JakeAC5253
New member
I have a Alder HSS strat and I would like a new bridge pickup for it. I have been using a Duncan Custom in it for a while, and while I love the pickup, it may not be the greatest compliment for this guitar. I swapped a DiMarzio Super Distortion into it just to see what it would do, and it's a nice change, but it's not what I'm looking for. Here's where I stand now with the pickups that have been in (and out) of this guitar.
Duncan Invader: Used this pickup for a while in this guitar, too bassy and not enough midrange.
Duncan Custom: Used this one for a while as well. It's got a nice middy rock sound with tons of clarity and never flubs out, but it's too bright and lacks bottom for this guitar.
Super Distortion: High freaking output pickup that actually seems to add gain to my sound (which I like), and I actually don't mind the bassiness that people complain about with this pickup, I boost anyway so it's not really a problem. The problem I have is that it sounds a bit hollow and the midrange is a bit weird.
Now here's where the decision must be made and the options at hand. I was going to grab an Alnico II magnet and put it in the Custom to round it out a bit, but I've heard Custom Customs, and it's still a pretty PAFy "rock" sound... and I think I may want to go more metal with this guitar. I desire a darker, more full sound with lots of output and even some mud and grit may be desirable. Almost along the lines of the Super Distortion, but without the weird mids. I don't really want any "Boutique" or "Handmade" pickups, but something off the beaten path could be considered as well. Aside from the Alnico II mag swap in the Custom, I was thinking of either getting a Duncan Distortion or DiMarzio Crunch Lab. I have the Duncan Distortion in my Jackson RR3, which I very much like the tone of, so I was thinking it would be a good idea, but the two guitars in question have a very different sound. The Crunch Lab, does that have the typical DiMarzio "hollowness" in the midrange?
Duncan Invader: Used this pickup for a while in this guitar, too bassy and not enough midrange.
Duncan Custom: Used this one for a while as well. It's got a nice middy rock sound with tons of clarity and never flubs out, but it's too bright and lacks bottom for this guitar.
Super Distortion: High freaking output pickup that actually seems to add gain to my sound (which I like), and I actually don't mind the bassiness that people complain about with this pickup, I boost anyway so it's not really a problem. The problem I have is that it sounds a bit hollow and the midrange is a bit weird.
Now here's where the decision must be made and the options at hand. I was going to grab an Alnico II magnet and put it in the Custom to round it out a bit, but I've heard Custom Customs, and it's still a pretty PAFy "rock" sound... and I think I may want to go more metal with this guitar. I desire a darker, more full sound with lots of output and even some mud and grit may be desirable. Almost along the lines of the Super Distortion, but without the weird mids. I don't really want any "Boutique" or "Handmade" pickups, but something off the beaten path could be considered as well. Aside from the Alnico II mag swap in the Custom, I was thinking of either getting a Duncan Distortion or DiMarzio Crunch Lab. I have the Duncan Distortion in my Jackson RR3, which I very much like the tone of, so I was thinking it would be a good idea, but the two guitars in question have a very different sound. The Crunch Lab, does that have the typical DiMarzio "hollowness" in the midrange?
Imagine that 
