Seymour Duncan Vs Cheap Aliexpress Pickup BLIND Test. * Update: Part 2 Now Up. Link in Description!
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- Опубликовано: 6 мар 2022
- Hey guys, the Part 2 video is now up for you to see the result! Check it out now:
• Seymour Duncan Vs Alie...
Get the ultimate Seymour Duncan pickup set here:
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Looking for a link to the Donlis Aliexpress pickup? It's in the Part 2 video (link above).
I put a $90 Seymour Duncan JB head to head with a $20 Aliexpress Pickup. Can you tell which one is which just by listening? Listen to the clips and leave your comment below. I will reveal the results in exactly two weeks. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it. Let's see who gets it right!
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Be sure to watch the follow up video where the answer is revealed, and there is a link to the Aliexpress pickups. The link to the Part 2 video is right up there in the description.
I couldn't tell the difference in headphones honestly for distortion. There was a slight difference in the clean tone. So for that reason, my choice was the slightly brighter tone of the B pickup. But I would proudly use either. Nice test. The only issue I have had in the past with overseas pick ups is that they tend to feedback easier and that they turned microphonic on me after time.
exact same.
I never leave home without a waxed
I agree... I almost hate that you sai EXACTLY what I was thinking the B pickup was cleaner, and was the only distinct difference. Thank you for sharing
Wax dip the cheap ones
Even my cheap 335 epiphone came with waxed pickups, I had to melt the wax to get to the wiring and split the coils. I used normal candles to re-wax it.
Between A and B I liked A better on the cleans and solo because it was less "harsh/bright", but both are still 99% the same, just by toning your amp/pedals you pretty much get the same sound.
A SD. B 20 dollar amazing pickups. lol... Both sound amazing!
Thanks for voting brother!
@@thebaldshredder my pleasure. Can't wait to see the result
You got it right. I did too. JBs have more mids, it's easy. They're also more focused. B was good tho, should compare to a more balanced SD pickup.
A $20. B Duncan
B Seymour Duncan
personally, did not think there was 80 dollars worth of difference between the 2, i found out quite a spell ago, high price pickups dont necessarily mean high price tone !
Both are great. I like the A better, not saying it is a Seymour, just like it better. But in the end I would buy the cheaper one, they are very close, it wouldn’t make a difference in the real world. Thanks for the video.
Both sounded great. I think the A pickup is the cheap one and the B is the Seymour Duncan’s
B certainly had more definition
If you use that much distortion, there's not much point in the A/B test. But the clean section at 3'19 is day and night.
How many people with a JB in their guitar play mostly clean?
Overall I liked B. Especially on the cleans.
Great playing and a great amp (or great simulator plug-in) make for most of the tone, so it's no surprise you got such good results on both. To my ear, though, it sounded like A was an alnico 5 magnet and B was a ceramic with a harsher attack. It's not so much that one was better than the other, but maybe each would serve a different purpose in the studio. I'm convinced that either would be fine in a live mix.
Sincerely,
A guy whose bought a ton of SD pickups
Damn. I was wrong. But that makes me happy! I enjoy the stuff that doesn't cost an arm and leg. I have Alnico 5s in my tele from Ali and they sound fantastic. Thanks or the video!
Você poderia me dar o link para os Alnico que você gostou, eu moro no Brasil e os originais são muito caros aqui
as most people have pointed out, there is a slight difference with the clean tones, with A being a bit brighter (maybe the SD?), but as far as gain tones are concerned, they're essentially and for all intents and purposes indistinguishable....
I preferred the A pickup as both sound very good with distortion but the cleanest riff was a bit superior with the A set of pickups
I didn't think either set sounds bad, but I did notice a bit more note clarity in B with the high gain.
@@rrrdzza that's what my blind ears heard. . . Maybe if I could see i would have heard something different, lol.
B for me
I did not hear any difference! So I guess that's a big compliment for the Ali express pickup! thanks for the test because I am ugrading my pickups
Glad I could help!
One listen thru AirPods, I can’t tell which is which, nor does it matter… they both sound great!! Like another commenter said, I also have some “economy” pickups that I like better than similar “big names”.
B had richer harmonic output for me, that gets my vote. If that's the AliExpress one, then that's going on all my mod project guitars. If that's a SD, then is it worth the $70 upcharge? For a couple of pickup projects, I think so.
I preferred A for some of the riffs, other riffs I couldn't tell much of a difference, so there wasn't $ 70 difference to me. I think if either guitar arrived undamaged & functional at unboxing, I wouldn't know the difference. I might feel different about them depending upon I plug into my most pedestrian amp vs most versatile amp with all the amp & cab sims. The SD's, obviously it's a $ 70 difference to squeeze out the last 3% that the pickups both basically get at some volume level as each other. Finding perceived sameness is it's own tone chase altogether.
I can tell the difference between my lipstick, the P90, humbuckers, fidelitron, and a quad rail in my seven differently themed customized partscasters.
Funny thing - I can get them to sound however I want through digital sound processing.
Oh yeh, all these pickups are Chinese or Korean, which I chose mostly for their looks.
Nice video!! Surprisingly the seymor duncans were not the ones I thought
How do they respond to picking though? Sound quality can be the same, but what about picking sensitivity and general feel?
They both sound good I'm getting the donolis for my guitar
Twiddle EQ knobs a little and A can be made to sound like B, and vice versa, to my ears anyway.
Great video! Please give links for the pickups too. Thanks in advance
Watch the Part 2 video. It has the link. Thanks!
don't know which is which, but i prefer b all the way, at least with this signal chain. brighter cleans and better defined distorted tones. but a is a good pickup. definitely does the job well
I own a Fender Player HSS Stratocaster (alder body, maple neck and ebony fingerboard). I recently got an SH-8 Invader humbucker and I have a question: which single coils will work well with this pickup? I will also add that I play heavy music such as rock and metal. Rock on, guys...🤘
3:36... is it me or does the Donlis pup have a little more chime and shimmer on the cleans??? ... imo they're practically identical on dirty sounds...
Move your light to either the left or right side of you and angle it down a tinge, this will give you a 3d effect and much more flattering light. Instead of the mugshot thing going on.
Ok I'll try that Mr. Speilberg.
@@thebaldshredder He's right man, being humble is a virtue
I think B is the SD .. has more definition , but it’s hard to tell ., the cheap pick ups and SD are that close .. a bang for the bucks if you have these cheap pick ups installed ..... cool challenge
Thanks! I think it is hard to tell.
Thank's bro for help me with review this, cuz I plan for replaced with kind PU's, Btw with Registered brands and the abundance of experts in their fields in Worldwide Manufacturers is the answer why Marketing their products will costs more than it might charged buyers like choosing apple-orange over cheap vs quality.. but the only space between it is Clean without distortions, give more harmonious and rich sounds of the previous type.. Then the masterpice from the expert is back to the tastes and needs.
Just saw the other vid paused and came to this one. If I had to guess A sounds a bit more defined/upper mid strong B is grittier? So A is SD and B is Aliexpress. I'd also guess both pickups have a high dc resistance 15-17k or so. Now I'm going back to the other vid to find out how wrong I am lol.
You totally nailed it! Good ear Raf. 🤘
I preferred "B" because it had just a touch more note separation and had a bit more proactive reaction with your modulation effects. That said, both were very similar.
Both sounded great for sure, but my only reserves about this is post processing clean up. I think b was SD and a was Ali
I have three guitars from Ali Express. I put a Seymour Duncan Hot-Rodded humbucker set in one of the Les Paul’s. I immediately noticed significantly more volume out of the same setting I was on with the old pickups. I would be very surprised if both guitars were set on the same volume.
I can't tell the difference. I just bought the Slash set off of Aliexpress and they look like the real deal and sound just like my real set on my les Paul. well worth the $50 I spent.
It sounded like B was a bit brighter... but the real question is which pickup had the best feel?? Like sitting there in front of the amp with the guitar in your hands, which felt better to you??
I was all convinced the Duncans were the better sounding PU I was hearing - No, I picked the Aliexpress pickups. To me they were brighter and had an overall superior tone by far. I own a set of Dimarzio Air Norton and Tone Zone. I wonder how those pricey PUs would fare in such a test. Great demo, thanks
I bought an AliExpress 22$ Seymour Duncan copy( with original logo) instead of ibanez stock humbuckers and I am happy 😁. My guitar sounds much better...
Excellent 🤘
Im sold on the Chinese Invaders. Ive always spent the cash for the brand SD. After all these years, i would go with the clones. Q: How do they hold up at max volume? Sustain?
Do you think that sound qualify will degrade sooner in time with these because they use cheaper quality magnets ?
I doubt it but who knows
No not really. Ceramic magnets live forever and those are the cheapest magnets. (Doesn't mean ceramic magnets sound bad)
Well, here's the deal.. IF the SD PUP's sound THAT close to the $20 joints, either PUP's have come a LONG way, OR SD aint kickin' the way they used to.. In any event, the $20 PUP's have proven their point... Guess the TRUE test is to compare through a REAL amp, side-by-side.. I'm likin' the $20 joints, tho!!.. For the record, I would say "A" are the Duncans...
In the follow up video I'll play both guitars through a small Fender amp.
Is there any difference regarding the noise when not playing?
A was Seymour Duncan, a lot more clarity and tone didn’t get muddy in all the spots the B set did. The B pickups were more microphonic and had bad clean response, too chimey and thin in spots.
I don't know what SDs sound like so I can't tell. There was barely a difference I could hear, and only on 1 of the riffs. The Donless are on my buy list since the greeny guitar was done.
Definitely check them out Mike. They make great pickups and have a wide variety of stuff.
I have no idea! lol Both sound great. Great playing btw! I'm curious, since the Ali Express pickups ship from China, how long does it usually take to receive them?
Depends on where you live
I've ordered pickups from Donlis MANY times. Always received my order within 2 to 3 weeks. I'm in California. But keep in mind that different sellers use different shipping methods. Another seller could use a slower method and take 2 months. But Donlis has always been 2 to 3 weeks.
@@thebaldshredder Great thanks! That's not too bad.
I ordered some single coiils from Aliexpress and they arrived about 10 days later in EU !
Haha,
Fooled me at the end.
Ok im off to find the follow up video
Playing through a Line 6 processor, you won't hear a difference. Because it's processed. Cool riffs that sound great regardless of the pick ups.
Buy the cheaper pickups, measure them to know what output and inductance you're working with, and then just mod them. For treble put a cap and resistor in parallel with each other, but in series with the pickup, and for more bass put them parallel to the pickup. Or maybe just change pots and a tone cap and call it a day. It's way cheaper, way easier to get exactly the sound you want once you know what you're doing, and frankly, it's much more fun this way.
I'm nearly a year to late but think that A = Duncan's because they seem to be clearer more crisp where as B get a little muddy in the bottom. However I agree that I would like to purchase a Donlis for the bridge position on my strat. Can you tell me what model the pickup is please.
Thanks, Baz UK. I'm going to hunt the result now.
The link to the pickup is in the follow up video.
Man this is tough! I'm gonna say A is the Duncan's.
You could be right... or wrong! lol
Honestly, I can't tell even if we could notice small differences on some riffs, both sound good to my ears. I will wait for the results. 🙂 Great content.
Because you are listening over RUclips.
In real life, night and day.
Thanks!
@@ricmel8008 lol
@@ricmel8008so only works if it's live huh? How interesting...😅
Question:: if you're getting a greeny Moore. What donlis pickups would you buy? Thanks Shredder
No idea. I don't even know what pickups were in the greeny.
@The Bald Shredder me either? Alnico 2 maybe 5? I'll have to do some research! Who knows maybe the pickups will be good? Just a min!😂🤣🤣😅 ok! Sorry! I'm just hoping for playable! Thanks if you get any ideas let me know! Thanks!
I prefer B slightly. Whichever are the Aliexpress pickups, they are on par with SD for a fraction of the cost.
Hard to tell with processing. It helps, that you can play. I pick B- for the real Duncan but that being said, I like GFS pickups. Pickups don’t know if they are good or bad, just players. Anyway, I am going to order a set from Ali express because both sounds were good. I don’t play as many notes as I used to but I can appreciate a good effort to compare and I think the Ali express, pickup/s, is worth a try.
Better dollar to note ratio? 😊
Exactly. Everybody used to talk so good about Guitar Madness pickups so I bought a 57 zebra humbucker from them and I thought it sounded decent...right up until I put a Seymour Duncan 59 in the bridge of another guitar. Then it was abundantly clear why one was $25 and the other was $109(w/ nickel cover). The GM 57 sounds terrible next to the SD 59. There's absolutely no comparison.
I have to be honest, since I never use distortion, gain, and overdrive, only Clean with some delay, reverb, and tape delay, not all at the same time, I'm not one that can honestly evaluate any distortion, gain, or overdrive quality. I can hear a difference, but, which one is better? Totally clueless. I did prefer A on the clean sample. Have no idea which pickup that was. Just preferred the sound and looking forward to learning which one it was when the answers are revealed. I also think this is another one that fits under the "everything about guitars is all about personal preference" umbrella. It does not matter one bit how much something costs (with the caveat of "that fits in your budget"), it's about how much you like the sound. Great video, Richard. Please keep them coming.
Thanks Reb!
@@thebaldshredder You bet!!! I'm anxiously awaiting learning what pickup my choice was!!! While we have different musical preferences (Shredder / Surf Music and 60's and early 70's, the last rock concert for me was the "original" Doobie Brothers Farewell Tour in 1979), the information you provide to "all" of us is invaluable!!! Please just keep on keepin' on...
Sounds like there’s a slight hum in the distortion with B? I’d say A is the SD?
B is Seymour Duncan, right?
Which one do you recommend from Ali Express for playing metal because I seen a couple but don't know which ones.A-SD B-D 🤘🎸🤘.
I use the Donlis High Output pickups in most of my guitars. Definitely recommend those.
@@thebaldshredder Thanks I will order some Donlis H-Output.👍
Darn! I didn't study! I didn't know there was gonna be a test! But I did purchase a couple sets of cheap pickups on Amazon I'd put up against any pickups! I should get some sort of extra credit or something? Thanks Richard Pitt Shreddermister!
Geez. After listening to both.... I KNOW which one I want. BUDGET!
they sound very similar, with A presenting more high frequencies and B more low frequencies. In my opinion, the two are equivalent in quality.
Haven’t seen the other video. The clean sound lets me think, that A is the Duncan. Let’s see!
I'd say "B" Is the Duncan.
Have you tried Dragonfire pickups? I have the "Screamer" in a couple of my guitars. Not bad for $35.
I have not. I might have to give those a try.
@@thebaldshredder The neck pickup in my profile pic is a Screamer. The middle pickup is their generic strat single coil. They have a great color selection.
Being hard of hearing (loud amps over many years) I was unable to differentiate when distortion was used. On the cleaner sound, I did notice that there was more reverb, harmonics and a richer sound on the (B) I don't know which is which though. I'll guess that the clean (B) was the SD.
Let's see how I did.
Thank you for doing this. It's very helpful. I appreciate it. Best to you.
B has slightly more dynamics. Thx for the blind test.
they both sounded pretty fucking good lol! honestly would be happy with either of em
Thanks
To bad for the price difference I simply don’t give a hoot there is nothing wrong with both of those pickups
Well one of them sounded full and woody and articulate and smooth and boutique like with good sustain and sounded less compressed with crisp mids and highs and chunky lows....and the other one sounded exactly the same way
I'm just flat out guessing but I think B had a bit more articulation. Not sure if that means SD or Aliexpress, tho.
A sounds like listening to music in Flac, B sounds like listening standard mp3..
It is easy to know that A are the Seymour Duncans.
SD is b? Both very good.
Bought the SD for my strat today for HSS.
How can I find that exact donlis pickup for the bridge can you provide a link for that exact one?
Go to follow up video. The link is there.
Some cheap pickups are well made and some are not. I've seen and heard both on a cheap old Squier Stratocaster.
Definitely. These are well made.
High gain sounded the same. B on the cleans sounded a little louder, but very similar.
Amazing, that Aliexpress seller should reward you.
Those shreds were sickkkkkkkkk
Thanks!
Para mi el A es el original Seymor Duncan, pero por muy sutiles detalles en el sustain y creo que el B tiene un muy casi imperceptible ruido
I think b is the budget its got that clip sound or its too high
Yah you are right, I cannot tell the difference between the 2 different pickups. Why spend $90 when you can get something just as good for $20,
i got a cheap tele neck pickup.. there was absolutely no trebble..it was noisy and sounded atrrocious..
I guess the B is Seymour Dungan pick up it has more bite when you pick the note.
which donlis pickups ? they sound great!!
Watch the follow up video. The link is in the description.
How bizarre, right when I’m looking into fitting a Seymour Duncan into a mustang aswell, they say great minds think alike, you must have the great mind & I think alike 😂😂👌🏼
I think a lot of it is a status thing mate, people forget that music is listened to and yeah a bit goes into how things look but if it sounds good ...I’m in
Buy the Donlis and save money.
@The Bald Shredder I couldn’t tell the difference in all honesty Richard
think B is the sd s, the clean sounded more defined and the distortion seemed smoother
Thanks for voting!
Gostei dos dois captadores, mas o B soa mais orgânico no final das frequências. Pra uma percepção melhor só ouvindo ao vivo. gostei bastante.
I prefer A, the highs were less Sharp and thus better for my ears. But honestly not much of a difference on some riffs. I'll check the other vídeo right now. Great idea btw
I can't tell the difference myself. Is there a link to the AliExpress pickups? I didn't see one listed.
I'll put a link in the follow-up video tomorrow.
Amazing test!
I prefer’B. Now I need to find out which one it is
can you do a comparison with the exact copy of Aliexpress ? they even copied the metal at the back too!
That's what I did in this video. It's a direct comparison of the Aliexpress pickup with the Seymour Duncan. Watch the Part 2 video for the result.
@@thebaldshredder sorry but i dont see the logo at the front in the copy , i watched another comparison and they sound way different
B = alli express, no I did not cheat, I notice at the beginning of the tone b is a little scratchy of course after about 1/10 of a second the scratchy sound goes away. For the cost yes B would satisfy and without being compared side by side, I wouldn't notice the scratchy sound
First clean I heard a difference and liked A better. Which is which, I don't know. Guessing: A Duncan, B the other.
I can'tell the difference, both sounded great!...
Today I received a guitar from AliExpress, unfortunately it has non magnetic pickups (Piezoelectric?) , I wrote the seller about it, he said all pickups on AE are the same... Should I take his word for it? Does anyone know for a fact a store that has real magnetic pickups on AE?
Many thanks
Guitars from AliExpress will almost always use very cheap pickups. But you can buy Donlis pickups on aliexpress. The ones I talk about in this video. Those are inexpensive and they sound great. I recommend getting those.
@@thebaldshredder Thank you! I must say those cheap pickup ring a lot like the real Gibson I own, and they don't scream too much at high levels .. kinda surprising
Pickup B sounds better than A
I don't care if you like Chinese, but I don't like China putting Seymour Duncan name on their pickups
Everything is made in china. Everything. Including every piece and part of your SD pup.
I agree is it not soow able and you should mever bye Chinese guitars THEIR wopd is soft and cjeep just save up for barter one yes the waiting will be hard but i promisd
Did China do it, or did someone in China do it? There's a big difference between the two.
@@ryanscutt8783xi jinping hand crafted these in the baogang steel mill
Who cares? SD are overrated.
Man, it was difficult to figure out, but with the experience I have, I guess A is Ali Express and B is the original ones
B: Seymour A: Ali Express? Their is a subtle difference for sure! I think B Is a little bit more treble. Both Sound great. I have a JB in my New Kramer Baretta.
Thanks for voting!
Damn this is a tough one. Basically sound the same! I was will go with A is Sd and B is the $20. Why? Cuz B sounded better maybe and I personally like cheapgood pickups. Cheap good anything really 🤘🏻
Thanks for checking it out.
Pickups and very close. I think B is the SD JB.
I just purchased fake Seymour Dunkin’ pickups my question is are the pots and pickup selector worth using 😳
Wow, astounding, very very close, if you got the extra buck, go for the seymour, but if none, the chinese copy even works great, plus you could save the xtramoney, If your really bothered of the 2 not being equal, theres an eq to tweak on your pedal or amp anyway, and besides. The listeners around wont even bother