Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

[SweetClyde99]

If you’ve tried one or both, all opinions are welcome. It’s alder with a maple fretboard.

I’ve got a custom 8 in a basswood Squier Vintage Modified HH Jaguar that I installed a tune-o-magic bridge on and really like it, but it’s a different enough guitar that I’m not sure I’ll get exactly the same result.

I’ve already got the Custom coming and could try it both ways, but my free time is sparse enough that I’d like to get it right the first time.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Also, I use the bridge pickup 99% of the time, so balance with he other pickups isn’t a huge deal to me. The humbucker won’t be split or anything. The bridge series humbucking sound is really all I’m asking about. I’ll be using it to play fairly modern hard rock falling short of metal. I’ll usually be playing high-gain Marshall-ish amp sounds. I do a lot of palm muting, but both seem like they’d be tight enough for that. I’m leaning Custom 8 because I’m afraid the Custom will be thin and bright in a Strat.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

I vote Custom 8 - Primarily because of Strat.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Yup, me too. The Custom easily gets harsh in a Strat bridge.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

I'm no help here, as I love the Custom Custom, but I will mention it is worth it to have a few different magnet types around to see which one you like the best.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

I am doing a simple loaded pickguard swap on a MIM alder body, maple fretboard strat-SH-11 (custom custom swapped out the stock smooth mag for a RCA2), SSL-1 in neck and middle. Looking forward to the outcome!

to answer your question, I would recommend the Custom Custom as well. If you want more output, go with the Custom8. I may take the TB-5 i just yanked out of a Charvel and put a RCA8 mag in it. See what happens.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

I have a Custom 8 with ceramic spacers in my HSS. Great rock sound.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Yep, an A8 for a brite strat (maple set neck and so on), but i didn't like the C8 in a Les Paul.(Jeez, the stock mag fell down and broke. I had to buy a ceramic mag - never thought i would give money away for ceramic mag.)

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Definitely the C8 for what you want...type of guitar and type of music. The Custom (with ceramic magnet) is gonna sound way too harsh/bright/brittle in the highs.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Thanks for all the responses so far. I hadn’t really considered an A2, as I usually lose interest in a pickup when I hear the low end described as loose, and I recall hearing that word applied to the Custom Custom multiple times. Would palm mutes fall apart with an A2?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Thanks for all the responses so far. I hadn’t really considered an A2, as I usually lose interest in a pickup when I hear the low end described as loose, and I recall hearing that word applied to the Custom Custom multiple times. Would palm mutes fall apart with an A2?

I don't think they 'fall apart'. I do think the sound takes up way more sonic space in the mix...great for 1 guitar bands. It isn't as tight as, say, a Custom 5. But you gain a mighty swath of sonic destruction.

 

[Despair]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Thanks for all the responses so far. I hadn’t really considered an A2, as I usually lose interest in a pickup when I hear the low end described as loose, and I recall hearing that word applied to the Custom Custom multiple times. Would palm mutes fall apart with an A2?

I wouldn't say fall apart, but if you want tight, Custom Custom may not do it for you. I've heard people manage it, but tight punch is not what the Custom Custom is known for. If you want a Custom Custom but with a deep bass punch and tight response, Custom 8 is far closer.

I don't think a ceramic Custom is thin, but it can be uncomfortably bright in brighter guitars. And if you don't like ceramic presence/harshness... Well, it is a ceramic pickup. One of the two I've found least annoying in that respect, but it's still there.

If you like the Custom 8 in basswood, I expect you'd prefer it with A8 rather than ceramic in alder.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Cool. Sounds like the Custom 8 is the likely favorite. The alnico 8 magnet should be delivered today, so I’m just going to put it straight in. I can’t imagine I’ll like it less than the Atomic Humbucker that’s in there now.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Still no magnet. It was supposed to be delivered Wednesday, but it seems USPS misplaced it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Another vote for a Custom 8.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

I have a Custom 8 with ceramic spacers in my HSS. Great rock sound.

That's interesting. I know the invader does that with all ceramic magnets. Are the alnico and ceramic magnets far enough away from each other that the ceramics don’t degauss the alnico?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

That's interesting. I know the invader does that with all ceramic magnets. Are the alnico and ceramic magnets far enough away from each other that the ceramics don’t degauss the alnico?

A8 is pretty strong. I've never had issues with degaussing and I've done the same thing with A2s, which are a lot weaker. But it takes time for an issue like that to arise, so we'll have to wait and see if it causes any issues. I'll check back in in 10 years.

 

[Spunky99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Still no magnet. It was supposed to be delivered Wednesday, but it seems USPS misplaced it.

Any update?

There is a difference between a TB-14 and SH-14 to create a Custom 8. The TB is 14.8K and the SH is 14.1K. I tried both in a Chapman ML-1 Bea which is an alder body. The SH-14/Custom 8 sounds the best by a long shot. The TB-14/Custom 8 sounds better in a basswood body RG655 than the SH-14/Custom 8. It really depends on the body wood. The SH-14/Custom 8 won the contest in the SG. I still have the Les Paul and the PRS Custom 24 to test but it's almost a lock for the SH-14/Custom 8 to win.
Basswood it seems likes the hotter pickup.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

Any update?

There is a difference between a TB-14 and SH-14 to create a Custom 8. The TB is 14.8K and the SH is 14.1K. I tried both in a Chapman ML-1 Bea which is an alder body. The SH-14/Custom 8 sounds the best by a long shot. The TB-14/Custom 8 sounds better in a basswood body RG655 than the SH-14/Custom 8. It really depends on the body wood. The SH-14/Custom 8 won the contest in the SG. I still have the Les Paul and the PRS Custom 24 to test but it's almost a lock for the SH-14/Custom 8 to win.
Basswood it seems likes the hotter pickup.

TBs and SHs sound the same, this is one of the situations when DCR doesn't mean anything. That extra .7k of resistance is intended to make it sound the same as the standard spaced model, if they didn't add it, SH and TB pickups would sound different.

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Custom or Custom 8 in HSS Strat

The Custom 8 is a definite improvement over the stock Atomic Humbucker. It does sound a little brighter, with sharper attack than the Custom 8 in my basswood HH Jaguar. Overall, I think it’s better suited for the Jaguar, but I’m still glad I made the swap, and will likely figure out how to EQ out the differences in time.

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