IronGear vs Seymour Duncan

daveyh

Okay so I have two Fernandes Ravelles, one has SD JB and SD Jazz, the other has IronGear Dirty Torque and Blues Engine, originally that had JB and Jazz too. Originally I swapped those out for Tonerider Alnico IIs. I was much happier but recently wanted something with more clout. Anyway I did a comparison of the Dirty Torque (JB Spec) and Blues Engine (Jazz spec) against the Sd JB and Jazz. Guess which won? IronGears hands down. Tighter bass, screaming mids and sweet top end. Didn't expect that.

chrishill901

I have SD Alnico II pros in my main Les Paul, and Iron Gear Tesla Sharks (their copy of those) in my backup guitar. They sound pretty identical. Again, the iron gear perhaps a little tighter at the bottom end? Needless to say I'm never buying a pair of SDs again.

So there is no surprise here, but have a wow anyway because I do think it is impressive for the price point

lustycourtier

Are SD still made in USA though? Thats where the 'quality' and price come from compared to MIC pickups

Fortheloveofguitar

I took a punt on a Blues Engine. Not installed it yet.

After this review I'm looking forward to it

drwiddly

I've swapped out SD's for Irongears in a few of my guitars and never been happier with the results. They're not just good for the money, they're good full stop.

doink

I recently had the the Dirty Torque/Blues Engine combo in one of my Lp's. They were great but not quite my sound so i swapped them out for a set of Tesla Sharks. They are fantastic for Rock. I couldn't recommend anything else.

JD50

Essentially its just wire wrapped around some magnets with some plastic stuck on either end.....
Its NOT magic

Fuzzdog

I'm quite a fan of the Blues Engine in particular, it's one of my favourite neck pickups regardless of price.  Not such a fan of the Dirty Torque - it's a good humbucker, just has nothing 'special' about it to me.

ICBM

daveyh said:

Guess which won? IronGears hands down. Tighter bass, screaming mids and sweet top end. Didn't expect that.

This is exactly why I like (most) Duncans and don't like any Irongears I've heard.

I prefer looser/deeper bass to 'tight', I hate 'screaming' mids and I prefer sparkle and edge rather than 'sweet' top-end.

daveyh

I'm after that recent period Slash type sound so this is what I was after. I was shocked that the supposingly similar species pickups could sound so different.

ICBM said:

daveyh said:

Guess which won? IronGears hands down. Tighter bass, screaming mids and sweet top end. Didn't expect that.

This is exactly why I like (most) Duncans and don't like any Irongears I've heard.

I prefer looser/deeper bass to 'tight', I hate 'screaming' mids and I prefer sparkle and edge rather than 'sweet' top-end.

chrisj1602

Anyone tried the Iron Gear Tele pickups?

Hertz32

Or their Volt actives?

Sarge

Not yet, but the pig irons are superb.

daveyh

Yeah, I've got one of the Steel Twin v1 sets. Very nice indeed, had them mistaken by a producer for something boutique

chrisj1602 said:

Anyone tried the Iron Gear Tele pickups?

usedtobe

Yeah - I thought they were pretty darn good!

drwiddly

Gotta love the Hot Slag for classic rock/metal and the Jailhouse Rail which is a bit grittier sounding. I'm also impressed with the Smoke Stack II's in both humbucking and tapped modes.

breakstuff

I had a Hot Slag in an Epi Les Paul and it sounded fantastic.

thomasw88

I have a p90 alchemist and a blues engine in a guitar and they are a superb combo.

Also had a set of pig irons before and they were as great, I've owned over 20 sets of handwound strat pickups and these were as good as any of them.

rawk100

I'd be interested in trying one of their humbuckers but all their bridge designs seem to be 52mm spacing whilst my guitar has 50mm spacing at the bridge......

....or have I missed something here?

Sarge

Makes very little difference to be honest, the magnets' field will still pickup (pun intended) the strings' vibrations, I regularly use old 70's dimarzio 50mm on floyd rose equipped guits with no audible difference.
Or just chuck in a neck bucker

ICBM

It makes no difference, especially if the pickup spacing is wider than the strings. If the string spacing is *much* wider than the pickup so that the E strings don't pass over any part of the polepieces you can sometimes get a slightly weaker sound, but as long as any part of the pole - even the very edge - is under the string it will work exactly the same as if it's dead centre.