Seymore or DiMarzio ?

[joethebaddog]

Hey Folks.
I need some expert opinions. I just put three Duncan Design pu's in a strat but I don't like the sound of the one in the bridge position. This is one of my main guitars , so I can't go on like this ! I want something that rocks hard and will cut through anything. I've been thinking about either a S.D. Hot Rails or a DiMarzio Fast Track 2. I'd like to know what you guys think, or if you've got a different suggestion I'd like to hear that too. Thanks.
joe

 

[metalhead28]

I'm assuming you've got a single coil in the bridge right? If you want to rock hard I'm also assuming you want to put a humbucker or mini humbucker in there instead? I would recommend a "JB Jr." from Seymour Duncan. I know they sound good and I think a JB is a nearly perfect all around "rock" pickup.
It will be worlds ahead of the "Duncan Design" pickups too!

 

[joethebaddog]

Thanks m.head
Would the jb jr. fit without cutting the pickguard or routing the body ?
joe

 

[metalhead28]

yep, check this out:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/products/strats.shtml

 

[-=¤willhaven¤=-]

Both companies make great pickups. I've had a Dimarzio Super 3 in the bridge of my ESP Horizon for almost 10 years now. I replaced a weak Seymour Duncan.

I also had a '66 Fender Mustang when I was younger. It had a humbucker routed in the bridge position. I went to a guitar show and got a used and unmutilated pickguard to replace my destroyed one with (of course the wood underneath was still gone). I still wanted a thick sound, however. I got a Seymour Hot Rails and it sounded nice and thick.

I suggest looking at the pickup charts of both companies and find the pickup that best suits your tone. If you want a lot of distortion, look for something high gain. When I was looking for pickups, I looked at the charts and tailored my pickup choice to boost what I was missing from my sound.

 

[Light]

I want something that rocks hard and will cut through anything. I've been thinking about either a S.D. Hot Rails or a DiMarzio Fast Track 2.

Hot Rails, hands down. Rocking pickup.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[canadianrocker]

I have an '82 Schecter "strat-style" (made back when they were all custom made) and over the years I went through three seymour duncan pickups (all single coil sized humbuckers, as i didn't want to route out the body or change the pickguard, or mainly, change the look of the guitar) BTW, body is ash, one piece fretted maple neck.

In order of my use:
1. Hot Rails - over time I found this too powerful, leading to a mushy undefined sound
2. JB Jr - alot clearer, with still a good output - eventually found it too lower mids dominant
3. George Lynch screamin deamon (sp?) now this one I like! It uses 2 different wound coils and has high output, but still has a clear, note defined sound to it - so the chords don't sound mushy at high amp gain settings. My recommendation.

All 3 above have 4 conductor wiring, so I always had them wired to a series/parallel switch.

The specs on the pickups from the website or catalogue are a good start, but the whole low/mid/high number range, you can't truly tell how it will sound until it's in the guitar.

As for "cutting through" I've found it's not so much the overall output of the pickup that will do this, it's the tonal characteristics. So for me, having a clearer/defined note definition made it cut through.

Oh, and nothing against Dimarzio, I have an HS-2 in the mid position and it's great.

 

[rokinrandy]

i,ve always been a big fan of the duncan hot rails for a single bridge position..it's really a humbucker and is sensitive to harmonics..i have an old kramer striker with one in all 3 positions...and a stienberger neck and middle..
great tones.......but i also love dimarzios for humbuckers!!!!!!!!!

to hear a duncan hot rail at the bridge go here ; www.myspace.com/rokinrandysmusic and listen to "2 part lead 2 part jam"

not the first section of that! but the next 3 parts of that is a hot rail in the bridge all the way.........the first section!the one that rips are just bridge and neck blended dimarzio humbuckers,lol

 

[Farview]

I love the hotrails. If it is too hot for you, the coolrails will do the trick. Neither one will give you the sound of the original strat pickup.

 

[rokinrandy]

I have an '82 Schecter "strat-style" (made back when they were all custom made) and over the years I went through three seymour duncan pickups (all single coil sized humbuckers, as i didn't want to route out the body or change the pickguard, or mainly, change the look of the guitar) BTW, body is ash, one piece fretted maple neck.

In order of my use:
1. Hot Rails - over time I found this too powerful, leading to a mushy undefined sound
2. JB Jr - alot clearer, with still a good output - eventually found it too lower mids dominant
3. George Lynch screamin deamon (sp?) now this one I like! It uses 2 different wound coils and has high output, but still has a clear, note defined sound to it - so the chords don't sound mushy at high amp gain settings. My recommendation.

All 3 above have 4 conductor wiring, so I always had them wired to a series/parallel switch.

The specs on the pickups from the website or catalogue are a good start, but the whole low/mid/high number range, you can't truly tell how it will sound until it's in the guitar.

As for "cutting through" I've found it's not so much the overall output of the pickup that will do this, it's the tonal characteristics. So for me, having a clearer/defined note definition made it cut through.

Oh, and nothing against Dimarzio, I have an HS-2 in the mid position and it's great.

i love mooshy goooshy sounds...lol..screamin demon is also an awesome recomendation.........thanks for the help on the sq-1 battery bro

 

[iwantmypie]

I have a Hot Rails installed in my old Hamer strat copy. It is a very hot pickup. I also installed a coil tap/splitter or whatever you want to call it. When the pickup is split it sounds kinda weak but it works.

 

[guttapercha]

Agreed here on the hotrails. I put one in my first guitar, a 1984 squier, when I was just starting out and wanting pinch harmonics more than anything. That pickup delivered (I've long since sold that axe.).

J

 

[Dani Pace]

Like others have said, put a Duncan Hotrail pup in the bridge slot, I think that will serve your needs quite well. They fit the existing hole without any extra cutting.