Can anyone compare the 2nd Degree BB and Super Distortion?

[romanianreaper]

I currently have a Super Distortion in my Les Paul and like playing everything but love metal. Am I going to lose a lot of the gain and crunch going from the Super Distortion to the 2nd Degree Blackbelt? I keep reading that they do up to Van Halen but I like Judas Priest, DIO, etc. Can this do that stuff as well?

 

[charvelstrat81]

The 2nd degree BB is a hot PAF type at 9K and will have a good amount less output than the Super d.
It will do metal with a high gain amp but is not as tight as the ceramic super d.
it is a LOT more dynamic and open toned. and i would say a lot more versatile as well.
It will do Priest and dio with the right amp
the main differences from a super d will be,
Less bass and mids
not as tight
clean up much better
more touch sensitive
less output
Why is it that you want a BB?

 

[charvelstrat81]

I took the Super Distortion out quickly, it's too compressed and it's great at one thing only, metal riffs.

Yes it is compressed but it does more than "metal riffs"
Boston tunes are all super d
old kiss was super d's
old VH had some super d
al dimeola used one years ago
38 special
there are many more

 

[romanianreaper]

The 2nd degree BB is a hot PAF type at 9K and will have a good amount less output than the Super d.
It will do metal with a high gain amp but is not as tight as the ceramic super d.
it is a LOT more dynamic and open toned. and i would say a lot more versatile as well.
It will do Priest and dio with the right amp
the main differences from a super d will be,
Less bass and mids
not as tight
clean up much better
more touch sensitive
less output
Why is it that you want a BB?

Thanks! I have read some great reviews on the 2nd Degree BB and can get a great deal. I like the Super Distortion but has this certain "clank" sound that is hard to describe. I want to get this great organic pickup for the Les Paul. Something that can clean up and go up to metal levels.

 

[charvelstrat81]

Thanks! I have read some great reviews on the 2nd Degree BB and can get a great deal. I like the Super Distortion but has this certain "clank" sound that is hard to describe. I want to get this great organic pickup for the Les Paul. Something that can clean up and go up to metal levels.

Well if you can get a great deal on one then definitely grab it!
It is a awesome p'u, and i am sure it will do the styles you are after and then some.
really think you will love it

 

[romanianreaper]

The SD is great and what my hero Ace Frehley plays but I need a bit more.

 

[mooncobra]

get the bb

 

[Badronald]

I use the Dimarzio SD for everything but metal. It's a fantastic all around rock, pop pickup.

To say it only does metal is absurd and completely misleading. Know your history.

 

[romanianreaper]

Pickups are so interesting and varied. A Suhr Aldrich is considered "hot" but I found them so flexible.

 

[barnesjd]

If the BB isn't tight enough, slamming the preamp with overdrive/boost pedal might do the trick, giving you the versatility and solder-melting high output you enjoy from the SD.

 

[romanianreaper]

If the BB isn't tight enough, slamming the preamp with overdrive/boost pedal might do the trick, giving you the versatility and solder-melting high output you enjoy from the SD.

Thanks!

 

[braintheory]

Why the BB over his other lower output models like the Detroiter or Twrecks?

 

[MichaelG]

If the BB isn't tight enough, slamming the preamp with overdrive/boost pedal might do the trick, giving you the versatility and solder-melting high output you enjoy from the SD.

Exactly!

Doesn't take much boost to get to the face-melting levels either.... Plus it cleans up to crystal clean at those levels as well and you get the bonus of better dynamics and less-harsh highs than the SD.

Like the others said... easy choice.

 

[romanianreaper]

Why the BB over his other lower output models like the Detroiter or Twrecks?

I have the opportunity to maybe get a set from someone. Also, some of the reviews had folks saying "best pickup I've ever played", etc. I've heard other good things about the others though too.

 

[hatrick00]

don't worry about the 2nd BB getting heavy enough. you should be getting most of your gain from the amp, not the pickup. the 2nd is great for it's clarity/open/dynamics, leave the high gain up to the amp. look into the detroiter if you really want to go hotter... but trust me, i play some pretty heavy stuff and the 2nd is prob my fav pickup (i also run an Afwayu, Detroiter, JB, 500T, etc)

 

[romanianreaper]

don't worry about the 2nd BB getting heavy enough. you should be getting most of your gain from the amp, not the pickup. the 2nd is great for it's clarity/open/dynamics, leave the high gain up to the amp. look into the detroiter if you really want to go hotter... but trust me, i play some pretty heavy stuff and the 2nd is prob my fav pickup (i also run an Afwayu, Detroiter, JB, 500T, etc)

Thanks man! That is all I needed to hear. I've had the 500T in a guitar and currently have a JB in another so those are a good reference point. It is so hard figuring out what's "best" for anyone because tone is relative. Some folks think Judas Priest is heavy and others don't think something is heavy unless it is Slipknot territory.

If I know I can get somewhat there, I'd rather have a nice, rich tone than just a can o' bees.

 

[skoora]

I discovered that older SD's are far and away better than any that I tried in the last 20 years. I'm talking late 70's, early 80's models. I know what you mean by the "clank" and I don't get that on the old one I have in my V. That's also why I think the recordings from the 70's and early 80's sound a lot better than anytime I tried a newer era SD. I also agree though that with amps now having more gain available I would go with a good hot PAF that has more dynamics. But I love having one guitar with one for 'that" sound. That V into the crunch setting on my Stiletto using a treble booster IS Unleashed In The East.

 

[Buckeyedog]

I have an old SD for sale now! Last deal fell through. It's the old one with the square feet.

It'll go back up on the classifieds when I can get new pics! I have it all packed up and deleted the pics!!

It's back up on my Duncan JB/Jazz ad.

 

[cecilbag]

I don't know how the super distortion stacks up to the Duncan distortion but here it goes....I use the Duncan Distortion in over half of my guitars. I love it and the scream of the ceramic magnet. Yes, I can use this for much more than metal but like Rez said, there are far better choices if you aren't looking for screaming harmonics etc. I have two Les Pauls that sound and feel almost the same. I have the Distortion set in one, and a set of 2nd degree blackbelts in the other. The blackbelts are great pickups. Very versatile and extremely open sounding. They are nowhere near the output of the Distortion but stomp on a boost and you are in business. I have always went back and forth with hot pickups and lower output pickups. I always come back to the Distortion except in this case. The MCP are the best sounding, lower output pickups I've tried. They are the only hot paf style that didn't get taken out after two weeks. I think you'll love them.

 

[romanianreaper]

If I know I can get somewhat there, I'd rather have a nice, rich tone than just a can o' bees.

EVERY FUCKING TIME> !

LOL!