HS Duo Sonic Questions

[ryanfears]

Seriously thinking of getting a Duo Sonic HS, but I need some reccomendations/advice
1. I play pretty aggressive music so I wanted a high output pickup that will still split nicely. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go the Bare Knuckle route, so does anyone have some good reccomendations (BK or not BK)?
2. In regards to the neck pickup, will any strat pickup fit under that white cover? Or do I need a specifically sized Duo Sonic pickup?

[Con-Tiki!]

i don't have anything to offer on the HB, but any strat pickup should fit.
a duo pickup has flat poles, though. Most strat pickups are staggered, which may cause you some grief.
you can usually press the magnets flush with the bobbin, to make the cover fit tighter.

[Danley]

Pressing magnets on a pickup with a fiber bobbin (like most better pickups are made with) is a BAD idea. You can cause permanent damage. It should work on a plastic bobbin pickup though; no clue what the new Duos have.

You can buy Seymour Duncan pickups with staggered or flat polepieces, although "flat" still doesn't mean flush with the bobbin surface; just even, with respect to each other. I hade Rose pickups wind me a special set of Mustang pickups that fit perfectly flush under the cover. In reality, I've also used staggered pickups under covers, it works well enough.

[Con-Tiki!]

Pressing magnets on a pickup with a fiber bobbin (like most better pickups are made with) is a BAD idea. You can cause permanent damage. It should work on a plastic bobbin pickup though; no clue what the new Duos have.

this is a good point. I've only ever done it with cheap, plastic bobbin pickups.