software

i'm still fairly new at all the technical aspects of guitar and would like to know what SD pups compare to the dimarzio tone zone (b) and hum from hell (n) pups that are currently in my guitar. i will soon be looking to purchase a second guitar and want something ''different'' than what i have. i love the setup i have now and won't be getting rid of it, just adding something different. so if you can advise as to what SD match the dimarzios i have, i can stay away from them.

I don't think any Duncan is quite like those...especially not like the HFH.

What are you looking for tone wise?

To me, the Tone Zone sounds closest to the Original Trembucker or secondly, the Stag Mag. The Humbucker from Hell sounds closest to the Jazz.

from what i've heard and read on this forum, i thought the hum from hell might compare to the jazz, the HFH is a little bassy, but i like it. and i thought maybe the custom custom on the tone zone, but as i said, i'm far from an expert. i play mostly 70-80's type stuff (everything from ac/dc, kiss, to motley crue, and hair metal). trying to learn some blues now as well and i think the tone zone is a little hot for that, although the HFH does okay. i've played a couple fender single coil strats to see if maybe i should go that direction, but, meh, something about them i don't care for. just don't feel/sound right. i guess i'm not a single coil guy.

The full shred neck will come closest to the HFH beacuse the full shred neck is even brighter than the Jazz. I have owned a HFH in the past and I can tell you that duncans will have alot more personality and soul than the HFH has. For the bridge pickup? I really like the full shred bridge alot. The custom should be a good choice also because it is like a beefed up Paf. The custom and full shred wont sound like a TZ but, they will cover your styles of music with ease. I would say the custom will be more versatile than the full shred bridge.

thanks for all that info guys. so if the custom will work for my style and give a different tone than the TZ, what would be a good neck pup with the custom for maybe a bluesier feel? a pearly gates maybe?

Pearly Gates would be an outstanding choice. Also, yu might want to consider this too: Believe it or not, I have a Custom in the bridge position of my NR Firebird and a Screamin' Demon in the neck position. I love it and can get plenty of blues tones off the Demon.

I though you wanted a really bright neck bucker, For blusey, I would say an alnico II pro or a pearly gates.

sorry if i confused ya theodie. i'm looking for something different than what i have. you say the full shred comes closest to the HFH, so you mean it sounds similiar?
i've been checking out a used 76 re-issue gibson explorer at a local store. i have always liked the looks of explorers but when i played this one it sounded 'muddy'. the guy (i really don't know if he knows WTF he's talking about, ragged on the stock gibby pups in it). so i currently have an ibanez sz320 with above mention dimarzio's. my concern is if i get this explorer and go with, say, custom (b) and maybe pearly gates (n), will i just be duplicating what i already have tone wise? or would something else be better in a mahogany explorer?

Hey smauk, nice to see you around these parts! Just another recommendation for a bridge pickup, the Custom 5. It's the same pickup as the Custom, but with an Alnico 5 magnet instead of ceramic. I have it in the bridge of my Schecter (mahogany, set neck) and it has proven very versatile. I can get nice tones for anything from raunchy blues to rock and metal, and it sounds pretty nice split too. It has a very throaty lead tone.

hey fret, familiar faces in new places! trying to soak up all the knowlege i can. geez, wish i would have tried to learn all this at an younger age!!! too many choices makes my old brain fart. if i would have liked the explorer's stock pups i would have bought it right then. i heard lots of people love the stock gibson pups, i guess i'm just tone deaf enough not to like 'em. LOL!


Originally Posted by smauk43

i heard lots of people love the stock gibson pups, i guess i'm just tone deaf enough not to like 'em. LOL!

Stock gibsons are all right i guess. It depends when they were made in my opinion. The more recent ones are some of the better ones since probally the 60's. Duncans will sound alot better though.
For the most part I would say your hearing is right on the $$$$$$$.


Originally Posted by smauk43sorry if i confused ya theodie. i'm looking for something different than what i have. you say the full shred comes closest to the HFH, so you mean it sounds similiar?
i've been checking out a used 76 re-issue gibson explorer at a local store. i have always liked the looks of explorers but when i played this one it sounded 'muddy'. the guy (i really don't know if he knows WTF he's talking about, ragged on the stock gibby pups in it). so i currently have an ibanez sz320 with above mention dimarzio's. my concern is if i get this explorer and go with, say, custom (b) and maybe pearly gates (n), will i just be duplicating what i already have tone wise? or would something else be better in a mahogany explorer?

I said the full shred because it is a bright neck pickup like the hfh. I think it could run circles around the HFH though. To me the HFH was sort of sterile and lifeless.

With the Custom and PG, you will not be duplicating at all. I think you will be making a large step forward over your current tone with the Dimarzios you are now playing.

thanks again theodie, i had come up with the custom/pg or jazz combo myself, but as i said, i'm not experienced enough in the ears (or between the ears LOL!) to trust my own opinion. a couple more opinions are always helpful.

Don't think there really is a Duncan 'bucker that sounds like the Tone Zone, if that's what you're asking. BTW, I played this Paul Gilbert model IBanez with 2 Tone Zones (neck and bridge) and OMG... even through a small fender ss combo, that thing was just begging to be shredded to hell...

If you go to the Dimarzio website and click on email support, and ask them, they will tell you. I've done that before and they have always told me what pickups of theirs compair to Duncans.