Duncan JB vs Suhr Aldrich vs Super Distortion for PRS SC250

  • Thread starter Thread starter Caca_Spaniel_123
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Caca_Spaniel_123 said:
I always like small winders, will he be able to slightly tweal his pups to my needs? All I need is more treble.

Speaking of which is the Duncan JB actually the versatile hot humbucker Duncan says it is? I mainly play hard rock and a bit of metal (Mastodon, Alice In Chains, TOOL) and I liked how the JB sounded. I like to dial in a crunchy sound with my Soldano plugin, its not that gained up.
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Sounds like you need to scratch that JB itch and get that out of your system...at the least you'll know.

Again, I'm a JB fan and to me they are not dark but I've been down that road with a JB in Paul style guitars and it doesn't work "for me" just not enough grunt but sometimes you need to find out for yourself. Years past in all my shred guitars the JB delivered and there is a reason everyone from trash to metal have used it. I mean it's what Adam Jones uses and you mentioned Tool above.

Also, cannot recommend Tonenerd enough, currently running the Wicked 8 in my Chubtone and the Psykes in my LP Custom. And just purchased another Wicked 8 for a new build. Also have to disagree a bit with @LPMojoGL in terms of Ceramics, the Tremonti pups in my Tremonti guitars are fantastic. In those guitars they just work and I had previously been through a ton of pups only to come back to the stock ones and realize they were perfect. They are Ceramic and the sensitivity and dynamics are all there, I thinks it's a fantastic pup for PRS guitars. And I absolutely love my 500T's in my other Les Pauls.

As I said above though, people can make vids all day long and we can give opinions all day long but you aren't really going to be able to tell until you get it in the guitar and hear and play for yourself.
 
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jabps said:
Sounds like you need to scratch that JB itch and get that out of your system...at the least you'll know.

Again, I'm a JB fan and to me they are not dark but I've been down that road with a JB in Paul style guitars and it doesn't work "for me" just not enough grunt but sometimes you need to find out for yourself. Years past in all my shred guitars the JB delivered and there is a reason everyone from trash to metal have used it. I mean it's what Adam Jones uses and you mentioned Tool above.

Also, cannot recommend Tonenerd enough, currently running the Wicked 8 in my Chubtone and the Psykes in my LP Custom. And just purchased another Wicked 8 for a new build. Also have to disagree a bit with @LPMojoGL in terms of Ceramics, the Tremonti pups in my Tremonti guitars are fantastic. In those guitars they just work and I had previously been through a ton of pups only to come back to the stock ones and realize they were perfect. They are Ceramic and the sensitivity and dynamics are all there, I thinks it's a fantastic pup for PRS guitars. And I absolutely love my 500T's in my other Les Pauls.

As I said above though, people can make vids all day long and we can give opinions all day long but you aren't really going to be able to tell until you get it in the guitar and hear and play for yourself.
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Sure, JBs aren't crazy expensive anyways. What could go wrong
 
jabps said:
Sounds like you need to scratch that JB itch and get that out of your system...at the least you'll know.

Again, I'm a JB fan and to me they are not dark but I've been down that road with a JB in Paul style guitars and it doesn't work "for me" just not enough grunt but sometimes you need to find out for yourself. Years past in all my shred guitars the JB delivered and there is a reason everyone from trash to metal have used it. I mean it's what Adam Jones uses and you mentioned Tool above.

Also, cannot recommend Tonenerd enough, currently running the Wicked 8 in my Chubtone and the Psykes in my LP Custom. And just purchased another Wicked 8 for a new build. Also have to disagree a bit with @LPMojoGL in terms of Ceramics, the Tremonti pups in my Tremonti guitars are fantastic. In those guitars they just work and I had previously been through a ton of pups only to come back to the stock ones and realize they were perfect. They are Ceramic and the sensitivity and dynamics are all there, I thinks it's a fantastic pup for PRS guitars. And I absolutely love my 500T's in my other Les Pauls.

As I said above though, people can make vids all day long and we can give opinions all day long but you aren't really going to be able to tell until you get it in the guitar and hear and play for yourself.
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Haven't played the Tremoni, but ripping the 500t out of my LP and Explorer was the best thing that's happened to those guitars since I bought them.
 
If you like JB, you'll love the tone nerd sunset strip. JB is fine though, a good pickup.

Honestly, I can't stand the super distortion, it's a one trick pony. Duncan distortion is far superior.

If you're thinking an Aldrich, it's a good pickup, but there's WAY better options in that price range. ToneNerd roxy, Wagner godwood, etc etc etc

Honestly it sounds like you might wanna try something super trebly like a Duncan sh-6
 
LP Freak said:
I had an Aldrich in my SC250 and it sounded great
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Yep, me too. The #7's sounded like shit, and uninspiring to my ears..
Like many, I should have kept that damn thing!

OP - The Aldrich is NOT a JB. It's what the JB wishes it was. It's aggressive like a JB, but refined in the low/low mids - much tighter. It's a way better pickup.

If, (like the SC250 I had) is a heavier, darker sounding beast, (mine was 10lbs.), the Duncan Custom SH-5 might be right up your alley. Lifts some high mids from darker guitars, punchy as hell, and tight lows.
 
I’m a MUCH bigger fan of the Aldrich over the JB, tighter in all the right places and no shrill top end to be found!
 
LPMojoGL said:
Haven't played the Tremoni, but ripping the 500t out of my LP and Explorer was the best thing that's happened to those guitars since I bought them.
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Again, all preference. And why "for me" you gotta play a pup - hear it and feel it on your rig.

The 500T though for me in 3 of my Pauls is money. As is the Tonenerd PSykes in one of my other Pauls.

The Tremonti in my PRS's is money as well. The Tremonti pup is basically PRS's copy of the 500t which he used in his Les Pauls, that said to my ears and feel, it's a bit more dynamic and responsive than the 500t. In fact I've said on pickup threads before the Tremonti at times has a very alnico feel to it.

I'm set for pickups in my Pauls and PRS's, always a good feeling to know the search is over. And with the Chubtones, I'm digging the Tonenerd Wicked 8 as well. Btw/ it replaced a JB. I just needed more from the guitar and the Wicked 8 fit the bill.
 
RevDrucifer said:
I’m a MUCH bigger fan of the Aldrich over the JB, tighter in all the right places and no shrill top end to be found!
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Yep, me too! But the Tone Nerd I love even more and want to buy them for more of my guitars. Cheaper, sound better, and can have a forum member tweak to your needs. What is better than that?
 
romanianreaper said:
Yep, me too! But the Tone Nerd I love even more and want to buy them for more of my guitars. Cheaper, sound better, and can have a forum member tweak to your needs. What is better than that?
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Same for me. When the JB didn't work in the Chub, which had always been my go to in strat style guitars I didn't even want to go through the whole pickup search thing, been there done that, for me it's exhausting. Actually thought he might recommend The Roxy. So just asked Scott's opinion, told him what I was missing and what I was trying to get and boom, Wicked 8. Sounds great. And because of that and my love for Sykes, plus a Black Les Paul Custom I loaded that with his PSykes. I'm good.
 
RevDrucifer said:
I’m a MUCH bigger fan of the Aldrich over the JB, tighter in all the right places and no shrill top end to be found!
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Honestly, the JB doesn't have much top end, it's mostly mids, so how can it be shrill? Is Marty Friedman's tone on Rust In Peace shrill to you? It sounds amazing to my ears. In the right guitar a JB is a great pickup. It's funny how everyone describes pickups differently.
 
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I have a set of covered Aldrich's in my SC58, I like them a whole lot better than the JB in that guitar. They push the front of the amp just a hair harder and have a little bit of sparkle on the top end that makes them cut through the mix better.
 
firegate said:
I have a set of covered Aldrich's in my SC58, I like them a whole lot better than the JB in that guitar. They push the front of the amp just a hair harder and have a little bit of sparkle on the top end that makes them cut through the mix better.
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Would you consider a JB or a Aldrich a "versatile" high output pup? I mean the JB was Jeff's goto back in the days right and he wasnt a chugga chugga guy
 
Caca_Spaniel_123 said:
Would you consider a JB or a Aldrich a "versatile" high output pup? I mean the JB was Jeff's goto back in the days right and he wasnt a chugga chugga guy
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I'd say so. It's got a pretty strong output on the bridge, but to me it still feels like a PAF. It doesn't get the high output pickup feel that you'd get from something like a Dimarzio or BKP in that output range. Also cleans up great with the guitar volume.

Aldrich uses them in his Les Pauls and I don't consider his tone all that heavy.
 
firegate said:
I'd say so. It's got a pretty strong output on the bridge, but to me it still feels like a PAF. It doesn't get the high output pickup feel that you'd get from something like a Dimarzio or BKP in that output range. Also cleans up great with the guitar volume.

Aldrich uses them in his Les Pauls and I don't consider his tone all that heavy.
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Yeah thats what I needed to hear. Problem is these Suhr Aldrich pups are much harder to come by and twice the price..
 
Someone mentioned Wagner Godwood, this is a fantastic pickup. Slightly subdued highs but fantasticly clear and punchy mids.
 
jabps said:
Same for me. When the JB didn't work in the Chub, which had always been my go to in strat style guitars I didn't even want to go through the whole pickup search thing, been there done that, for me it's exhausting. Actually thought he might recommend The Roxy. So just asked Scott's opinion, told him what I was missing and what I was trying to get and boom, Wicked 8. Sounds great. And because of that and my love for Sykes, plus a Black Les Paul Custom I loaded that with his PSykes. I'm good.
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Maybe I need a Wicked 8 in the Chubtone?
 
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