Post by: Deny on May 11, 2019, 01:01:27 PM
2 years ago I've got a Washburn Parallax which comes with SDs, Distortion in the bridge and Jazz in the neck (neither have metal covers). The bridge pickup squeals like a pig about to become bacon on moderate-high gain and stage volume (my drummer is REALLY loud). Exact same settings and my Ibanez Prestige equipped with a DiMarzio Fred on the bridge doesn't squeal. I also have a Chapman ML1 handy with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, doesn't squeal either. In fact I have yet to find a setting that makes those pickups go microphonic.
I've repotted the SD Distortion bridge pickup to no avail, and was beginning to suspect the culprit was the tremolo springs.
Fast forward to this week when I've got a brand new custom made guitar from what's considered the Suhr custom shop in my country, and it came equipped with Duncans as well (no metal covers either), a JB on the bridge and a 59 on the neck. Guess what? The JB (which I've read somewhere is the exact same pickup as the Distortion with an alnico magnet) ALSO SQUEALS with the settings above!
So I'm not saying the SD JB and Distortion suck, but they probably are (much) more susceptible to microphonic squealing than the DiMarzios I own (Fred, PAF Pro, Blaze, Steve Special, The Breed, Super Distortion), and don't work for my application. Before anyone asks if I'm using a huge amount of gain, I'm not, it's an AX8 and the patch is a plexi with a mild boost in front for some tight hard rock sounds, I play in a Bon Jovi cover band.
Anyone with a similar experience?
Post by: buddroyce on May 11, 2019, 01:44:02 PM
Post by: Deny on May 11, 2019, 03:26:18 PM
Post by: DarthPhineas on May 11, 2019, 04:23:31 PM
What else have you done to track down the issue? Swapped pups to different guitars? Used different rigs? Changed up any pedals/cables/etc.?
Post by: BluesJam on May 11, 2019, 05:14:36 PM
Post by: Deny on May 11, 2019, 07:33:24 PM
Post by: BluesJam on May 11, 2019, 07:40:06 PM
Post by: greenlion on May 11, 2019, 08:48:59 PM
Post by: darkbluemurder on May 13, 2019, 03:55:27 AM
From looking at pictures of a Parallaxe, it does not seem that the bridge construction adds to that phenomenon like sometimes telecaster bridges can so this is definitely not normal even though uncommon.
If (re)potting did not help I guess a pickup swap is in order.
Good luck,
Stephan
Post by: BluesJam on May 13, 2019, 05:18:35 AM
I’m sure DiMarzio probably changed their pickup manufacturing of their original 1970’s flagship pickups, like the Super Distortion, Dual Sound and FS 1. It would be great if they did an anniversary re-issues of these pickups to exact 1970’s specs
Post by: gtrjunior on May 13, 2019, 08:08:57 AM
But a year or so ago I put a tone zone p90 bridge in my LP Special and had the same issue as you. I tried everything to fix it....I even sent it back to Dimarzio for repotting. Nothing helped. It ended up being removed and I ordered a set of Fokin pickups which are perfect.
Anyway, my point is that I don’t think it is so much the Duncan brand. Maybe those pickups just aren’t right in those guitars, through your rig, with the settings you use. Like the tone zone being the wrong pickup for my needs in that particular guitar.
As I mentioned in your Duncan thread I have a JB in 2 guitars and play high gain material through a Splawn Quickrod and don’t experience any of the issues you are describing with those guitars.
I don’t know exactly what the cause is for you with those pickups and I hope you sort it out but I don’t necessarily think it’s exclusive to the Duncan brand. I know you weren’t happy with he responses you got from the Duncan community. Sorry for that, it’s actually a good forum. You just had a bad experience.
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on May 13, 2019, 09:01:08 AM
Other things: Microphonic tubes in your amp or a bad filter cap can cause the same effect, and again, the frequencies in certain pickups can be more likely to set that off.
Since companies started potting pickups, I've never seen a DiMarzio or Duncan that squealed because of an issue with the pickup, at least not one that came potted from the factory.
Post by: Deny on May 13, 2019, 09:02:40 PM
- Chapman with DiMarzio Super Distortion: on the edge of uncontrollable feedback but still useable
- Washburn Parallax (Duncan Distortion): almost the same as the Chapman, but squeals onstage whereas the Chapman doesn't
- Ibanez Universe: a bit harder to control than the Chapman
- Ibanez Prestige with DiMarzio Fred: much easier to control than any of the others
- Custom shop guitar with JB: squeals like crazy but if I press the pickup against the body it improves considerably.
So I'm thinking part of the problem is that I haven't fiddled with the new guitar yet and padded under the pickup with polyurethane foam, but because it has the same coil configuration as the Duncan Distortion I'm thinking it will squeal at stage volumes with the gain structure I'm using even after I do that.
So in conclusion, I will blame the squealing on the fact that JBs are overwound in comparison to my other pickups, OR another way of looking at the problem would be that lower output pickups are more resistant to squealing, pick your favorite.
Post by: BluesJam on May 13, 2019, 11:13:42 PM
Post by: DarthPhineas on May 14, 2019, 03:08:47 AM
So in conclusion, I will blame the squealing on the fact that JBs are overwound in comparison to my other pickups, OR another way of looking at the problem would be that lower output pickups are more resistant to squealing, pick your favorite.
One of the most popular and best selling OEM and replacement pickups that has been in the market over 40 years is at “blame”?
I don’t think laying the “blame” on what you called an “overwound” pickup will fly here, among DiMarzio enthusiasts, where the Super D is also one of the best selling and longest running replacement pickups and would also be considered “overwound” by your criteria.
The wildcard in all of this seems to remain as your rig.
Post by: darkbluemurder on May 14, 2019, 04:16:03 AM
- Custom shop guitar with JB: squeals like crazy but if I press the pickup against the body it improves considerably.
Same category as loose wiring. A loosely mounted pickup can cause this phenomenon. Either put a piece of foam under the pickup to keep it tightly mounted or replace the springs with rubber tubes. If you use rubber tubes, be careful to not make them too long to keep the pressure manageable. There is some trial and error in this process so don't give up.
Good luck,
Stephan
Post by: Guitar74 on May 31, 2019, 12:03:45 PM
I know I didn't originate this thread, but it helped me out quite a bit. Now on to my Jackson Dinky!
Post by: BluesJam on May 31, 2019, 12:28:05 PM