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My beef with Duncan (isn't much at all) . . .

tifan

tifan

Guest
Jan 9, 2012
64
66
#1
Most importantly, let me start with this: The Duncan spb-1 pickup, particularly with GHS Precision Flats, sounds amazing. However, this is what led to write what I'm about to write.

I waited years to try the spb-1, because on the Duncan website it lists the EQ for the pickup as 5-4-5, in relation to bass-mids-treble. I didn't want a pickup with reduced mids--low mids that is. This pickup has low mids in spades, doing it better than almost any other pickup.

I honestly think Duncan would sell even more of these if they changed their EQ to this--and because it's more accurate, since now the low mids are not rated: Bass 4.5, low mids 5, mids 4, and treble 5. If I had seen something like that, I would have bought this pickup years ago, saving me, without exaggeration, over a thousand dollars on different pickups.

Yup. $65 would have been all I had to spend it if the EQ listed would have been more accurate. Then again, I wouldn't have been able to complain like this in a forum, so . . .
 
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#3
I agree the L_M_H settings on the Duncan website never tell the whole picture. I am guessing this is how Seymour or MJ hears it though- ideally a graphic EQ curve would be great.
 
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#6
tifan said:
Most importantly, let me start with this: The Duncan spb-1 pickup, particularly with GHS Precision Flats, sounds amazing. However, this is what led to write what I'm about to write.

I waited years to try the spb-1, because on the Duncan website it lists the EQ for the pickup as 5-4-5, in relation to bass-mids-treble. I didn't want a pickup with reduced mids--low mids that is. This pickup has low mids in spades, doing it better than almost any other pickup.

I honestly think Duncan would sell even more of these if they changed their EQ to this--and because it's more accurate, since now the low mids are not rated: Bass 4.5, low mids 5, mids 4, and treble 5. If I had seen something like that, I would have bought this pickup years ago, saving me, without exaggeration, over a thousand dollars on different pickups.

Yup. $65 would have been all I had to spend it if the EQ listed would have been more accurate. Then again, I wouldn't have been able to complain like this in a forum, so . . .
Click to expand...
I hear very high praise of this pickup, and since I've been on a bit of a P Bass kick lately I will probably pick one up to try sooner or later.

Thanks for the review of the eq response.... Very helpful, and I agree that a more detailed " 4 BAND" EQ curve would be more accurate and informative.
 
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#7
It's important to note that this pickup emulates the tone of a late 50's pickup. Personally I found I needed more mids and bass and that there was too much highs. I tend to prefer 60's pickups. It's an excellent pickup at what it does but the tone of that era is not my cup of tea, I find it a little too stern and correct. In the SPB series, the SPB-2 lacked balance and sounded a bit strange in some settings. For a big in your face tone, I like the SPB-3, it's their most successful bass pickup. I have not tested the SPB-4 yet.
 
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#8
Laurent said:
It's important to note that this pickup emulates the tone of a late 50's pickup. Personally I found I needed more mids and bass and that there was too much highs. I tend to prefer 60's pickups. It's an excellent pickup at what it does but the tone of that era is not my cup of tea, I find it a little too stern and correct. In the SPB series, the SPB-2 lacked balance and sounded a bit strange in some settings. For a big in your face tone, I like the SPB-3, it's their most successful bass pickup. I have not tested the SPB-4 yet.
Click to expand...
Getting ready to pull the SPB-2 from my late 80's Peavey Fury w Fender 9050 flats and install an SPB-1.

This bass sounds excellent thru my Eden Metro on the SS 2nd channel with some EQ adjusting.....almost unsuable on the 1st tube channel as I could not get the big midrange bump EQ'd properly.

The SPB-2 sounds good with my GK 800RB but it has the mid contour which pulls some mids out, plus the low and high mids knobs.

Hopefully the SPB-1 with the Fender 9050 SS flats will sound balanced in this Fury.
 
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#10
I think they had something going with those active pups with the little toggles on them. There were a variety of usable tones with those paired with a two or three band onboard pre. Who knows why they were discontinued for the one trick ponies they label as actives in their catalog now.:rolleyes:
 
#11
Laurent said:
It's important to note that this pickup emulates the tone of a late 50's pickup. Personally I found I needed more mids and bass and that there was too much highs. I tend to prefer 60's pickups. It's an excellent pickup at what it does but the tone of that era is not my cup of tea, I find it a little too stern and correct. In the SPB series, the SPB-2 lacked balance and sounded a bit strange in some settings. For a big in your face tone, I like the SPB-3, it's their most successful bass pickup. I have not tested the SPB-4 yet.
Click to expand...

Perhaps because of the way I eq my amp, this pickup sounds so good. Bass, low mids, mids at noon, while treble at 10 or 11. Also, my tone know is at half. No thinness even when I play near the bridge. Oh, and I use ghs precision flats.
 
#13
I agree with the OP's observation that SD's description of their pickup flavors isn't very helpful. It would be nice if there was a standardized rating system, or as Zoobiedood said, an actual graphic EQ curve.

I have another beef with Seymour Duncan. I have been waiting for them to introduce a split-coil J pickup. Currently, the only way to get one from them is through their Custom Shop. Why can't they have an off-the-shelf version like everyone else?

Specifically, I would love to see a split-coil version of the quarter pound SJB-3 J pickup. Come on, SD!
 
#14
I think this has been talked about several times. I'll see if I can bring it up again. There are a lot of factors and boxes that need to be ticked before something moves from the Custom Shop to full production. As you can imagine, we sell more guitar pickups than bass pickups, but it is still a great idea.
 

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