seth Lover
A2Pro
C5
59
CC

I have owned most of the production bridge humbuckers.. but I have a hard time figuring out which 5 to post.. all good, but not all for me.

I've only owned 8, so I can't comment.

'59 bridge (early 1980's)
JB
Seth Lover
Jazz bridge
Alnico II bridge
Tele Hot Rails bridge
Tele Vintage Stack bridge
Strat Cool Rails bridgedamn... only 8 that I can think of (and I'm sure that the strat and tele half-pint humbuckers don't count anyway for this poll).

Seth Lover is one of my favorite neck pickups but I thought that it was too bright in the bridge. I just resurrected the first SD pickup I ever bought (59 set) by replacing the Alnico 5 bar magnet with an Alnico 2 bar- works great in my S-S-H Brawley Threat!

Best bridge humbucker I've OWNED so far is the Lindy Fralin 9.4k hb I just put in my Heritage H-535. It responds more like a strat or tele single coil pickup than a humbucker...

Fav's
A2P
CC
59
ANT
C5

Least liked
PG
JB
Custom

I was listening to my two main LP's tonight. I'm starting to think that the very best pickups I've ever heard are those new 50th Anniversary Seths. They sound like a Seth set that's tighter, slightly higher output, and clearer, like an A5, even though they're Alnico II. They cost a bit of money, but I'll never regret that purchase.
Maricella sure knows what the heck she's doing!

Favorite

S-Deco2
Seth Lover
Blues
59
CCLeast Fav.
Full Shred
Distortion
Jazz Bridge
StagMag

Top five stock Duncan list:

1. Antiquity neck
2. Pearly Gates bridge (PG as well)
3. a hot 59 bridge
4. Antiquity bridge
5. CC

Least favorites: (But this does not mean they are bad pickups Tastes you know! And I still think they do a very good job in what they are designed to do. Just not my thing!)

1. Distortion neck
2. Custom
3. JB
4. Invader

B

I´ve owned quite a few, but almost all of them were Custom Series, Distortions, JBs or Lil series

I CAN say where I´d rate those, though :

1. Custom
2. Distortion
3. Dimebucker
4. JB (it IS the #1 neck choice, though)
5. CC

If you count multiples, I do own 10. DO the Phat Cats count? If so, here goes:

Faves:
1. Pearly Gates
2. Custom
3. Seth Lover
4. Custom Custom
5. Phat Cat
6. JB (in my alder/maple Carvin)

Worst (For Me):
1. JB (in my LP)
2. C5 (in maple)
3. 59 (in the neck of my LP) That's it. I gues Duncan doesn't wind a lot of bad ones.

would this thread have increased utility if the players told us:
- in what kind of guitar they used each of the pickups
- what kind of amps they use
- what kind of music they play
- for what kind of tone were they searching?


Originally Posted by tone4dayswould this thread have increased utility if the players told us:
- in what kind of guitar they used each of the pickups
- what kind of amps they use
- what kind of music they play
- for what kind of tone were they searching?

All of those are important determining factors, but the point of the thread is to hear from people who've heard the majority of the bridge humbuckers, and put them in two categories #1 favorites, and #1 least favorites.
Mostly to get an idea of which one's keep appearing in one list or the other.

Good thread, I'm not qualified to post in this one, but I'm enjoying reading!

I'm going to post anyway....

Favorites:

APH
CC
Seth
59'
Lil' 59

Least Favorites:

Distortion
JB
C5
Stag Mag
Lil JB

Well... seems that BOTH Seth lover and custom custom( my favorite pickups from seymour duncan) are always on the lists here.
Q
I should try a seth lover for deathmetal.
Q


Originally Posted by WITH FULL DISTORTIONI should try a seth lover for deathmetal.
Q

HAHAHA....then we could call it the quot;Death Lover Modelquot;

I'm a little confused here...
Why would somebody rate the pearly gates bridge as the least favorite while somebody else would put it at the top of the list.
What is it about this pickup that is bad or good???
I am beginning to think this stuff is a little too subjective. A simple change in value of pots, amps, strings,speaker, tubes, or caps, and VOILE! the whole equation changes.

I guess it's all personal taste, and like Tone4days mentioned, differences in people's gear or styles, but it is very interesting to see that the one's that have popped up as favorites in almost all the lists are the CC and Seth. Those are both top A2 choices.
The 59, C-5, and JB seem like top choices for A5's.

What's interesting about the choices is that most of the favorites don't get much criticism in the pickup section on the forum. My guess is that they exceed the sound of stock pickups, more often than not. Other models are simply dialed in to personal taste, or their particular style, which makes them equally important.
Nobody cited the Dimebucker as a least favorite, so it obviously hasn't disappointed anyone.