Some Duncan Designed HB-105 user?

[FF666]

How good are these pickups?

I have seen a schecter demon guitar with active pickups, Duncan Designed HB-105.
I've read they are similar to EMG 81/85 or Seymour Duncan Blackouts, but I suppose it's false.

Could these be a interesting pickups for an improving amateur player?? I would like a bit more definition than with the poor humbuckers of my cheap guitar.

Or I have to spend more money to get the Schecter Hellraiser with EMG's?

Comments from users? Thanks!

 

[slashvanyoung]

Our singer has an Ibanez with these thingies. Didn't sound like total crap but a bit thin and kinda noisy to my ears (but I didn't have a look on the electronics).

 

[Force666]

a bit thin and kinda noisy

So they are just like EMG 81's

 

[Metaltastic]

Anything Duncan Designed is total crap, so steer clear - go for the one with EMG's

 

[slashvanyoung]

So they are just like EMG 81's

That comment isn't that far off.

But the 81 is head and shoulders above those.

Anything Duncan Designed is total crap, so steer clear - go for the one with EMG's

I use the Duncan Designed rip-off of the Duncan Distortion in a way it was absolutely not designed for - in the neck position of my Jackson Dinky for tasty, meaty bluesy tones... and damn, I love it!

But in combination with the JB it sounds awful, but I never use both simultaneously.

 

[Metaltastic]

Yeah, I can see how it would work in the neck position, cuz I'm WAY less picky with my neck pickups - still, for bridge I'd say avoid it like the plague

 

[FF666]

Thanks guys, I'll pick the one with EMG's

 

[Troyanasy]

Looks like the same as Blackouts.

Duncan Designed HB-105
Neck model
Resonant Frequency 750 Hz
Average output voltage 0.65 Volts RMS (1)
Max. output voltage 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
Noise -97dBV
Output Impedance 1K Ohm
Current consumption 350 micro-amperes
Battery life 1420 hours (3)
Preamp topology Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
Preamp Gain 16 dB
Preamp Thd @ 1Vo .003%


Bridge model
Resonant Frequency 530 Hz
Average output voltage 2.00 Volts RMS (1)
Max. output voltage 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
Noise -96dBV
Output Impedance 1K Ohm
Current consumption 350 micro-amperes
Battery life 1420 hours (3)
Preamp topology Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
Preamp Gain 18 dB
Preamp Thd @ 1Vo .003%

________________________________________

# AHB-1 Blackout Neck Model Specifications

Resonant Frequency: 750 Hz
# Average Output Voltage: 0.65 Volts RMS (1)
# Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
# Noise: -97dBV
# Output Impedance: 1K Ohm
# Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes
# Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)
# Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
# Preamp Gain: 16 dB
# Preamp THD at 1V: .003%

AHB-1 Blackout Bridge Model Specifications

Resonant Frequency: 530 Hz
# Average Output Voltage: 2.00 Volts RMS (1)
# Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
# Noise: -96dBV
# Output Impedance: 1K Ohm
# Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes
# Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)
# Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
# Preamp Gain: 18 dB
# Preamp THD at 1V: .003%

 

[slashvanyoung]

Yes, yet there are notable differences in the sound (maybe it's a material issue). I won't even say that they always sound much worse than the real deal, but different. IIRC all of the Duncan Designed are 1:1 rip-offs of real Duncan ones, but there are for example also 2 versions of their version of the JB or Duncan Distortion. One with higher (for the bridge) and one with lesser (for the neck) output.

 

[JBroll]

Looks like the same as Blackouts.

Duncan Designed HB-105
Neck model
Resonant Frequency 750 Hz
Average output voltage 0.65 Volts RMS (1)
Max. output voltage 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
Noise -97dBV
Output Impedance 1K Ohm
Current consumption 350 micro-amperes
Battery life 1420 hours (3)
Preamp topology Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
Preamp Gain 16 dB
Preamp Thd @ 1Vo .003%


Bridge model
Resonant Frequency 530 Hz
Average output voltage 2.00 Volts RMS (1)
Max. output voltage 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
Noise -96dBV
Output Impedance 1K Ohm
Current consumption 350 micro-amperes
Battery life 1420 hours (3)
Preamp topology Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
Preamp Gain 18 dB
Preamp Thd @ 1Vo .003%

________________________________________

# AHB-1 Blackout Neck Model Specifications

Resonant Frequency: 750 Hz
# Average Output Voltage: 0.65 Volts RMS (1)
# Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
# Noise: -97dBV
# Output Impedance: 1K Ohm
# Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes
# Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)
# Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
# Preamp Gain: 16 dB
# Preamp THD at 1V: .003%

AHB-1 Blackout Bridge Model Specifications

Resonant Frequency: 530 Hz
# Average Output Voltage: 2.00 Volts RMS (1)
# Maximum Output Voltage: 2.60 Volts RMS (2)
# Noise: -96dBV
# Output Impedance: 1K Ohm
# Current Consumption: 350 micro-amperes
# Battery Life: 1420 hours (3)
# Preamp Topology: Discrete hybrid differential, FET input
# Preamp Gain: 18 dB
# Preamp THD at 1V: .003%

Those DD numbers may be the same as the Blackouts, but that's far from saying that they'll sound the same... comparing numbers like the impedance and resonant frequency are AT BEST-

-REPEAT-

-AT BEST a sketchy comparison. Usually comparing those two and expecting the same sound will come out about the same as "HALP I MIEXD MY ALBUM WITH PRO TOLS AND IT HAS TEH SAME RMS ADN PEAK ELVELS AS ASCENDANCY BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WHATIDOINOTGOODATINTERNET?" would here.

Jeff