FLYINRYAN11
Member
Has anyone had a chance to compare these two? I have the 2nd degree bb in my les paul bridge and love it! Just thought about trying the Duncan 78 in another guitar for something different. Thanks!
cecilbag
Active member
I have them both. To me the 78 has a bit more highs and upper mids. The 2nd degree seems to be just uber balanced and tight but seems a bit less on output. They're both really good pickups depends on what you want out of it.
Mr. Willy
Well-known member
Not trying to hijack the thread, but have either of you compared either those two pickups to a BK VHII?
romanianreaper
Well-known member
I have the 2nd Degree BB in my Les Paul and just love it. When I first got it, my ears were trying to adjust to it (I have a JB in my other guitar) and wasn't sure how long I'd dig it. I'm still enjoying it and can't imagine replacing it. I thought about getting some Slash pickups but this pickup sounds so great that I don't want to mess with it. 
I have an EVH Frankenstein in my Custom "Kramer 5150" guitar. Not sure how it compares to the Duncan 78 but I imagine they are somewhat similar.
I have an EVH Frankenstein in my Custom "Kramer 5150" guitar. Not sure how it compares to the Duncan 78 but I imagine they are somewhat similar.
charvelstrat81
Member
Be sure to check out a ARCANE Brownbucker!
a improved duncan 78
a improved duncan 78
FLYINRYAN11
Member
Looks like we need to have a 78, brownbucker, vhii shootout!
Bronco
Well-known member
I second the Arcane BB for sure...also, the VHII has an A5, while the 78 and BB are A2s. I think a more valid comp would be VHII vs MCP 2nd Degree or BB vs 78. But they're all fantastic.
B
blackie13
Well-known member
get the sd custom/59 hybrid and be done with it...
FLYINRYAN11
Member
Already have one in another guitar lol. Great pickup from duncan just looking for something different.blackie13":12jbtqff said:
Mr. Willy
Well-known member
I'm very interested in the 2nd Degree Blackbelt. I have the VHII. I love the clarity and ultra responsiveness of it, but the "broken coil" quality bothers me sometimes.
FLYINRYAN11
Member
I have tried alot of humbuckers and the 2nd degree bb is my favorite to date. Very balanced and clear but stays together excellent with gain as well. Wade has some mojo in that thing for sure. How do you like the vhii?Mr. Willy":1okzgq22 said:
Mr. Willy
Well-known member
FLYINRYAN11":2gil1ify said:
I like it a lot, but I'm thinking by the way the 2nd Degree BB is described I'd like it more than the VHII. The things I like about the VHII are is clarity and ultra responsive dynamics with the volume knob. The things I don't like about it are that I wish I had a little more meat with it. Not necessarily output, just more body. It has mismatched coils, which is part of its "thing" but sometimes it sounds like a strat pickup. I'm using it in a CU24, but I'm sure it'd sound much better in a super strat style guitar. I'm nitpicking. It's a great pup.
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