Identifying a ~15.7k~ Duncan HB

[JacobTM]

So I was sold an old Duncan HB years ago that was supposedly an A2P, but is not.

It has a ceramic bar magnet and normal pole-pieces. It reads at 15.7k when I test it at the output jack and 16.9k when I test it totally unsoldered

The PATB is 15.7K, but this pickup is obviously not a PATB. The Dimebucker and Stag-Mag are in the low 16's, but this HB is neither of them, it has normal pole-pieces and a bar magnet.

The baseplate of this pickup has the SD logo imprinted, but no sticker at all. Is it possible I just bought some random pickup that had the baseplate attached to make it seem legit? I'm beginning to think that's the case, since all other Duncan HBs seem to sit below 14.4k or above 16.2k, besides the PATB Distortion and Alt 8, but this pickup is neither of those. A hot Distortion maybe?


Any further advice on figuring this out?

[Captain Tightpants]

Sounds like a Distortion to me. 2 of mine are in that range.

[JacobTM]

OK, new complication:

When I unsoldered everything and tested the pickup on its own it reads at 16.9k, which is more than anything Duncan makes besides the PATB Distortion (this isn't one) and the Alt 8 (this is from years ago and has a ceramic).

Possible that this is just a particularly HOT distortion now that all is said and done?

[super rad stuff]

if the ceramic bar magnet is thicker than normal, than it's just a distortion.

[JacobTM]

Ceramic bar looks normal, not thicker than normal.

[jafo]

Kinda grasping at straws here, but maybe a JB that somebody kludged into an approximate Distortion? With a resistance that high, it's probably 44 gauge.

[DonP]

So I was sold an old Duncan HB years ago that was supposedly an A2P, but is not.

It has a ceramic bar magnet and normal pole-pieces. It reads at 15.7k when I test it at the output jack and 16.9k when I test it totally unsoldered

The PATB is 15.7K, but this pickup is obviously not a PATB. The Dimebucker and Stag-Mag are in the low 16's, but this HB is neither of them, it has normal pole-pieces and a bar magnet.

The baseplate of this pickup has the SD logo imprinted, but no sticker at all. Is it possible I just bought some random pickup that had the baseplate attached to make it seem legit? I'm beginning to think that's the case, since all other Duncan HBs seem to sit below 14.4k or above 16.2k, besides the PATB Distortion and Alt 8, but this pickup is neither of those. A hot Distortion maybe?


Any further advice on figuring this out?

You were lied to.

The 16.9K reading is the only one that matters.

It's either a DD, a JB or an Invader.

No big "bolts of volts" so that rules out the Invader.
Ceramic magnet rules out the JB.
Normal sized ceramic magnet rules out a DD.

You have a MUTT.

[Luke Duke]

Don't get hung up on the exact DC resistance there is a +\- 5% tolerance so you could feasibly get a JB wound over 17K.

Can you take a pic if the mag? Are you sure itsnot an A5 thats really oxidized?

[cakire82]

Can it be a JB ceramic? Maybe someone swapped the A5 magnet with a ceramic one?

[jafo]

Can it be a JB ceramic? Maybe someone swapped the A5 magnet with a ceramic one?

JB + ceramic = Distortion. Well, a large ceramic, but you get the point.

[cakire82]

JB + ceramic = Distortion. Well, a large ceramic, but you get the point.

yes I am aware of this. But he indicated that the magnet is regular size. So I thought it might be a JB with a ceramic magnet.

Luke also might have point, it might be an oxidized A5 (If Alnicos (aluminum, nicket and cobalt) oxidizes)

[JacobTM]

Would any sort of Alnico oxidize to the point of being the same almost black/dark grey that ceramics are?

[hamerfan]

Yeah i have very dark alnico from duncan. You could put out the mag and judge it by its weight.

[jafo]

Yeah i have very dark alnico from duncan.

Neat -- I did not know that Alnico could darken like that.