Seymour Duncan Pickups

[bcrich]

Hey all, I am in the midst of finally getting around to replacing just the humbucker on my BC Rich. I have selected the Seymour Duncan SH-6 Distortion pickup for this. I have shopped around for the right sounding pickup beit EMG,Seymour Duncan, Duncan Designed,D'Marzio, Rockfield and the SH-6 seems to be the right one I am looking for. Though I don't plan to replace the pickup myself I was wondering how hard it is to do? I also want to know if I need to change the pot too. When I get around to it I am planning to replace the 2 single coil pickups to SD's as well. Any thoughts?

I ahve so many mixed reviews about this pickup it doesn't sound good for soloing, it lacks an edge for palm muting, then there are others who swear by them more so then not.

[gtrplr]

Take it to a tech! I just went through a nightmare with a charvel if you understand wiring and electronics you can do it! go to seymourduncan.com for schematics. I like JB's just kinda like a well rounded pickup, also check out the dimarzio evo good luck

[bcrich]

Take it to a tech! I just went through a nightmare with a charvel if you understand wiring and electronics you can do it! go to seymourduncan.com for schematics. I like JB's just kinda like a well rounded pickup, also check out the dimarzio evo good luck

Ya I was always planning to , I do understand wiring complexities and such but I have never replaced a pickup before and I don't wanna screw it up! Thanks

[bcrich]

I was just on Seymour Duncans website. I didn't know they made the "Mini" humbuckers! Designed to fit where a single coil usually goes. Has anyone ever replaced their single coils with one of these pickups or anything like it? The pick up I am referring to is the Seymour Duncan SJBJ-1 jb jr mini humbucker. . I am now thinking that maybe I might replace the middle and neck pickups as well. But putting the SJBJ-1 jb jr. in the neck position and a new SD single coil in the middle.

[nella]

I have a Seymour Duncan SJBJ-1b JB Jr. in the bridge position on my strat and love the tone.

nella

[Jstickley]

Ian, I can help you install that over the net, IF you can solder. Catch me on yahoo.

As far as your concern over the palm muting and bite down bottom, that pickup does lack a little bit. Which is why I chose the SH-13. This pickup is HOT. It has great low end crunch, and it has great highs, Harmonics are almost effortless, and you can really get it to sing. Id suggest check it out.

Jesse

[bcrich]

Cool Jesse, I have researched pretty much all of the SD pickups. I was considering the SH6 SH8 invader, SH10 and SH13. To me when I listen to them on the sound bites portion on Seymour's website, they all pretty much sound the same with minute differences. Like the SH6 has great treble whereas the SH8 invader has a deeper tone. I wish I could go into a guitar store and try every pickup out before I decided. The reason I was going with the SH6 was the tech from Seymour Duncan told me that for the music I was playing and what type and kind of guitar I was using this was the best choice for tone and crunch I was after. This is why I wanted to know who has them and who likes them.

[disobedience]

Problem with pickups is that the sound is a personal preference.
I'm waiting for my D-Sonic to come in for my Dean.

If you read up on how to replace a pickup, you'll find it's a pretty simple process.

[bcrich]

Thanks Todd, Ya Jesse has been walking me through it over the weekend. I have decided instead of the SH6 I am going with the SH13 Dimebucker and a hotrail for the mid pickup and a cooltrail for the neck to replace the 2 single coils. All of these are humbuckers and Jesse was telling me that they are really good pickups from Seymour Duncan and they are the size of single coils and will fit my guitar no problem. So that's what I am going with. I am installing them myself too, Minimum price for my guitar store to install them is 70 bucks that's just for the drop in installation. I think I am gonna save me some money and do 'er myself. I am no stranger to soldering so it shouldn't be a problem. HOPEFULLY lol

[Harley]

I think I am gonna save me some money and do 'er myself. I am no stranger to soldering so it shouldn't be a problem.
Yep, it's a VERY easy project.

1) Make sure you have the right solder. It should be rosin-core 60/40.... I get mine from Radio Shack. This is pretty much the standard for electronics wiring. You shouldn't even attempt the project with hardware store-type, plumbing solder, etc. You're doomed for failure right from the beginning.
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160625w345.jpg

3) A soldering iron of 30 watts minimum. Anything less and you can damage pots and caps while waiting for components to heat up. I know the opposite would seem to be true, but it isn't. Hotter is better, even on this small stuff.
http://www.allelectronics.com/images/gold/full/IR-30.jpg

3) Even though the solder contains rosin/flux internally, it's usually a lot better to apply some flux to the 2 parts before starting. This usually ensures those nice, shiny connections. I'm kinda hit-or-miss with this step. If it's around when I'm making a connection I use it. I should add that most amp builders even pre-tin each part. Each connection is heated up and solder is applied. Then the connections are mated and soldered together. Some pickup manufacturers do this to the wire ends before shipping. I installed a set of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders a while back but can't remember if they arrived like this.
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2110791t98.jpghttp://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/images/617a-18.jpg

4) Make sure you protect/cover the body around the work area. You would be surprised how far some of those tiny, invisible splatters can jump. I'm talking up to 10". I once had one melt right through the layers of nitro lacquer on a '52 Tele RI. Didn't even notice it until the project was completed. You don't even see it happening and it's very rare. Now I just take an old towel and cover the entire body before starting, then cut out a hole for the work area.
Minimum price for my guitar store to install them is 70 bucks
These prices are directly from Radio Shack's online catalog-
New soldering iron=$7.99
60/40 rosin-core solder=$2.99
flux=$5.99


Good Luck

[bcrich]

LOL thanks for the lesson, I assume you think I don't know how to solder. I have been into model railroading for over 20 sum years now. I am no stranger to soldering. I use 24thou rosin core and flux for every project I do. As I was telling Jesse earlier I used to make computer boards for HO Scale locomotives with resistors,leds, diodes and all mounted in perf board. I have 2 soldering irons one stick and one dual wattage gun. Both made by Weller. Installing pickups shouldn't be a problem for me. I will also use heat sincs too for the pots to ensure no damage is done.

[Harley]

LOL thanks for the lesson, I assume you think I don't know how to solder.
The end of the cord with the two prongs plugs into the "holes" in the wall. Just kidding. Seinfield's Frogger game episode.:)

When I have spare time I like writing up responses like that. This way if there's ever a similar question someone can go back and copy/paste the info to the current thread.

Take care

[disobedience]

WOOT! Got my new pup today and installed it!
I'm stoked...love the extra tone...and it seems to have more headroom..if that makes any sense?!?

Anyway..I didn't get a chance to record anything good...but I put a quick vid up if anyone wants to listen to it.

http://canadian-music.net/shared/NewPup.wmv

I was gonna load it to youtube but didn't want it to compress it

[bcrich]

Cool Todd that pickup sounds great! It has amazing sustain and tone. It is the same type of design the Seymour Duncan SH13 Dimbucker is with the blades instead of dot magnets. The SH13 I am getting has 2 blades as does the hot and cool trail humbickers going in place of the single coils. Sounds really good though, what make is it again? Can you notice the difference between the Dean and the new pickup?

[disobedience]

It's a Dimarzio D-Sonic. It's hot! Gives me better sustain and brings out all the sound from my Dean.

There's a HUGE difference between the D-Sonic and the stock Dean pickup...the new one is hotter and has much better tone...plus it brings the sound of the Mahogany out :) I are happy!!

[Blewbyou]

Thought you said you believed tone came from the fingers?hehe http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/stirthepot.gif

[disobedience]

Here we go....lol

Tone and style comes from your hands and heart...I know this is true as I've had other guitarists plug into my exact rig and not sound like me...and I've plugged into other setups and still sound like me.

I got into a discussion with MarshallDude about this last night and it comes down to this....

I replaced my pickup with a hotter one to enhance my style and tone, as the hotter pickup will bring out and pick up what I'm trying to convey. If you listen to the sound on the vid...I still sound like me and my tone is the same (same setup for recording), but it's enhanced...there's more there because the pickup is stronger/better. I'm going to re-record one of the vids I did already (music wise) with the new pickup so you can do a side by side comparison. You'll find that my tone/style is the same, but it's more enhanced by the new pickup ;)

[Blewbyou]

I'm just ribbing ya man. I know what you meant. I was just stirring the pot a lil with all the talk about tone and equipment and fingers. I do believe that a personal tone comes from your fingers but a type of sound comes from your gear. Lets face it it's hard to sound like dimebag playing a classical guitar! Right? So along with my search for MY tone I'd like some help with the sound I'm going for(amp settings,effects). Does that make sense?
Blew

[disobedience]

I know you were Blew ;)

Just trying to explain it out.
And I agree that you're equipment makes a difference depending on what type of music your playing. But when I talk about tone/style I tend to put the 2 together. It's the personal "Your" sound that I talk about..ya know?

I can sit down on a cheap guitar and amp and still sound like me...still get the heaviness that is part of my personal style/tone. It's just one of those things that is hard to explain.

Single coil strats don't generally sound as thick as humbuckers...but that doesn't mean you can't get a heavy crunch out of them with your hands ;)

I don't take offence to anything anymore...just trying to share experience :D