Duncan SH-6

Gibanez · Post by **Gibanez** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:25 pm

I've got a few of these SH-6's laying around and I was thinking of
what the effect would be by changing the ceramic magnet to an
alnico. Anyone who is familiar with these pu's knows that they are
high output. Would the change in magnets reduce the output any
or does it strictly go by the windings? Thanks

Tony

novosibir · Post by **novosibir** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:24 pm

You'd loose output, but also highs, what makes the PU pretty dark and mid pronounced, still more, as it anyway already is.

Larry

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:53 pm

In the Van Halen thread, somebody tried this with a DiMarzio Super Distortion, and seemed to really like it a lot. It seems like a cool idea, but ya gotta try it, cause as we all know, sometimes these things are a "gitnip". (Good In Theory, Not In Practice).

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?t=16453

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:15 am

Isnt the 6 a 'custom'. The 'custom custom' is Seymour's alnico version. I agree with the fact that the weaker magnet affects the output and clarity.Although my custom custom is warm, it doesnt sound quite sharp enough. I like an alnico 5 magnet better than it's (custom custom) alnico 2. Also I like lower output, like 7.5-8.5 k range, that is with an alnico 5 magnet. I have an old Ibanez hb'er that reads around 8.4 k, and compared to the cc, as an analogy, it sounds like a freshly sharpened pencil, while the cc is dull and down to the wood.

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:31 am

According to Duncans website, the SH-6 is the distortion pup.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... ncan_dist/

Unless Im misunderstanding something, I think Gibanez was asking about the Duncan Distortion.
(But it wouldnt be the first time I've misunderstood something).

/

wdelaney72 · Post by **wdelaney72** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:44 am

fillmore nyc wrote:According to Duncans website, the SH-6 is the distortion pup.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... ncan_dist/

Unless Im misunderstanding something, I think Gibanez was asking about the Duncan Distortion.
(But it wouldnt be the first time I've misunderstood something). /

Yep, the Dunacn Custom with AV is the SH-5 model. CC with A2is SH-11.

Gibanez · Post by **Gibanez** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:31 pm

I had a Gibson 500T in my Explorer which was a ceramic high output
pu but IMO it was not musical. A lot of upper mids and highs noise. I
put the SH-6 in the bridge and it still had the high output but with much
more clarity between notes along with a nice balanced freq. I was
really surprised with the SH-6 being high output and articulate as it is
with this type of pu. I have like 3 more laying around and thought of
swapping the magnet and see what I get out of it. Thanks

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:35 am

Oh yeah, the sh-6 is the distortion, my bad. I agree that the 500 model Gibson pick up (like in my sold flying v) isnt a great example of a ceramic magnet pick up. The distortion by S.D is though. Very articulate with palm mutes, and lets pinched harmonics ring out with ease. No wonder Lynch used to love this pu. I like the JB pu the best though, as far as higher output pickups go. It has a A5 magnet, and to my ears sounds like a tighter more focused custom custom, with a little more upper midrange focus.

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:37 am

A Gibson pup set that I really like is the 498T and the 490R.

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/G ... 0Classics/

They are Alnico mag pup's, and read approx 13k and 8k respectively. Lots o' crunch and punch. Not really vintage sounding, but not ceramic-mag distortion class either. IMO, they are a nice compromise between a vintage tone and an all out hotrod tone, and they seem better than the equivalent pup's made by Duncan or DiMarzio.
I definitely like 'em better than the 500T and 496R, but thats just my personal preference.

Gibanez · Post by **Gibanez** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:45 pm

TS, I talked my brother in-law in to a JB for his Les Paul Classic.
His guitar sounds way better now.

Fillmore, I have the 489T & 490R in my Paul, Standard. Those PU's
rock!!! Do you have them with covers? If so how much of a difference
do you think with/without covers? I was thinking of a 498T open coils
for my Explorer.

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:16 pm

Gibanez wrote:Fillmore, I have the 489T & 490R in my Paul, Standard. Those PU's
rock!!! Do you have them with covers? If so how much of a difference
do you think with/without covers? I was thinking of a 498T open coils
for my Explorer.

My pickups have covers on 'em. I do think it would make a difference without the covers, which would translate into a little more output, and a little more highs, though I never miss that with mine, cause they certainly dont lack in the punch/crunch department. I think removing the covers would trade off some of the vintage aspects of these pickups, leaning more towards a modern tone. I guess its all up to personal preference.
For me, in just about any full size humbucking pickup, I prefer covers on them, but I do lean more toward vintage tones over modern tones.
Again, I dont think these pickups are really vintage sounding (way more punch and output), but they DO have some vintage aspects to them, like warmth of tone, which is always cool.
Like you said, Gibanez, they DO rock!!