Duncan SH-5 vs Dimarzio SD

[Purerock7]

I have an American Strat HSS looking to upgrade the stock humbucker. Tone preferences are mainly 80's rock (VH, Dokken, Accept, XYZ, Ratt). Any suggestions on the best fit? Open to anything. Thanks.

 

[Code001]

I think the SH5 sounds more organic and is more versatile. The Super Distortion is huge with its low end and power, but I find that it doesn't clean up as well. The SH5 is generally my go-to pickup.

 

[rupe]

I think the SH5 sounds more organic and is more versatile. The Super Distortion is huge with its low end and power, but I find that it doesn't clean up as well. The SH5 is generally my go-to pickup.

Agreed...SH5 is lower output (still pretty hot) and more traditional sounding than the Super Distortion, which really has its own voice. If you want something "in between", the Duncan Distortion (SH6) has higher output than the SH5 but stays tighter than the Super Distortion in my experience. It was a "go to" pickup for a lot of the 80's guys (Lynch used it on most of Dokken's classics).

 

[nitro]

The Duncan SH-5 is a 14k pickup the Dimarzio Super Distortion is a 13.68k pickup,both are ceramic magnet pickups.Duncan uses the small type ceramic,dimarzio uses the larger type.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

SH-5 is great for harmonics, nice and tight low end. I dig it. Just watch it in really bright guitars. I have mine in an alder with Koa top axe and maple fretboard and it can sound a little too bright on some days. In most cases though. I just find Duncan to sound more organic than dimarzio. Dimarzio always sound fatter on the low end and almost as if they are eq'd that way.

 

[SFW]

In a strat looking for 80s tones.... Duncan JB.

 

[charveldan]

SH-5 > Dimarzio

 

[Ayrton]

I like and use both...

I have found that which one is "best" depends on the guitar.

 

[irondeth21]

Is the sh5 the jb? I prefer the sd to the jb and have played both a lot. The sd has a bigger low end and isn't as harsh. I like it better in both my les Paul and charvel which both had jb before going sd. I moved the jb from my lp to my explorer though and it sounds fucking awesome in that guitar, which is a bigger sounding guitar. I think a sd would sound better if the guitar is already brighter sounding.

 

[nitro]

The SH-5 is the Duncan custom.

 

[nitro]

The Duncan SH-5 Custom sounds very good in a basswood body.

 

[vultures]

SH-5 > Dimarzio

Nah, the SH-5 was one of the best SD pickups I found for alder/basswood bodied guitars. I think I had it in 3 different guitars, killer pickup until I switched suit over to Dimarzio X2N which sounded just as good.

 

[_actual time_]

i love the SH-5 Duncan Custom, in mahogany. especially when modded with an Alnico 8 magnet.

stock it has a ceramic magnet, but they do sell models with other magnets--Custom 5 has an Alnico 5 magnet, which sounds a little rounder with a tiny bit more squish, and IIRC there's also one that has an Alnico 2.

the Duncan Distortion i've read is a JB just with a ceramic magnet instead of the stock Alnico 5. to my ears, the JB is a bit brighter and harsher than the Custom.

 

[AndyK]

Rockstah Mark gets some killer VH tone using a Dimarzio SD (I believe)! That said, the Duncan Custom is a great all around rock pickup, more able to clean up with the volume knob. I also love the Custom 5, with the alnico 5 magnets - more defined, a tad brighter than the Custom.