I recently received my first Dynosonic equipped guitar (6128) and it arrived with a loose bobbin. A) You'll know it if it happens, the whole inner part of the pickup was separated from the housing & pushed in and B) It was an easy fix. I removed the pickup, saw where the hot glue had separated, and re-Hot Glued it. 5 minutes total. I think it's a non-issue.
I didn't even know this could/would be an issue when I bought the guitar. Nothing to be concerned about for sure.
I think it is an issue and should be addressed. Spend good money for a high dollar guitar like a Gretsch Duo Jet. I think they are cutting corners and just slapping the Dynasonic together quickly and adding a couple of shots of fast cure hot glue. If it is done proper like Seymour Duncan's MJ at the custom shop does it(OR years ago when they where putting Dynas in the shell at Gretsch or Rowe) this crap does not happen. It takes more time for the glue/epoxy to dry. I know...I've gotten a call from MJ at the Custom shop and she let me know that my pickups where getting ready to ship as soon as they dried. And when they arrived they still smelled like fresh glue. The bobbin stays and it also helps surpress microphonics.
Like BZ stated above, you can break one trying to get it out of the epoxy:
(Not sure if that is what happened to this one that I bought AS-IS, but possible)
This Duncan's bobbin is NOT going anywhere!:
But when it comes time to repair it the right person knowing the right way to remove it will be able to.
I changed out the bridge 2000 on my Rockabilly for a 2k, since it sounded too thin, to my ears.
I'm thinking that an S-D version might sound a little better there, being a fatter pickup. Any opinions?
Lionel, I think a Guild Rockabilly with Duncan Dyna's would sound ace!
One more guitar and pickup combo on my wish list.
Setzer said: I think it is an issue and should be addressed. Spend good money for a high dollar guitar like a Gretsch Duo Jet. I think they are cutting corners and just slapping the Dynasonic together quickly and adding a couple of shots of fast cure hot glue.Do you think this has become more of an issue in the last few years? Are the early FMIC (2003-2004) Dynas more solid than the current ones?
Wow Setzer, I didn't realize how much more secure the Duncan's are. I agree, it's cheap of Gretsch to secure the bobbins so lightly considering the price of their guitars. I'm only trying to point out that it's a simple fix and not something to turn off potential Dyna equipped guitar buyers or for Dyna owners to be overly concerned about. You just pointed out one of the best reasons yet to consider spending the extra dough for Duncan's though, they definitively seem to be better made.
Another question about Dyna's that has probably been covered here before. Should the covers be grounded? I believe they aren't, but I just solved a popping problem by grounding them to the shield. They were popping through the amp whenever my hand touched the string and pickup cover. I traced the ground path and everything appeared fine. Ran a jumper from the cover to ground and the problem disappeared. Is that common?
Vintage Dynas are grounded with a small "L" shaped tab that is sandwiched between the cover and bobbin(You can see it snaking out under the large gray jacketed hook up wire). Its under the loom that holds the hookup wire. Duncan's have grounded covers.
So, good things to do to a RI Japan DynaSonic are: Ground the cover. Epoxy the bobbin in better. I think they should come from the factory this way.
Question
Do the GFS NYII sound anything like a Dyna
GoodBad
Evil
Thanks for the info Setzer, made a difference on mine.
You should be able to order these from any SD dealer, albeit they'll have to contact the custom shop. I ordered mine through my local music store that I deal with regularly, and got them in two weeks for 391.00 delivered. I don't believe you need to pay full price, if your music store deals at all. either that, or I got a smokin' deal. regards, JimL
For someone with an extra $700 lying around, here's the real deal:
Notice that it says "Condition: Brand New" 
The thing is The Seymour Duncan only makes the DynaSonics in small batches throughout the year.
The best way to find out what the wait time is is to talk to MJ at the SD Custom Shop. She's the one who makes these pickups and can give you the straight story on their availability.
You can reach MJ at (805)964-9610 Ext1009. For those who insist on an underwound set, you will need to talk to MJ herself. She is a hoot.
If I didn't have a set of Seymour Duncans on order, I might go for this. It looks brand new!
Wait till you see what that fetches at auction. And it is only the neck pickup so you'd need to find another. In the end your SDs may end up looking like a bargain.
But boy it sure looks new. I wonder what the story is? Wouldn't you love find about a dozen of those at a yard sale. "Yes, my husband used to repair guitars and I found these in his work bench after he passed. I'm asking $20 apiece."
These are still for sale by a dealer on the gbase...and the price has actually come down fifty bucks.
Don't look like a bad deal...
Interesting to note that on my 2003 6120DS, the neck pup was getting weaker in sound over the last few months and finally stopped working -I measured it, an sure enough it had gone open. I pulled it out and couln't see any wire breaks, so it will need a rewind. Also all things going well, if I can meet up with its owner, I hope soon to have a play on another genuine '56 6120 through my Deluxe Reverb Reissue, and I will compare its Dynas to my reissue and post the results!
The neck pickup on my 6128 TCG did the same thing. Right now it measures about 500,000 ohms across the windings.
Tim after Nashville I think you should add one more facet to this discussion about Dynas and that's the bar bridge comparisions we did with my DSW. Everyone sitting on that porch heard the difference swapping out the stock brass with the aluminum and stainless bridges! I heard it and saw the shock you had on your face when you heard it! Then most importantly how Joe Carducci's ears perked up! Now you might ask "WTF does this have to do with this talk of Dynas?" Well the sound just popped out of the wood! hearing that why would I ever think of shelling out 450 for a pair of SD's! No BS it just sounded that good! Tim when they're ready I'll take one of each!
rj, yes I agree. That will be a good shootout. I'm backed up on pretty cool comparo-posts at the moment, with all kinds of ideas trying to jam their way through my procrastination and laziness valve.
But the Tru-Arc rollout is important, and I HOPE to get it done this week.
Hey you don't have to tell me there's not enough hours in the day! And procrastination can be a strong suit! I just wanted to open the door a bit so people could see there's something good coming along! In the long haul time works itself out eventually.
Does anybody know if these Tru-Arc Bridges are drop in fits for the stock wooden bases?
I know that they will be, guaranteed.
Are they being marketed by Gretsch? I saw photos of the Nashville bash showing Tru-Arc pamphlets.
Ah, Tom. Patience, my good man. The reveal is imminent.
TomfromPA said: Wait till you see what that fetches at auction. And it is only the neck pickup so you'd need to find another.It appears that the set is being sold separately:
Vintage Rowe DeArmond Bridge PU
That must be driving the bidders insane!
